The Girl Scouts of Canada will drop the name ‘Brownie’ because the term ‘offended’ some members
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The Girl Scouts of Canada will stop using the name ‘Brownie’, for their younger members, because the term is ‘racist’…members will now be called ‘Embers’
- The name change was announced Wednesday by Girls Guide of Canada.
- The ‘Embers’ are the company of seven and eight year old girls
- A nationwide search was conducted to find the correct name for the branch.
The Canadian Girl Scouts dropped the name Brownie in favor of Embers after the term was deemed “racist” and “offended” some of its members.
The name change was announced by Girl Guides of Canada on Wednesday to create a more inclusive space for the seven- and eight-year-old branch, according to a Girl Guides press release.
“With this new name, we show girls that what they say matters, and that Girl Guides is a place where everyone belongs,” according to a tweet posted by Girl Guides.
Girl Guides of Canada said it decided to change its branch’s name in November after current and former members claimed the old name caused harm and was a barrier to membership for girls and women of color.
A nationwide search involving female, youth and adult members was conducted to find the correct name.
The Embers group cheers as they celebrate the new name change of their branches
The announcement was made by Girl Guides of Canada in a tweet on Wednesday.
“It wasn’t just about a name or its origin. It was about the fact that girls experienced racism and felt unwelcome at Girl Guides,” said Jill Zelmanovits, executive director of Girl Guides of Canada.
Zelmanovitz said he heard from many current and former members and even members of the public who understood why we had to make this change.
She said that in recent months, families have signed up for Girl Guides for the first time because changing this name means Girl Guides is more inclusive of their daughters.
“It was absolutely clear that this was the preferred option,” said Jill Zelmanovits, executive director of Girl Guides of Canada.
“We can’t wait to continue bringing the magic of Girl Guides to 7 and 8 year old girls, now called Embers.”
GGC will begin incorporating the Embers name on various websites, marketing materials and resources in the coming months.
They have a target date of September 1, 2023 for the name to be fully adopted.
Embers (ages 7-8) join other branches of Sparks (ages 5-6), Guides (ages 9-11), Pathfinders (ages 12-14) and Rangers (ages 15-17) in GGC, said branch.
‘With the new name of Embers, we hope even more girls will see Guiding as a place where they can be themselves, build their confidence and explore their talents and interests,’ says Zelmanovits. ‘
By taking action and changing the name to Embers, Girl Guides is fulfilling our promise to ‘take action for a better world’ and we are showing girls that what they say matters. This is something I couldn’t be more proud to be a part of.’
“It wasn’t just about a name or its origin. It was about the fact that girls experienced racism and felt unwelcome at Girl Guides,” said Jill Zelmanovits, executive director of Girl Guides of Canada.