March 19, 2026 Volume 7, Issue 14

Christine Whelan

September 2025 marked 60 years with Girl Guides of Canada for Lida Greenaway, and she’s still going.

Lida started her journey with the Girl Guides when she helped save a unit in Hamilton, the city where she grew up, in 1967. “The unit was going to close, and I was just a high school kid.”

She explained that at that time, there were only Brownies, Guides, and Rangers, and the Rangers were divided into three groups: Land, Sea, or Air. “And I went with Sea. After that, I became a leader, then a second-in-command. One thing led to another, and before I knew it, I was taking over St. John the Baptist Hamilton’s 41st Brownies. Then the Pioneer Church needed a helper, so I was helping her as well. I had two units on the go when I was 15 years old.

Lida mentioned that, back then, the rules for Guiding were different, and a 15-year-old could take on that responsibility. She also explained some of the changes over the years, noting that Brownies are now Embers. Additionally, she clarified that Girl Guides are Canadian, and Girl Scouts are American.

Greenaway married in 1974. Her husband is from New Zealand, so they decided to relocate there in 1976. “Before we left, I handed my unit over to my sister, completing a whole year’s worth of planning for her first.”

After five years, when both Lida and her husband decided to return, they came back to Ontario. “When I came back, I returned to the unit and led it with my sister.”

She and her family lived on a 50-acre horse farm in Wainfleet, where she gave riding lessons with her daughter. “I also did Guiding in Wainfleet and Port Colborne during this time.”

When her struggle to walk and keep up with the horses grew worse, Lida realized it was time for a change.

They moved to Fort Erie. “Once we got here, I had two knee replacements.”

Lida has now lived in Fort Erie for eight years and is still Guiding. “I’ve been driving to Hamilton meetings for over 10 years.”

The lifelong Guider says she does it for the kids. “I love Guiding, and I’ve never been out of it.”

Teaching the Importance of Life Skills

She knows she has made a difference with the kids. “I feel like I’ve really guided these children and have given them so many life skills. Not just skills, but life skills.”

During one of the camps, a parent asked her what was on the agenda. She told her life skills. Lida had to explain, “They’re going to help prepare food and wash dishes. They’re going to sweep the floors and clean out the toilets.” She added, “They were responsible for their own clothing. They had to do their own bedroll.” She also explained the importance.

The parents didn’t protest, she said, understanding that these skills would be essential for their children’s survival; they simply wanted to stay informed about the camp activities.

Social Services have recommended that parents send their children to Guides.

Lida shared a story about a girl who didn’t speak. “She wouldn’t interact with people and hid under the picnic table for two months of our meetings. Eventually, I started holding the meetings under the table with her, and before you knew it, she was part of the unit.”

World Thinking Day

February 22 is the day when the founder, Lord Baden-Powell, is celebrated.

Girl Guides was founded in 1910 by Lord Robert Baden-Powell and his sister, Agnes Baden-Powell, as a female equivalent to the Boy Scout movement. The organization sought to foster self-reliance, character, and good citizenship among young women.

“Since 1910, and we’re still going in 2026.”

It’s a day when Guiders worldwide think of Guiding, not just where we are. Some hold rallies, while others host events within their own units. To me, I believe this is a wonderful day for these kids to showcase their culture. Adding, “There’s communication that day across the whole world, celebrating Guiding.”

Embracing Diversity

Lida shared, “We have so many cultures involved in our Guiding, and I’m embracing them. I asked the girls to bring in items from their own backgrounds and traditions, and we shared them within the unit.” Lida says the kids are fascinated by the pieces they bring in.

Through these opportunities to teach other kids about their own cultures, the girls are developing storytelling and public speaking skills, which are important life skills.

Advocate for Camperships

There is a needs-based financial scholarship or subsidy that families can apply for to help cover summer camp registration fees. Lida says she informs people about this campership option because it’s not widely known. She advises families, “Get online and apply because the money is sitting there.”

Lida says she wore many hats and roles over the years in Guiding. “The only level I didn’t do was Pathfinders. I was a Spark, a Brownie, a Guide, and Ranger Leader, a Leader and a Trainer.”

Learning Through the Arts

Lida was a Learning Through the Arts teacher. “I loved what I did.”

Learning Through the Arts, an initiative by The Royal Conservatory in Toronto, collaborates skilled local artist educators with classroom teachers to provide engaging arts-based lessons in Math, Language, Science, Social Studies, and more.

The various art disciplines include music, dance, visual arts, Indigenous arts, and theatre. “My specialities were theatre and music.”

From JK to Grade 10, I spent four weeks with them. I taught everything from Religion, Math, Geography, English, to History. I taught them all, adding that the only thing she wouldn’t teach was Sex Education, feeling that the main teacher, the one the kids knew well, should teach that subject.

Now, Lida is part of the Seniors Advisory Committee here in Fort Erie and is involved at the Douglas Memorial Seniors Centre. “I do crafts. I do euchre. I do bingo. I volunteer at the Fort Erie Conservation Club. I do so much I can’t think of it all.”

Greenaway is also an actress. “I just finished doing a commercial in Toronto. I also do stage work.”

Trefoil Guild

Lida says she will never be able to disconnect from Guiding. She doesn’t remember life without it. Fortunately, there is a group that fits her well at this stage of her life.

“I am a member of the Trefoil Guild.”

Trefoil Guild is a membership group for women aged 30 and above. Often, members have spent many years involved in Guiding in various roles and join the Guild to stay connected with the organization and one another.

Ninety-five percent of these senior Guiders have stepped down from their units but still want to remain involved in Guiding. Sometimes a unit may need assistance with an activity.

I searched through many Girl Guide quotes to find the one that best fits this story and this inspiring role model. So many were excellent. But then it occurred to me. This one: “I Guide. Therefore, I am.”