Local Girl Guides chapter not taking part in Kanata Santa Claus Parade due to inclusivity policy

The Kanata Santa Claus Parade is returning after a three-year hiatus, and one local group will be noticeably absent from this year’s festivities.

The local Girl Guides chapter, who has been actively participating in the annual Kanata tradition for years, won’t be at this year’s edition of the event, when Christmas cheer fills the streets of Kanata on Saturday, Nov. 25, 2023.

The Christmas event also brings in donations and funds for local food banks.

“Based on what our girl members have told us, we have been working diligently to ensure all activities that girls participate in are inclusive, and ones where all girls can take part,” said Shannon Benner, the chief executive officer (CEO) of Girl Guides of Canada in an email to CityNews Ottawa. “Girl Guides aims to serve all girls in Canada equitably and be a place where all girls and women feel welcome, included, and can say ‘I belong.’ We are happy to say that youth have an authentic voice in shaping our direction.”

The Girl Guides’ inclusivity guidelines notes “guiding is not affiliated with, nor privileges any religion or faith-based beliefs, behaviours and traditions.”

Additionally, it states,” moving from practices that have their roots in religion or are religious allows us to remain true to our values and work towards serving all girls.”

Instead, the guidelines outline four tips to making a celebration more inclusive, like focusing celebrations on seasons of the year.

“Several of the local groups that were invited came back to us and said they’re not able to based on this national policy,” Allan Hubley, councillor for Kanata South, told The Sam Laprade Show on Tuesday, Oct. 24. “I know many of them have expressed that they would like to participate in this but there is a rule that they can’t.”

According to Hubley, the decision to skip the parade will affect more than just Ottawa Girl Guides. He remembered a time when the local Girl Guides chapter were participating in the event.

CityNews reached out to a number of Santa Claus parades, and organizers with the Original Santa Claus Parade in Toronto said they received a similar response by Girl Guides of Canada.

“They said they wouldn’t be supporting that events that, in their interpretation, have a religious connotation,” said Clay Charters, the president and chief executive officer (CEO) of the Original Santa Claus Parade.

Charter added that Girl Guides declined to attend last year’s event as well. Meanwhile, Scouts Canada will be participating in both the Kanata and Toronto Santa parades.

The crowd a Toronto’s Original Santa Claus Parade is as diverse as Canada’s largest city, Charter told CityNews Ottawa.

“We make a concerted effort to make sure the parade is for everyone, we welcome everyone to attend, and we think we put on a show that celebrates hope, community, love, and all of the values that are good for everyone to celebrate at the holiday season.”