About the 4th Winnipeg Scout Group

"Everything you wanted to know about the 4th (but were afraid to ask)", By Peter Elwick

In 1922 the Fourth Winnipeg Scout Group was founded by a group of concerned parents. As this group was not affiliated with a church or service club, they met in a building that was built by the scouts themselves. The original scout hall was located on the bank of the Red River - just off Mager Drive (the present site of the pump house). This hall was a rustic affair with no running water and heated by a small wood stove. The original hall served the group well (B.P. actually visited) 4th Logobut eventually proved to be too small as enrolment increased and too cold in the winter. Funds were then raised for a new building - mainly by selling home made donuts door to door. Volunteers then set about building the "new" hall on St Mary's Rd. at Morier Ave. The official opening occurred on December 14, 1940. The group flourished in the fifties and sixties - at one point there was 2 cub packs, 2 scout groups and a rover crew. The hall was also used as a community meeting place for whist drives and other such social events. As the years progressed the hall was used less for community events but remained a beehive of scouting activity.

Throughout the seventies, eighties and nineties the percentage of children in the neighbourhood dropped but the group managed to hold on to a steady membership by providing vibrant programs for beavers, cubs and scouts. Added to this, a venturer program was started in the nineties and has flourished. While all this was going on the volunteers also had to raise funds for the upkeep of the Scout Hall. The group committee chair not only administered the group but also maintained the building - from stoking the coal furnace in the forties and fifties to leading repair crews as the building grew older.
The period of 1997 to 1998 proved to be pivotal as one eagerly anticipated event and one surprise occurred within the group. The group's 75th anniversary fell in 1997 and celebrations were held on the September 20 -21 weekend. Over 300 people attended an open house on the Saturday afternoon to view displays of memorabilia and renew old friendships. The oldest participant had started cubs in 1928 and one fellow travelled from Vancouver to be at the reunion. Later on there was a banquet at the Legion Hall during which many stood up to reminisce. The final event of the day was a campfire held behind the Scout Hall - my how those folks could sing! The next morning there was a pancake breakfast held at the hall and then we all lined up behind the Legion Colour Party and the Lord Selkirk Scout Pipe Band and marched down St Mary's Rd to Regent's Park Church.

Now for the surprise event. While all the activity for the planning of the anniversary was taking place, the city announced that it was rescinding the lease the Group had for the land at 454 St Mary's Rd.- the site of the scout hall. Initially the Group resisted this change but it became obvious that the city held all the cards. The Group decided to make the best of a bad situation and negotiate for a suitable replacement. However, It soon became apparent that while the city was anxious for us to leave, no thought had been given to providing a reasonable alternate meeting place. Many unsuitable suggestions were made - some bordering on ludicrous. The one that sticks out was : dragging our old hall down Morier Ave to Morier Park. The fact the park is under water for at least one month of the year when the Seine River floods would have provided us with unique problems - finally a practical use for all those canoes. After many months of wrangling, a solution was found and space for our group was designed into the new Glenwood Community Centre building.On December 12th, 1998 we assembled at the hall for a sad farewell. Goodbye speeches were made, the Lament and Taps were played and the flag was lowered for one last time. We then marched down St Mary's Rd and were piped into the new building. .

The history of the 4th continues in our new designated space. While the move from the venerable old hall was bittersweet, the Group now doesn't have to worry about leaking roofs or creaky furnaces and can concentrate on program. Also, being situated in a community centre gives us more visibility. As Scouting moves into its second century, the 4th can look forward to many more years of service to the youth of St Boniface and St Vital.