Guiding members of all ages, locations, and experience often have fond – or not so fond! – memories of singing. Some of us remember our Six (now Circle) opening songs decades after we moved up to Guides, while others have a favourite campfire song that brings back memories of camping friendships. Music has been a part of the Guiding adventure from its very beginnings.
In 1983, the Ontario Council Training Department launched Sing Ontario Sing. This was to be a competition, where Units recorded themselves singing on cassette tapes and mailed the tapes to the Provincial Office for judging. Units who took part would received a “participation award”, while the winners would be announced in the Ontario Newsletter.
In 1986, crests were introduced, with a blue crest for Participation, red for Honorable Mention, and black for Winners. These remain the same through the 1994 competition.
At first, the competition was just for youth members, but an Adult Category was added in 1985. A category for Sparks is added in 1993.
Taps was the only specifically required song for Guides/Pathfinders/Rangers from 1983 to 1994 (and Adults from 1985 to 1994) – all other songs were chosen to fit specific categories (i.e. part song, action song, closing song). The requirements for Senior Branch Units are altered in 1992, otherwise the requirements remain the same through the 1994 competition. A 10th Anniversary Challenge is added to the 1993 competition, asking Units to structure their entry around the theme “Looking Forward” and include either an original song composed for the event or a song in a source not stocked by the National Merchandising Centre in addition to the regular requirements.
1995 was a year of change. The challenge ceases to be a competition, and participation greatly increases. For the first time, specific songs are required, as opposed to song types as in previous years. It is unclear which crest was used in 1995, possibly the blue version previously used for participating groups. This is followed by a yellow crest in 1996 and a light blue crest in 1997.
A new set of crests is launched for the 1998, with one for each Branch. As songs are organized by Branch, the colour of the crest reflects the list chosen, not the age/Branch of the singer.
- Pink for Sparks
- Orange for Brownies
- Blue for Guides
- Green for Pathfinders
- Light Blue with a Blue Binding for Senior Branches and Adults
The Senior Branches/Adult crest is changed to light blue with white binding for the 1999-2000 challenge.
A major change is made to the Challenge in 2001-2002, with songs now listed by Category rather than by Branch. Each Branch has a set of requirements, generally the number of songs from each Category that they need to learn.
A new crest is introduced for the 2003-2004 challenge. It is a large main crest, with coloured tabs added over the next 5 years. First-time Sing Ontario Sing participants earn the large crest, while others earn a coloured tab (Gold, Aqua, Purple, Silver, Red). Some years have a chosen tab colour, however, participants were always allowed to choose the colour they wished to add.
- 2004-2005 – Gold Tab
- 2005-2006 – Aqua Tab
- 2006-2007 – ?
- 2007-2008 – Silver Tab
Beginning in 2011, a new crest is designed each year.
Sing Ontario Sing Requirements
Sing Ontario Sing Crests, Themes, and Songs
Did You Know … Most Popular Songs
So far, 481 different songs have been included in the Sing Ontario Sing requirements. (I am missing the lists for 3 years)
- 21 Times – Taps (Evening) – Daylight Taps is also an option 6 times
- 12 Times – Land of the Silver Birch, Make New Friends, Tall Trees
- 11 Times– Barges
- 10 Times – Fire’s Burning
- 9 Times– My Paddle, Softly Falls, Go Well and Safely
- 8 Times – Alouette, Linger, Listen to the Earth, On My Honour
- 7 Times – I Like the Flowers, Ira Congo, Say Why, Sussex Campfire Opening, The Cuckoo, They Call It Canada, World Song
- 6 Times – 40 Years on an Iceberg, Auntie Monica, Everywhere Around the World Tonight, Ham and Eggs, Kookaburra, Light the Wood, Pax Lodge Song, Sangam Song, Somewhere There’s a Forest, Swinging Along, The Tree Song (The Green Grass Grows), TIRO, Tzena, Wadlee Atcha, White Coral Bells
- 5 Times – A Guiding World, BINGO, Black Socks, Donkey Riding, Hindi Song, It’s a Small World, Let Us Sing Together, Little Green Frog, My Bonnie Lies Over the Ocean, Our Cabana Song, Remember Me, Rosen Fra Fyn, The Chinese Fan, The Happy Wanderer, Zulu Warrior
Girl Guide History Tidbits 