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Scouts honours 100 years in Ponoka

Nearly 100 years to the day a troop was formed in Ponoka, the First Ponoka Scouts recognized a century of community support.

Beavers, cubs, scouts and their leaders attended the March 22 town council meeting to present a special plaque to Mayor Larry Henkelman.

District council commissioner John Whitham told council that after Scouting was organized by Sir Robert Baden-Powell in 1907 in England, the first troops were created in what is now the Northern Lights Council in Edmonton and Red Deer in 1910; Lacombe, Vegreville and Ponoka followed in 1911.

“In the Northern Lights Council, the 2010-11 year is our centennial year,” Whitham said. “Scouting in Ponoka started in March 1910.”

Rev. Dallas and A.P. Burwash organized the Ponoka Scouts and held a banquet in the town hall.

Scout Kenneth Mazurat presented the mayor with a framed plaque “to recognize the contributions of the citizens of Ponoka toward Scouting over 100 years.”

“Scouting has been a very big movement in our community for a long time,” Henkelman said in accepting the gift. “There are a lot of volunteers who put in a lot of time in our community with Scouts and it is very much appreciated.

“Keep up the good work in our community and continue being the great citizens that you are.”