After the original name was deemed too racially divisive, Brownies in Canada will now be called “Embers”.
On Wednesday, the Girl Guides of Canada (GGC), tweeted that “embers have great potential and when they come together, they can light a strong flame!”
In November, the group stated that the former name had caused harm to minority members and prevented girls from joining.
GGC stated that the new name will create “a more inclusive environment where all Canadian girls can feel welcome and proud of their membership in Girl Guides” in a statement posted on its website.
The GGC announced that girls aged 7 and 8 will be “Embers” and will adopt the new name in phases over the next months.
Jill Zelmanovits (CEO of the organisation) stated that the move was not “just about a title or its origin” but addressed the fact “girls experienced racism, and felt that Girl Guides wasn’t for them.”
Ms Zelmanovits said, “We heard from many former members and even members in the public who understood why this change was necessary.”
She said that “Embers” is already in action because “over the past couple of months, families signed up for Girl Guides for first time because changing the name means that Girl Guides is more inclusive for daughters.”
According to The Record, Ms Zelmanovits stated that current and former members voted for “Embers” instead of “Comets in an online poll in November and December.
Names of other GGC branches, Sparks (5-6), Guides (9-11), Pathfinders (12-14), Rangers (15-17), and Guides (6-9), will not change.
Ms Zelmanovits stated: “With the new Embers names, we hope even greater girls will see Guiding to be a place where they just can be themselves, grow confidence, and explore their talents.
Girl Guides has fulfilled its promise to ‘take actions for a better future’ by changing the name of the organization to Embers. We are showing girls that what we say is important.
“This is something that I couldn’t feel more proud to have been a part.”