Members of the Girl Guides of Canada in Calgary have begun their annual cookie fundraiser with about 222,000 boxes of the classic chocolate and vanilla sandwich cookies. The Girl Guides will sell the cookies throughout the community to raise money for their programs and activities.

The tradition of Girl Guide cookies began in 1927, when a Girl Guide leader in Regina baked and packaged cookies for her group to sell to raise money for uniforms and camping equipment. Her simple initiative has grown into one of Canada’s most loved traditions. Today, cookie sales are the main fundraiser for Girl Guides of Canada.

The funds raised through the sale of cookies help support Girl Guides programs, including badges, activities, camping trips, and international travel. The fundraiser offers girls the chance to explore new interests, build leadership skills, and form lasting friendships. It also helps girls and leaders attend camps and events and provides training and support for guiding leaders.

The shipment of cookies arrived in Calgary last week and was picked up by the local Girl Guides units. Each case contains 12 boxes of the classic chocolate and vanilla cookies, which are sold for $6 per box. Megan Belenky, the Calgary area’s deputy commissioner and acting public relations adviser, said cookie sales are the organization’s biggest fundraiser, and the money goes directly to support the girls. Some Girl Guide units are planning trips to guiding events in England and visits to guiding centres in Switzerland.

Source: Mark Villani, CTV News