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With more than 275,000 members at the time of issue, Girl Guides of Canada / Guides du Canada stood as the nation’s largest organization for girls and women. In 1985, to honour the 75th anniversary of its founding, Canada Post released a commemorative stamp celebrating the movement’s legacy and lasting influence.

The origins of Girl Guiding trace back to 1909 and an unlikely spark of defiance. During the first Boy Scout rally held at London’s Crystal Palace, Lord Robert Baden-Powell was taken aback to discover a small but determined group of girls amidst the crowd of 11,000 boys. Calling themselves the ‘Girl Scouts,’ they insisted on inclusion. That unexpected encounter inspired Baden-Powell to publish a pamphlet just two months later, establishing the Girl Guides, appointing his sister Agnes to lead the new organization. His wife Olave later helped to grow the movement on a far greater global scale.

Toronto-based designer Barbara Griffin was commissioned to create the stamp artwork. Her concept centres on the notion of sisterhood — specifically the responsibility of older Guides to support younger ones. This approach speaks directly to the guiding philosophy of the movement: shared experience, mutual growth, and mentorship across generations. Rendered with a clear, illustrative clarity, Griffin’s design evokes both unity and action. The figures interact not just as individuals but as a collective — suggesting support, continuity, and the passing of knowledge. Rather than a static image of tradition, it captures the dynamic spirit of the movement and its evolution.

It should be noted that Barbara Griffen had only graduated from the Ontario College of Art (OCA) in 1980, so she was still a relatively fresh, young designer at the time.

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