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| Last updated at 9:44 AM on 25/05/07 |
Leader of the pack left indelible mark on community through his volunteer efforts 
BY MONIQUE CHIASSON
The Truro Daily News
TRURO DAILY NEWS
TRURO – When Gordon Poole takes a trip down memory lane, he realizes how dedicated he has been to the Scouting movement.
“I feel pretty good about it. For all the hours, weekends, time away from my family ... yeah, I probably earned it,” he chuckled, before receiving an award from the National Scouts of Canada this week, honouring his 50 years of service and leadership.
“Not too many people have that. I hopefully will be a model (boys) can look up to,” said the 81-year-old.
His journey with the Scouts dates back to 1938 when he was a member of the organization in Glace Bay. As an adult, Gordon left the movement, but was enticed back when a leader was needed in Truro years later.
“My oldest son David and his Scouting friends approached me saying they needed a leader for their troup,” he said of the commitment he made in 1968. “I felt it was a good organization that would ... give (boys) citizenship skills that would last throughout their lives.”
But being a leader of the 16th Truro Troup was not enough for Gordon. Over the years, he was an assistant provincial Scout commissioner, district commissioner for the Colchester County Scouts, trained other leaders and produced training manuals and outdoor training programs for the provincial organization. Gordon remains active as a volunteer with the Colchester Area Council of Scouts Canada.
“Boys have become leaders because of Scouts ... they become adults who contribute to the community and that’s important,” said Gordon.
He speaks from experience. Not only has Gordon left an admirable mark on the Scouting movement, he has enriched his community as well. He was a principal at Central Colchester High School, before Cobequid Educational Centre came into existence.
He was also recognized as Truro’s Volunteer of the Year in the 1980s, an honour that was recognized provincially. In addition, Gordon has put in countless hours volunteering at church events and, in addition, is credited with renewing the local food bank when its effectiveness was in question in 1986.
“I reorganized it. It wasn’t doing well and I set it up for what it is today. I’ve been a food bank volunteer for 22 years.”
All of his efforts have not only blessed the community, but Gordon has felt the benefits as well.
“Especially with the Scouts, you do things as a team and learn skills that stay with you. I keep active and stay healthy because of it too.”
mchiasson@trurodaily.com
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25/05/07
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