The Girl Guides of Canada unveiled a new set of guidelines officially welcoming transgender girls to their programs. Although there were no pre-existing rules or regulations barring transgender girls, manager of membership administration Heather Auden said it was time to formally put it in writing.

“We have a very strong commitment to inclusion and we wanted to make sure we were following through on that,” Auden said.

These guidelines, unveiled in October, were created for the adult volunteer leaders so they can be better equipped to accommodate all children who identify as female. The document outlines how to address questions surrounding sensitive language, how to maintain privacy for the girls during sleepovers and excursions, as well as how to provide adequate bathroom services. According to Auden, the guidelines have received an overwhelmingly positive reception from the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender and questioning (LGBTQ) community. These guidelines apply to all girls ages 5-17, from Sparks to Rangers across the country.

For more infomation, visit girlguides.ca/web.