'Inclusion is beautiful': Canadians praise Girl Guides for swift name change from "Brownies" to "Embers" after racial backlash
'Embers may be small, but they’re full of potential,' The Girl Guides of Canada revealed about the new name
The Girl Guides of Canada have announced the new moniker of their branch serving seven-and-eight year-old participants, a move that was made with the intention of being more inclusive.
After putting two potential new titles to their members in a vote - Embers and Comets - it appears that the former was the preferred name.
“Embers may be small, but they’re full of potential and when they work together, they can ignite a powerful flame,” The Girl Guides of Canada wrote on a social media post, announcing the change.
The unit was formerly known as “Brownies”, which some felt was discriminatory and harmful towards racialized members. The organization consulted with current and former racialized members when deciding on a new name.
“We have heard from racialized girls that this name has caused them harm,” the organization wrote on social media back in November. “We cannot cause harm to any girls, so we are taking action to create a place where all girls belong.”
Many online celebrated the announcement, praising the organization for caring about the wellbeing of their members and evolving with the times.
Congratulations to @girlguidesofcan members for choosing “Embers” as the new branch name for 7 and 8 year olds. Taking action and changing the branch name is a great demonstration of the organization’s commitment to listen to girls. ⁰pic.twitter.com/NGPyLYGPOL
— Farrah Khan (@farrahsafiakhan) January 11, 2023
I love this, Embers is a great name! Kudos to Girl Guides for taking action so swiftly and decisively on this. They acknowledged the harm and made a change. Great to see. https://t.co/vzhY1fbHyJ
— Meg Shannon (@maggieoshannon) January 11, 2023
This is wonderful and adorable news. Literally the only thing I dontlike about it is the chance that some kid far in the future won't get the "I ate a brownie once" joke from the hit 2004 comedy "Without a Paddle," but I guess we'll all have to live woth the consequences
— Travis Roberts (@TravisWMRoberts) January 11, 2023
Something tells me that the folks complaining about the new Girl Guides of Canada "Embers" never were actual Guides. Glad the org continues to evolve & has mostly ditched the old God, King & pseudo-military stuff. I do miss the old chocolate and vanilla cookies, however.🍪 pic.twitter.com/4f4zlc3dDT
— Heather J Wood (@rollwithheather) January 11, 2023
It flows well from Sparks. Solid change and well thought out/communicated.
— Thomas Watson Jr. (@ThomasWatsonCD) January 12, 2023
The world has always evolved. Things change, people evolve (well, some do). It hurts some people’s butts. Inclusion is beautiful and steals nothing.
Girl Guides of Canada pick Embers as new name for Brownies - Canada News - https://t.co/qe2TQCdOFI https://t.co/iNek262BPC— Wilbur Turner 🇺🇦🇨🇦🌈 (@62Takes) January 12, 2023
Oh good! I have one Girl Guides of Canada member who is past this branch and one who isn’t in it yet and both of them voted for Embers. (An obviously better choice than “Comets,” the other option.) Kudos to @girlguidesofcan for this whole process! https://t.co/HRfHRkS3bs
— Sarah Mackey (@sarahjanet) January 11, 2023
Embers following Sparks in Girl Guides seems natural & an empowering image of what's to come .... 🎶This Girl is on Fire 🔥 🎶
— DiEntertained (@DiEntertained) January 12, 2023
Some were unaware of the negative implications of the previous name for the group.
My little daughter is a member of Brownies girl guides in #Canada for almost 2 years and I have never even thought of the name can be offensive. 🤦🏽♂️ I think I still have a lot to learn about being Canadian 🤗 @girlguidesofcan
They are now Embers ✌🏽#parenting— Seref Cinar Ozenc (@thisissco) January 12, 2023
The Girl Guides of Canada has renamed its Brownies branch the "Embers.''
Am I the only one who thought "Brownies" referred to the dessert? Now I'll be picturing little kids engulfed in flames.— Barbara Avon 📖 (@barb_avon) January 11, 2023
Some weren't impressed with the name chosen.
Embers? Really? That was the only option?
— Warren Kinsella (@kinsellawarren) January 11, 2023
Others wondered about the logistics of how embers work.
Shouldn't the next step be Flames? Embers imply the fire is dying.
— Lady Bock Bock. (@LadyBockBock) January 12, 2023
Embers like a dying fire? Not exactly the name I’d go with but alright
— 💀 (@luciferforher) January 11, 2023
Switching over to the new name is expected to be officially in place by September 1. Parents looking for guidance with the name change can learn more about it here.
