About the
Order of the Aurora

The Northern Lights Scout Foundation has created the Order of the Aurora to extend Scouts Canada’s well-developed and quite comprehensive system that recognizes the work of Scouters, by creating an award to be given to those who provide sustained exceptional service to the Northern Lights Council and its Scouting members.

The Order of the Aurora may be awarded to an individual (whether in Scouting or not), a group, a business, or a corporation which has:

• offered sustained, exceptional service that goes beyond the typical responsibilities of Scouters

• provided on-going support to Scouting

• made a significant contribution to the betterment of Scouting in the Northern Lights Council

• worked in the background on a regular basis or outside the normal recognition system of Scouting (e.g., parents or supporters “who are always there”.)

The Order will be awarded by the Foundation after a nomination and selection process.

Nominations may be made by submitting the prescribed form to the Foundation.

There will be an annual call for nominations, but nominations can be made at any time. The Foundation may consider an award at any time, but will consider all nominations received on at least an annual basis.

Recipients of the Order of the Aurora will be recognized with an announcement at an Annual meeting of the Foundation, and be provided with a certificate and a uniform flash. It is intended that there be a public awards ceremony, but the Order may be presented privately or at an event suitable for the recipient on request.

The Foundation may award the Order at any time and in any number of its choosing, but it is intended that up to 10 recipients per year will be recognized, with an initial proposed limit of about 100 members of the Order at one time. In the first years there may be a larger number of awards to recognize past service. If an exceptional number of eligible nominations are received, nominees not recognized in the year received may be carried forward to future years at the discretion of the Foundation. A list of all recipients will be maintained by the Foundation.

The Order is intended to be for recent or current service, but recognition for past service may be considered.

The Northern Lights Scout Foundation receives donations from individuals, groups, corporations, and others wishing to support the activities of the Northern Lights Council and its Scouts. The Foundation places these donations into our endowment fund so that the impact of these gifts will extend for many years into the future.

The Foundation manages this fund in a way that allows the fund to provide on-going support to Scouting activities in accordance with the rules for charities in Canada. Those rules require that a certain proportion of the endowment funds must be spent in each year. To ensure that the endowment fund grows faster than inflation after expenses and thus maintains its value over time, the Foundation both exercises prudent management and seeks new donations.

The Foundation wishes to recognize those who have made financial contributions to the endowment fund and to the activities of the Foundation. These awards may be based on both single donations and/or a series of donations received over a number of years.

There are three levels of Aurora Awards:

Red Aurora
Total value of donations: $10,000 (single or lifetime)
Award: Flash & Certificate with Red Border

Blue Aurora
Total value of donations: $5,000 (single or 10 years)
Award: Flash & Certificate with Blue Border

Green Aurora
Total value of donations: $1,000 (single or 5 years)
Award: Flash & Certificate with Red Border

These levels have been named after the frequency with which one might see the aurora borealis – green happens most often, blue less often, and red can be rare.

The thresholds have been structured in a way that recognizes donations both large and small. The amount donated can be from a single donation, or accumulated over time. This means donors who make regular donations or a series of smaller donations can receive a higher award.

Awards will be made to donors who reach or exceed a donation threshold for an award in a given year. The donation thresholds are cumulative – this means that the total donations received from a donor over the specified time period will be added together and an award can be made as each threshold is reached.

Donations may be made at any time, and in any amount.

Awards may be made at any time and there is no limit to the number of such awards in any year or overall.

Recognition will be made in the form of an announcement, a certificate, and a uniform flash. The certificate and flash may be presented privately or publicly, at the discretion of the recipient.

The Order of the Aurora for monetary contributions can be awarded to an individual other than the donor if the donor so specifies. That is: an individual, group, or corporation may make a donation to the Foundation and designate it as “in honour of ____(someone)_____” .

Donors may request that their donation be kept anonymous, except insofar as what the Canada Revenue Agency may require when a receipt for tax purposes is requested.

The Northern Lights Scout Foundation is a registered charity. Receipts for taxation purposes will be issued to eligible donors.

These awards can be made posthumously to recognize those who leave a bequest to the Foundation in their will. Those who have made such a provision in their will are urged to inform the Foundation of their intentions, as these awards can be awarded during your lifetime.