The history of most Groups in Greater Victoria Region has been lost, as documents change hands and are discarded. There is some evidence that there were Troops in Victoria before 1909, but the first official notice was when a committee was formed on the 23rd of November, 1909. Within a short period, there were numerous Troops, and hundreds of Scouts. The first Scout camp took place in what was to become Arbutus District in 1909 near Rock Heights School. The First World War resulted in the deaths of many of the first participants, and Scouting almost faded away. The introduction of the Wolf Cub section and ladies as Cub Leaders did much to revive Scouting.
When Scouting began in View Royal, is uncertain. 1st Tillicum (2nd Douglas) existed in the 1920’s, and Esquimalt (1st Arbutus) and West Victoria (15th Arbutus) existed from the beginning, so Scouting was active in the area. At least as early as 1955 there was a Pack, a Sea Scout Troop and a Sea Rover Crew, the latter led by Jim Burroughs. At that time, the necker for 1st View Royal was a tartan, common amongst Troops in that period. In 1956 the Crew hosted a Sea Scout Regatta, probably the precursor of the annual regatta held at Naden. This was at Helmcken Bay, which was largely unsettled at that time. The Crew also rebuilt the pontoons in the Gorge Playground, and there is some evidence that for years, View Royal built and maintained the swimming area at the bottom of Sioux St. Sea Scouts at the time were Allan Clegg, Robin Ritchie, Geoffery Reynolds and Rock Rochford; and it was probably at about this time that Geoffery Reynolds, Sr. (of Sydney Reynolds, across from the Empress) was Scout Master.

In 1959, Scouting was reorganized, Victoria District became Greater Victoria Region, and was divided into Districts. Each Group was assigned a new name based on a first-come-first-served basis. 3rd Arbutus was chartered to a body of citizens of View Royal. It may be that about this time the necker was changed from a tartan to the green and gold of today. It is not known how the choice of colours was made, but probably the green represented Scouts, and the gold was for the Wolf Cubs. In 1960, the group was meeting in the View Royal Community Hall, a remnant of armed forces H-huts (built as a temporary building, but so well, that there were survivors for decades.) The Troop apparently had one of its periodic disappearances as it had to be re-created in 1960 with twelve new Scouts. In 1968, two of its Queens Scouts were Allen Milne and Paul McIntosh. In August of that year, the Troop hiked the West Coast Trail, even more of a challenge than today. There is some indication that there were difficulties finding leaders, and that the Scouts held the Troop together themselves. Allen and Paul were probably amongst the last of the Queens Scouts, as about that time the Scout section was split into Scouts and Venturers.

At sometime, the All Saints Anglican Church became the sponsor for 3rd Arbutus, and unusually retained the Group name. Group Committee Chair was Laureen Evans from at least 1985 to 1988, and the Evans had been leaders before then. Marguerite Herriot was Treasurer during this period, until 1990. Verna Ford and Sue Fournier were also on Group Committee and spouses as well as children were active within the Group, with Armand Fournier as a Cub Leader and Scout Leader. Their son, Brian, was the last Chief Scout Award recipient in 3rd Arbutus. It was about this time that Han Baart became a Beaver Leader, and was to be a major asset to the Group for nine years through Beavers, Wolf Cubs and Scouts. In 1986 there were 21 Beavers, 27 Cubs, 7 Scouts and 13 Scouters.

Fund raising was focused on poinsettias sales before each Christmas by the Thetis Lake overpass. This was done for two weekends, and the poinsettias were purchased on reasonable terms from the nursery of the parents of two of the Scouts. When the overpass was rebuilt, the space (where the shelters had been set up and taken down each day by Hans Baart) was lost, and new fundraising methods had to be found.

In May, 1988 Laureen Evans stepped down as Group Chair. She made the announcement at that Annual General Meeting and called for volunteers. The hall grew very still. I coughed and found that my ‘nomination’ was accepted by acclamation, and everyone went home. One of my first duties was reorganization after a separation from the sponsorship of the Church. I was told we would have to re-charter, and take a new name. Fortunately, I had found the original charter, and informed the Region that we were keeping the name, thank you very much.

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