The prospect of selling Girl Guide cookies - 2 crates of 24 boxes - almost precluded me from signing her up; we'd slowly eaten our way through them the previous year and I vowed not to repeat the unhealthy exercise. But she prevailed and a Brownie she became. In October, a year ago now, we headed out to the residents of Furry Creek one rainy Sunday afternoon to sell our boxes of cookies. Erin had with aplomb conducted all the transactions with business-like acumen and sold all 24 boxes in the space of an hour. We were both as proud as punch on our return home!
Erin was an integral member of the close-knit Lion's Bay and Eagle Harbour unit, a group of 12 girls.The troop met for an hour every Wednesday afternoon and engaged the girls in delightfully creative and imaginative activities, often involving the children in community service projects and teaching them about the beautiful environment in which they lived and played.
After the accident, in her memory, her local unit had in the Spring launched a new Brownie Badge 'Erin's Trailblazer Badge' and we attended a ceremony to hand out her badge to all her fellow Brownies who completed the required tasks of doing a hike, helping others and completing a loop on the monkey bars. It was with deep gratitude and humility that we learned that the West Vancouver Girl Guides and Brownies had also secured a grant in Erin's memory and were to plant 250 trees to create 'Erin's Grove' in Lighthouse Park. The park is located in a pristine spot on the coast, frequently visited by Brownies with their moms. I reflect back on happy mother-and-daughter times visiting the park with Erin and her Brownie friends when we excitedly sat in the Girl Guide hut listening to Aboriginal stories, or undertaking environmental projects and learning about nature.
Daphne Hales, the Guider who spear-headed the project writes this account:
Girl Guides and Brownies help restore part of Juniper Loop, Lighthouse Park, West Vancouver in Memory of Erin Kate Moore
''It is sad indeed that it took a tragedy to initiate this project – but the loss of 7 year old Erin Moore in a rockfall while hiking above Lions Bay last December has led to what will be a lasting legacy for a little girl who loved the outdoors, loved hiking, loved helping others – and loved being a Brownie.
We were all devastated that a fluke of an accident could take such a lively, fun loving child, and we, the Guiders of West Vancouver, wanted to do something to celebrate the joy she had brought to so many people in her short life. The very week we were discussing a variety of projects that Erin would have enjoyed, the National Office of Girl Guides advertised an opportunity to apply for a tree-planting grant from the TD (Toronto Dominion) Friends of the Environment Foundation. Erin had attended our nature workshops at the Phyl Munday Nature House in Lighthouse Park, and suddenly it seemed like a wonderful way to honour Erin’s memory. We would apply for a grant, and have a great planting party for all the Sparks, Brownies, Guides, Pathfinders and Rangers. We would clear a small degraded area of the Park of invasive species and close off an unofficial trail by replanting it, thus re-joining a little isolated triangle to the rest of the forest. This would not only help preserve the roots of the trees already there, but would allow greater access to the forest for the little critters that might have been trapped on the wrong side of this unofficial trail. We would call the newly planted piece of forest ERIN’S GROVE, and we would be able to watch over it, care for it and see it grow to maturity over the years.
So many people came forward to help this idea come to fruition –volunteers of the Lighthouse Park Preservation Society helped choose the site, then measured the area and drew up a map and a plant list. The West Vancouver Parks Dept. staff gave us their blessing and offered help with moving soil, scarifying the trodden earth and ordering plants. With all this support, we sent in the application – and were given the largest possible grant of $2,500! We were ecstatic!
So in late September, the various units of West Vancouver Guiding spent time in the Park clearing out invasive plants, then on October 17 (10 months from what would have been Erin’s 8th birthday) at 9.00am the planting took place with a second planting taking place in the afternoon of Sunday 18th.''
The event was captured in this video which Mike made and can be found here https://youtu.be/Szq85EqzY54
As parents we have been overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and support from friends and strangers, from schools and community groups, and we are touched by the legacy our little girl is leaving – not least of all a newly replanted corner of this treasured Park – Erin’s Grove. We cannot claim that it was easy to watch her enthusiastic Brownie friends dig hot, steaming manure while imagining the fun she would herself have had immersing herself in the dirt while planting the trees and plants. But there were joyful moments knowing that Erin was there in spirit.
A Brownie-Guider and dear friend wrote this to us after the event:
‘Thanks so much to all of you for being there today at Lighthouse Park –to create Erin's Grove. That was one of the hardest events but we are glad we did it. It’s a beautiful pristine area and one that we can have fond associations of Erin and can easily visit. It was great to see the change in the landscape so quickly and feel the dirt in our hands. I cannot imagine how excruciatingly painful that must have been for you but your generosity of spirit to share your grief is amazing. These events are hard, bitter-sweet but help us all to try and process this tragedy that was not part of the circle of life. So we plant trees and try and create new circles of life. So thank you for letting us walk on your path albeit a short while as your journey is unimaginable.
And to Erin – Erin, you are probably laughing at all of us for digging in the dirt. There are so many friends that will never forget you. Erin, you embraced everything you did with us with a zest and enthusiasm; we miss that but we carry you in our hearts and minds. We hope to revisit Erin's Grove and it is a special place where we can sit and think'.
From Friends of Erin
One thing is certain - our little girl in her 7 years and 11 months has left a legacy more long-lasting and profound than you or I will leave. And while the gap is cavernous and the pain of grief still profound, this provides us enormous comfort. We are so grateful to friends and those who knew her - strangers turned friends - who have created indelible tributes to our remarkable child.