Project Porchlight Blog

Larry Gall believes that the way to get things done is by going out and doing it. And he’s keen to pass that message on to future generations. The software developer for Canada Life Financial Corporation, and 2007-2008 Climate Change Advocate for Saskatchewan, has been a Scouts Canada leader for the past five years. He got involved when he registered his son as a Beaver in 2003 and has stayed with the program ever since.

Larry credits Scouts Canada with promoting an active lifestyle among its members, affording them the opportunity to participate in outdoor activities such as canoeing and archery. “It’s given us exposure to a whole bunch of stuff that we don’t have access to on a smaller scale,” he says. But he also wants to show his Cubs the importance of taking action in their lives. When he heard Project Porchlight was coming to Regina, he and the other local Scouts Canada leaders decided to get their groups involved.

“In Scouting, they have 'the motto, the law and the promise,'” says Larry. “Part of the promise... is that they will help take care of the world.” He saw Project Porchlight as the perfect opportunity to show some of the younger Scouts—the Cubs and the Beavers—how they can make good on their promise. On September 23rd, St. Timothy’s 49th Cubs group, along with their leaders and parents, delivered approximately 500 free CFLs to homes throughout Regina.

“You can tell the kids to memorize something, but if you show them that it’s easy, that they can go out and give light bulbs to people and that’s helping take care of the world, you’re giving them something they can remember,” says Larry. “I’m sure in five years, none of these kids will remember their Beaver promise. But I bet you most of them will remember the night they went out and delivered light bulbs.”