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“In Alberta, there are about 2,400 scouts that we’ll lose to this LDS decision,” said David MacDonald, the commissioner for the Chinook Council, which runs Scouts Canada programs for Alberta communities south of Innisfail.

“It represents a little more than five per cent of scouts in Canada. It’s significant to us. We hate to lose any number of scouts.”

MacDonald, a church member himself, has been a part of Scouts Canada for more than 30 years. He plans to continue his involvement with the organization while also supporting the Mormon church’s new program.

“It doesn’t have to be an either-or decision. We’ll still have scouts and (scout leaders) like me continue to do both,” he said, arguing that the outdoorsy youth development focus of Scouts is still valuable for Alberta youngsters.

According to LDS officials in Canada, the choice to end the long-standing relationship with scouting was necessary because some areas of the world don’t have formal scouting programs.

“It really boils down to the fact that the church wanted to create a program that could be implemented worldwide to help young people develop,” said Rick Vermunt, a church leader at the LDS’s Calgary North Stake.

“It’s been a wonderful association and it has taught many of our young men key principles that have provided a springboard for them for the rest of their lives.”

Vermunt says the replacement program will incorporate some principles of scouting but will place an explicit focus on religion and spirituality.