Boys' Brigade - Other Countries

Other Countries

• Antigua

There are a number of Boys' Brigade Companies on Antigua. The island has one of the strongest Boys' Brigade movements in the South Eastern Caribbean Region.

• Australia

The first BB company was formed at the St. Marks Church of England, Fitzroy, Melbourne in 1890. The Boys' Brigade Australia has since formed an Australian council and has spread throughout the country ever since. The main award boys aim for is the Queen's Badge, that recognises a Boy who has demonstrated the high principles that The Boys' Brigade promotes. It can be gained by consistent effort within the curriculum of the award program.

• Bermuda

Boys' Brigade was established at St. Paul's Anglican Church in 1960 and continues to be active, stating its aim in 2008 is "the advancement of Christ's Kingdom among boys and the promotion of habits of obedience, reverence, discipline, self-respect and all that tends towards a true Christian manliness".

• British Virgin Islands

Boys' Brigade exists in the British Virgin Islands, and there is one active company.

• Canada

The Boys' Brigade was prominent in Canada up until the mid-1980s. The Boys' Brigade owned a camp north of Toronto at Gravenhurst, Ontario. The last of the "Toronto companies" were the 11th and 9th. In addition, there were several companies in Montreal Quebec (6th, 8th Montreal and others), Winnipeg Manitoba, and Calgary Alberta.

• Dominica

There is currently one Boys’ Brigade Company on the island, situated Marigot, which is a 90 minute taxi ride from the capital, Roseau. The Company has approximately 30 boys within the Junior and Senior Sections who meet on a Monday night.

• Hong Kong

The Boys' Brigade in Hong Kong has more than 200 companies.

• Indonesia

One of the schools in this country that applies The Boys' Brigade activity is IPEKA Christian School or Sekolah Kristen IPEKA, which adapts the program to some of its Junior High schools. The school itself also has an international school, IPEKA International Christian School.

• Malaysia

The Boys' Brigade in Malaysia was first organised in 1946. It has continued a steady growth ever since and now has 6,713 members in 101 Companies.

• Montserrat

The Boys' Brigade is alive in Monserrat, with one active Company as of 2012.

• New Zealand

The Boys' Brigade began in New Zealand 1889 and continued until World War I in 1914, when insufficient leaders were available. Reactivated in 1926, by the 1960s there were 12,000 members in New Zealand in 220 companies. In 2003 a partial rebranding of Boys Brigade took place. The new sub-organisation is called ICONZ, is less formal than the parent organisation and currently consists of 36 units throughout New Zealand. There were also 3,618 members on various Pacific islands.

• Singapore

The Boys' Brigade in Singapore was organised in 1930 by former BB members of the South China Battalion who escaped from Swatow, China during the occupation of the region by the Chinese Communist Party. It currently has more than 7,000 members in 117 Companies.

• St Kitts

The Boys' Brigade was established at the Wesley Methodist Church (located in Basseterre) and was only founded for the boys who went to the Methodist churches around the island. However, over the years we have incooperated boys from all denominations. Today, the Boys' Brigade moves forward as a very active part of St Kitts pushing its motto: "Sure and Steadfast"

• Trinidad and Tobago

The Boys' Brigade is alive and well throughout Trinidad and Tobago. In 2010 the BB celebrated its 50th anniversary on Tobago, and as of 2012 there are two active Companies attached to the Methodist Church on the island. The 1st Tobago Company also has a marching band, and they are regularly featured on the island's only radio station and parade through the capital city, Scarborough, on a regular basis.

• United States

Boys' Brigade companies were established by the early 20th century in several major U.S. cities in the northeast such as Baltimore and Boston, the midwest, and California. As of 2003, there were 2,000 members in American companies.