“New Horizons” – Niagara-on-the-Lake, Ontario, Canada
The Story
My brother, Sam (Samuel B. Curry, Jr.), had the opportunity to attend his second jamboree when he was 15. It was not a long trip from the Philadelphia area, but so exciting to be with scouts from around the world.
This Jamboree was notable as the first held in the Western Hemisphere and welcomed nearly 11,000 Scouts from around the world. The cloth emblem shown here was commonly mounted to uniforms, camp blankets, or saved as a souvenir by participants and traders. Surviving examples in clean condition like this one are desirable to collectors of World Jamboree memorabilia.
The Artifacts
Official Jamboree Emblem Cloth / Uniform Patch:
This circular cloth emblem was issued for the 8th World Scout Jamboree, held July–August 1955 at Niagara-on-the-Lake, Canada. The theme of the event—“New Horizons / Nouveaux Horizons”—is printed along the bottom of the design in both English and French, reflecting the bilingual character of Scouting in Canada.
Design Features:
Lettering around the border reads:
“8th World Jamboree Mondial – 1955 – Canada”
Printed on a light canvas-type cloth, often used for sewn-on uniform badges of the era
Centered green fleur-de-lis with the World Jamboree trefoil stars
Stylized maple leaf outline indicating Canada as host nation
A triangular yellow tent at the top of the leaf, symbolizing world camping and international fellowship
Disposition
2/13/2026 to Scout Heritage Museum-Milwaukee