When Irwin S Hobden (1930-2024) was in his early seventies, he was informed that he could no longer drive the tractor to assist with maintenance duties at Camp Boyle, the Boy Scout camp near Summerland, B.C. Over a short period of time he had lost nearly all of his vision in both eyes.
Irwin arrived in Penticton in 1955 with an interesting resume. He was a mechanic employed by Cummins Diesel. He had also served for five years as a Scoutmaster in Nelson, B.C. By sheer happenstance, 3rd Penticton Scout Troop was in desperate need of a new Scoutmaster. He took on his new roles as employee and volunteer at the same time upon arrival, roles that remained intertwined for decades to come.
Over the next nearly eight years, with assistance from other volunteers such as Harold Barritt and Richard Cawood, the Scouts of 3rd Penticton Troop were treated to a varied program. The highlight was a ten day canoe trip in the West Kootenay area.
In 1963 Irwin’s role in Scouting shifted to the District level where his first official position was District Scoutmaster with the responsibility of assisting and recruiting new Scoutmasters throughout the entire Okanagan South District. This was quickly combined with the title of Assistant District Commissioner for Training. Irwin had now taken on responsibility for training of all adult volunteers in the District. He was now working with other longtime volunteers such as Jack Wilmshurst, Bob Winter, Lyall Chambers, Harley Hatfield, Gordon Blewett and Dave McDonald.
In 1974 Irwin became District Commissioner in Okanagan South. He now oversaw all Scouting activities in the District, which included recruitment and training of adult volunteers. In addition he had operational oversight on all Scouting events and programs in Summerland, Penticton, Naramata, Kaleden, Okanagan Falls, Oliver, Osoyoos, Keremeos, Cawston and Princeton. He stayed in this position until 1979 when he passed the mantle to Jack Sworder, another volunteer who had given extensive service to Scouting.
In the middle of his term Irwin also accepted the role of Regional Commissioner for the BC Interior Region, which meant that he was working with volunteers in an area that stretched from Osoyoos to Kamloops and as far away as Revelstoke.
In the early 1980s Irwin’s employer wanted him to relocate in order to train and troubleshoot in several towns throughout the province. It would require relocating his young family every year or so. It also would have ended his Scouting activities in both the District and the Region. He was reluctant to put his family through this turmoil, and so he declined the offer.
Cummins Diesel persisted, however, and a compromise was reached. Irwin would still maintain his home in Penticton, but would travel extensively for many years. What, though, about his Scouting activities? The solution was simple. He shifted his volunteer time to the BC/Yukon Provincial Service Team where his responsibilities included Assistant Provincial Commissioner for Scouts, with special focus on outdoor activities and special events. He maintained his position as Assistant Regional Commissioner for Scouts (Interior Region). As he traveled he now worked with Scoutmasters and District Service Teams throughout the province and the Yukon, even going as far as Alberta. Irwin’s favourite activity was canoe instruction and wilderness planning for youths and adult volunteers wherever his employment took him.
In 1993 Irwin was able to return home where his Scouting focus once more became local. His new roles were Area Commissioner for Okanagan South District and Regional Commissioner for the BC Interior Region. He was now working with the next generation of adult volunteers who had served for decades in Scouting and who were now working at the District and Regional level, people such as Dave Mitchell, Michael Meheriuk, Bob Osborne, Jan Hanna, Alan Dawkins and Richard Tallon.
During his more than fifty years of volunteerism in Scouting Irwin was the recipient of many of the highest commendations that Scouting can offer. These included the Long Service Medal (1962), the Silver Acorn (1981) and the Bar to the Silver Acorn (1989). In addition he received the Canada Commemorative Medal in 1990.
For many decades Irwin had offered support for other Scouting volunteers. In addition he introduced special programs such as “Project Scouting”, which was intended to help Leaders enhance their regular Scouting programs with field experience in environmental activities such as the “Burrowing Owls Project”. The project transplanted this endangered species from Washington State to the desert near Osoyoos. Irwin also introduced the “Project WILD” program into local Scouting. This expansive wildlife awareness and conservation training initiative is still active in Scouting and in many countries throughout the world.
In 1999 as his eyesight faded, Irwin continued to offer guidance and ideas for many volunteers in an unofficial role as “Elder Scouter”. And in 2013 he became a primary participant in a Scouting archival undertaking known as DYB DYB South Okanagan Historical Project.
This article was written by Gerry Lamb and published in the 88th Annual Report of the Okanagan Historical Society. It is copywritten.