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​IODE 100th Anniversary Grant Program
Applications now being accepted. Deadline to apply has been
​extended to
15 December 2020

Click on the image for details.
2021/2022 IODE War Memorial Scholarship Application
Click on the image for details.
Letter of Intent to Apply must be received by IODE Canada 
   on or before 01 October

Complete Applications must be received by IODE Canada 
   on or before 01 November
​
IODE War Memorial Scholarship
​2020/2021 Recipients
120th National Annual Meeting
Celebrating their
​100th Anniversary
IODE Violet Downey Book Award Recipients
Read more about the
​​2020 Short List books
IODE Shop to Give
Click ​on poster to shop now
IODE RCMP Community Service Award Presented at the National Annual Meeting

Echoes

Echoes is the official publication for IODE members across Canada. Published continually since 1902,
​it is issued twice each year.
​View past issues of Echoes
IODE Canada
​Press Releases
​and Express News
For additional information

Membership

By joining IODE,
you will become part of a growing community of women
who play an important role
​in making a difference
​in the lives of children, youth, and those in need. 
​Become a Member!

Welcome

IODE Canada is a national women's charitable organization. Women of all ages, from all walks of life and educational backgrounds, meet in local chapters for fun, friendship and community volunteerism.

Members volunteer with and for people, focusing on Children, Education and Community Services. Each IODE chapter has the independence to choose and support projects in their own community. If you have just a few hours to spare monthly, you can make a difference and form lifelong friendships.

IODE membership is many things to many people. It is this diversification that holds the interest of the members and attracts others to it. What other organization has so much to offer to so many and in such different age groups?

The main benefit of belonging to IODE is being part of a like-minded group of women who work together to improve the quality of life for those in need. 

Heritage and Traditions

IODE is proud of its heritage and traditions. In 1900, Margaret Polson Murray of Montreal encouraged the formation of a federation of women to promote patriotism, loyalty and service to others. 

The first chapter, Federation of the Daughters of the Empire, was formed in Fredericton, New Brunswick on 05 January 1900. Primary chapters were formed in quick succession across Canada as were junior chapters.

In 1901, the Federation was incorporated as Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire and Children of the Junior Branch. IODE was incorporated as a Canadian women's organization by a special act of the Parliament of Canada in 1917.

IODE Today

Under the jurisdiction of the National Chapter of Canada IODE are provincial, municipal and primary chapters across Canada. With approximately 3,000 members across Canada in more than 200 chapters, the IODE tradition of serving children, youth and those in need continues. The name IODE was officially adopted in the 1970's. IODE Canada is a federally chartered charitable organization. 

IODE Canada and our members across Canada undertake an extensive variety of charitable and philanthropic projects every year. These include financial assistance and contributions of time and effort to students, educational institutions, hospitals, the under-privileged and those in need.

IODE War Memorial Scholarship

Over 100 Years
The National Chapter of Canada IODE initiated War Memorial Doctoral Scholarships in 1918 to commemorate Canadians who sacrificed their lives for peace and freedom. Initially, bursaries were granted to children of men and women who lost their lives or who were permanently disabled while fighting for Canada. Since the first scholarships were awarded in 1921, IODE War Memorial Scholars have made important contributions to Canada and the world in medicine, science, business, politics and academia. 

As World War I ended, The National Chapter of Canada initiated a living memorial to 60,000 Canadians whose lives were sacrificed.  This War Memorial, approved at the 1918 Annual Meeting in Montreal, provided bursaries for university studies in Canada to children of men killed or permanently disabled in the Great War.  

Immediately, a campaign to raise $500,000 began and by 1920 the first bursaries were awarded.

Each province was assigned one award of $250 a year for four years (later increased to $300).  Where there was no candidate, the bursary went to another province.

In 1929, the War Memorial Fund of the Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire was enacted by special act (Bill 8) of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario.

The War Memorial Committee in each province chose candidates based on their school record, health and character, the war service of their father and the family’s financial circumstances. Both principal and interest of the Fund provided these bursaries until 1937.  No awards were offered during the war years and bursaries ended in 1965. Scholarships based on academic excellence continued to be offered.

The War Memorial Post Graduate Scholarships began in 1921 for one college graduate from each province to spend one year at a British University.  Among the first to hold this scholarship for 1922-1923 at King’s College, University of London, was Bertha M. Lawrence from Alberta.

The value of a scholarship was $1,400 until 1930 when it was raised to $1,600.  Post Graduate Scholarship used only the Fund’s income.  No awards were offered during the war years and when peace was finally declared, in 1946, the members of IODE decided to establish a Second War Memorial to honour the memory of forty some thousand men and women who lost their lives for Canada and in defense of freedom.  The Post Graduate Scholarships from the two War Memorials Funds were originally offered in specific fields of study.

Today, there is no such restriction.  Applicants must be Canadian citizens and in at least the second year of their doctoral program.  Scholarships valued at $15,000 are now awarded to students attending Canadian or Commonwealth universities.   A committee in the province of the candidate’s first degree makes selections and forwards nominations to the National Chapter where the final decisions are made.  The National Selection Committee is comprised of five IODE members and three professors from different universities.  The National Chapter of Canada IODE War Memorial Scholars have made important contributions to Canada and the world in medicine, science, business, politics and academia.

Applications are now being accepted for the 2020 - 2021 IODE War Memorial Scholarship. Complete information and application forms are available at www.IODE.ca.
Save the Date 
Please join us in
Sydney, Nova Scotia  
for the  
2021 National Annual Meeting
and 
IODE Nova Scotia’s 101st National Annual Meeting
02 to 04 June 2021 ​
Sydney is the historic capital of Cape Breton and largest urban centre on the island. From the harbourfront board-walk complete with buskers and visiting cruise ships to the world’s largest fiddle, Sydney will be sure to charm  you! It also boasts a convenient proximity to all the major attractions on the Island like the world famous Cabot Trail, Fortress of Louisbourg, the Alexander Graham Bell Museum in the beautiful village of Baddeck and six amazing golf courses! ​

Message from the National President

The national office is operating remotely

We are now operating remotely due to Covid-19.  Our administrative staff can answer emails to iodecanada@bellnet.ca and iodeinfo@bellnet.ca and reply to 416-487-4416 phone messages. Our staff members attend the office weekly to handle mail, banking and IODE programs.

All national committee meetings will be meeting by teleconference or Zoom until the situation changes.  Check the IODE Canada website and Facebook for updates.

The challenges presented by the Covid-19 pandemic will not be over soon.  Please do not try to do the impossible and expose yourself to this deadly virus.   

​Take care and stay safe.

Kind regards,
 
Carol McCall
President
IODE Canada
_________________________
IODE Canada Head Office
40 Orchard View Blvd., Suite 219
Toronto ON M4R 1B9
​

​Founded in 1900, IODE Canada is a national women's charitable organization dedicated to enhancing the quality of life for individuals through education support, community service, and citizenship programs.