IODE proudly celebrates its 125th anniversary, marking over a century of dedication to education, community service, and patriotism. Since its founding in 1900, IODE has made a lasting impact through charitable initiatives, scholarships, and volunteer efforts across Canada. This milestone honors the commitment and contributions of its members, past and present, as we continue to uphold the organization’s legacy of service and support for those in need.
October marks IODE Awareness Month, a special time to shine a spotlight
on our members’ inspiring efforts and community contributions.
on our members’ inspiring efforts and community contributions.
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  The Mayor of Orangeville, ON, proclaimed IODE Week to celebrate the IODE Headwaters, IODE Lord Dufferin and IODE Yellow Briar Chapters.
Alberta Provincial Chapter, Education Officer Valerie Braiden was pleased to present a cheque for $10,000 to the Sexual Assault Centre Edmonton.
IODE Atlantic Charter, St. Stephen, NB, “It Takes a Village to Raise a Reader” display at the St. Croix Public Library.
In Olds, AB, Bonnie Robb member of IODE Baron Tweedsmuir Chapter, knitted more than 125 pairs of baby booties in celebration of IODE’s 125th Anniversary. And chapter member Diana Jackson created 125 stuffies and many beautiful knitted/crocheted items for donation.
Members of IODE Captain Garnet Brackin Chapter, Chatham, ON, proudly stand beneath the memorial banner honouring their namesake, Captain Garnet Brackin, a World War I Army veteran.
IODE Catherine McVean Chapter made Thanksgiving treats for Meals on Wheels in Dresden, ON, bringing smiles to those they serve.
IODE Dardanelles Chapter in Alberta, helped bring art to life by covering Carstairs Art Guild members’ course fees for a skilled instructor. The Chapter also provides every kindergarten student at Carstairs Elementary School with a school T-shirt, helping each child feel part of their school community.
During their monthly meeting, members of IODE Errol Egremont in Sarnia, ON, took a moment to spread holiday cheer by signing Christmas cards for Canadian military men and women who are away from their families this holiday season.
Friend of IODE, Briggs Plumbing Inc. hosted the IODE Heritage Chapter display in downtown St. Stephen, NB.
In celebration of IODE’s 125th Anniversary, members of the IODE Jon Sigurdsson Chapter collected 250 children’s books!
Special thanks to member Natalie, who rallied her quilting friends to sew 125 colourful book bags. These books and bags were donated to inner-city nursery schools in Winnipeg for children to take home and enjoy. To mark both the chapter’s 50th anniversary and IODE’s 125th anniversary, members of IODE Katie Hazen Mackay shared their generosity by donating over 100 Tops for Tots to the Saint John Regional Hospital and other much-needed items within their New Brunswick community.
IODE Lord Lascelles Chapter members visited the Lacombe Food Bank. As well as giving a donation of $2,000, Lacombe, AB
Members of IODE Mount Temple Chapter selling hot dogs to support local causes in beautiful downtown Banff, Alberta.
IODE Trillium 2023 Chapter is a virtual chapter in Ontario, with members connecting monthly via Zoom. You never know where they’ll appear next, bringing their displays and spirit to communities across the province! Here, they were part of the Celebrating Women in Business event in Forest, Ontario.
To mark IODE’s 125th anniversary, the IODE Hon. Malcolm Cameron Chapter, Sarnia, ON, has collected 125 pairs of socks for a local food bank, more than 125 books for the Literacy Lambton’s Christmas hampers and have signed over 125 Christmas cards to send a little cheer to armed forces members serving overseas.
To mark the 125th Anniversary of IODE in Canada, members of the IODE Kent Regiment Chapter collected 125 (in fact, 153) personal care items during the month of October. These items were donated to the Food Outreach Program of St. Paul’s Victoria Ave United Church in Chatham, ON.
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IODE Margaret Stocks Chapter proudly flew the IODE Corporate Logo Standard at the Petrolia Town Hall against Ontario’s bright blue skies.
Lindsay Lake, a member of IODE 48th Highlanders Chapter, Toronto, ON, is shown with deployment packages she assembled, which included copies of Echoes. These packages were sent to members of the Canadian Armed Forces currently deployed outside Canada. Lindsay is stationed in Gagetown, NB.
Members of IODE Annie May Jackson Chapter, Edmonton, AB, arranged to have 100 squares knitted. It took 55 hours to assemble the squares into four afghans, which were donated to women’s shelters in both Edmonton and Calgary. Teamwork at its finest!
Members of IODE Bow Fort Chapter were thrilled to contribute $5,000 to Brown Bagging for Calgary’s Kids, an organization that provides nutritious lunches to approximately 8,000 children every school day.
All these wonderful new and gently used items were packed into eight boxes for Omushkegiskwew House Family Resource Centre in Moosonee, northern Ontario, by members of IODE Captain Hooper Chapter, Carleton Place, ON.
Ontario, Ridgetown’s IODE Confederation Chapter brought autumn cheer to residents of Village on the Ridge Long-Term Care Home by donating festive fall decorations.
IODE Doris E. Sullivan Chapter, Fredericton, NB, created social media posts to raise awareness and celebrate their ongoing community work.
Wm. E. Hay Stettler Secondary Campus in Stettler, Alberta, created a Wellness Closet to provide students with basic toiletries and clothing, stocked and maintained by a small group of high school students, and accessed discreetly with the help of teaching staff and wellness workers. IODE Frontenac members contributed by purchasing and collecting over 125 needed items, including extras such as laundry baskets and detergent, to support the Wellness Closet and the students who use it.
Members of IODE Jessie Gordon Chapter in Vancouver, BC, packaged up socks, baby items, handmade quilts, and beautifully knitted blankets that made the long journey north to bring comfort to a remote community in northern British Columbia.
Proudly living up to IODE’s legacy of women dedicated to a better Canada, members of the IODE Lady Holland Chapter in Stratford, PEI, showed their patriotism by volunteering to tie poppies onto a special Remembrance Day display.
In Orangeville, ON, members of IODE Lord Dufferin Chapter continue their hosting regular Child ID Clinics. The chapter, which founded the local hospital in 1912, remains deeply committed to supporting it today.
Fondly known as the Butter Tart Ladies in Petrolia, ON, members of IODE Margaret Stokes Chapter are always busy spreading kindness, whether it’s presenting education awards or celebrating the efforts of local first responders.
Proclamation made by mayor Rod Gilroy Municipality of Cumberland, Nova Scotia to declare October as IODE Awareness Month recognizing IODE Cobequid Chapter in Springhill, IODE Lord Amherst Chapter and IODE Tantramar Chapter in Amherst.
IODE Dawson Chapter, chartered in 1919, is located in Dawson City, Yukon. The chapter has held its annual Ice Pool, since 1928. Participants guess the date and time the Yukon River ice will break up, signaling the start of summer.
Part of the funds raised support a $750 scholarship, open to any Dawson City resident pursuing further education, whether in a certificate, diploma, degree, trades in-school training, or other program. 
Members of the IODE Richmond Chapter in Richmond, BC, enjoyed guest speaker Dennis Molnar who spoke on “who was the Real James Bond - the World War 2 Spy”.
This chapter are strong supports of Richmond School Board Food-U-Cate breakfast program. The "Feed-U-Cate 38" program is an initiative by the Richmond School District in British Columbia to support students in need by providing breakfast, lunch, and snack programs. |
125 Acts of Kindness
IODE Lord Dufferin Chapter is well known for their annual spring geranium seedling fundraiser. To celebrate IODE’s 125th Anniversary, they donated 250 geranium seedlings to the Orangeville and District Horticultural Society for their fundraiser and 250 seedling plugs to an after school program for children to grow and give for Mother’s Day.
Members of IODE Val Griffiths Chapter responded to a request in London, Ontario, for donations of underwear for those in need. The group purchased 125 pairs of underwear for men, women, and children. The donation was given to 519 Pursuit, an organization that works with shelters and individuals experiencing homelessness to provide essential support.
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Members of IODE Bow Fort Chapter in Calgary, AB, have been busy preparing treat bags for Easter to donate to various groups, including the Fire Department and the Women's Shelter. In honor of IODE’s 125th anniversary, they successfully assembled and wrapped 125 bags to spread joy and kindness in their community.
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In celebration of IODE’s 125th anniversary, chapters across the country are undertaking 125 acts of kindness.
Members from IODE Confederation Chapter, donated 125 boxes of tissues to the residents of the Village on the Ridge Long-term Care Home located in the small community of Ridgetown, Ontario.
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Multitasking - knitting at the St. Albert Rugby Club and watching the Brier.
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Past Alberta Provincial President Valerie Braiden, a member of IODE Ethel Cuts, St. Albert, has committed to knitting 125 newborn toques. In the past, her handmade toques have been donated to the Sturgeon Community Hospital – Labour and Delivery Unit in St. Albert and the Terra Centre for Teenage Parents in Edmonton. 
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Valerie’s toques are carefully placed in clean Ziploc bags along with IODE promotional materials and a copy of Echoes.
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Members mark 125 years of IODE in Fredericton, the birthplace.
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Video courtesy of Avery MacRae, Journalist, CTV News Atlantic
Celebrating IODE legacy of service
and community impact |
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The Founder’s Day celebration in Sarnia, ON, brought together members from five area IODE chapters for a wonderful gathering filled with great conversation and a shared appreciation for 125 years of community service.
The five chapters were IODE Errol Egremont, Sarnia, IODE Hon. Malcolm Cameron, Sarnia, IODE Margaret Stokes, Petrolia, IODE Confederation, Ridgetown and Trillium 2023 (virtual chapter),
In celebration of Founder’s Day, IODE’s 125th Anniversary, and Valentine’s Day, members of IODE Atlantic Charter Chapter explored scrapbooks and examined artifacts to create a special display at Brigg’s Plumbing store front window, in St. Stephen, New Brunswick. Ian Briggs, a valued friend of IODE.
Celebrating the 50th anniversary of IODE Katie Hazen Mackay, Saint John, NB
and the 125th Anniversary of IODE in Canada with a chocolate and vanilla cake!
and the 125th Anniversary of IODE in Canada with a chocolate and vanilla cake!
Cutting the cake is National President Jane Cushing, and chapter President Beverley Sleigh
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IODE Maple Leaf Chapter members collected about 260 pair of new socks to donate to the Women’s Shelter in Goderich and the Canadian Mental Health Association in Goderich. This collection was done in celebration of IODE 125th Anniversary. (L-R) Regent Heather Stewart, a representative from the Women’s Shelter/CMHA, Past Regent Penny Murray and Past Regent Ann-Marie Becke
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IODE Eldon House Chapter in London Ontario - 278 pairs of socks were collected for donation. The goal was 125 pairs of socks to celebrate the 125th Anniversary of IODE Canada and the chapter were able to more than double that! The socks were distributed to The Men’s Mission which supports programs and services for men at risk or experiencing homelessness, the 519 Pursuit, a group that helps citizens facing poverty and homelessness and the London Inter Community Health Centre which provides health and social services for those experiencing barriers to receiving care such as poverty, homelessness, language, mental health or substance abuse issues. (L-R) Kathy Michienzi and Marion Hearn
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IODE Bemersyde Chapter members and friends gathered to assemble Christmas planters as part of their "fun" raising projects in celebration of IODE’s 125th Anniversary. Surpassing their goal of 125 orders, they successfully created 140 beautiful planters for residents in and around Campbellford, ON.
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The IODE Trillium 2023 (Virtual) Chapter, with members across Ontario, has been celebrating IODE’s 125th anniversary by committing to covering 125 km each month through their favorite activities - walking, running, or cycling. One member recorded 156 km in a single month. |
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IODE Catherine McVean Chapter, Dresden, ON
continues to play a supporting role in preserving the history of their town
continues to play a supporting role in preserving the history of their town
August 2024, to recognize their Chapter's 110th Anniversary and IODE’s 125th Anniversary, IODE Catherine McVean Chapter sponsoring the plaquing of Jackson Park. The park has played many roles in Dresden’s history. Historical records tell that the area offered an opportunity for black refugees to learn agricultural skills, it was the location to a live market, home of the Town Hall, an entertainment centre and now a sports field.
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IODE Catherine McVean Chapter in Dresden, Ontario, was founded in 1914 originally named IODE Sydenham Chapter, in honour of Charles Thompson (1799–1841), Canada’s Governor, whom Queen Victoria later made Lord Sydenham. Following the death of organizer, charter member and first Regent, Mrs. Osgoode McVean, permission was given to rename the chapter in her honour.
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