A group of community-minded women celebrated the 80th anniversary of their benevolent organization earlier this month.
Members of the IODE Elizabeth Barrett Browning chapter shared memories of good times and kind deeds and looked through scrapbooks of newspaper clippings that tell their story over the years at a special dinner at the Apollo Restaurant.
IODE is the acronym for the Imperial Order of Daughters of the Empire. The acronym was officially adopted for use in the 1970s because the original name harkens to an earlier time in Canada's history.
Chapter president Muriel Anderson and secretary Peggy Soucie say older members don't want to change the name because they are proud of their history. Its story is an impressive journey to become relevant in the 21st century.
IODE was established in Canada 125 years ago – its motto was "One Flag, One Throne, One Empire" – during the Boer War to encourage patriotism for the British Empire by supporting the war effort.
It has changed its focus and evolved to meet today's social challenges, and like so many organizations in 2024, members are working to attract a younger generation of volunteers.
IODE Canada's motto or "tagline" today is "Women dedicated to a better Canada." There are about 1,500 members in 104 chapters throughout the country.
"We are proud Canadians," Soucie said.
According to the IODE Canada website, it is a "national women's charitable organization. Women of all ages, from all walks of life and backgrounds, meet in local chapters for fun, friendship and community volunteerism."
The Elizabeth Barrett Browning chapter, named for the English poet, was started in 1944 as a junior Children of the Empire chapter. Daughters of the established Elizabeth Fry chapter, which was formed in 1932, were encouraged to join. (The Elizabeth Fry and the Alexander Ramsey chapters merged into the Living With Lakes chapter in 2016.)
During the Second World War, the teenagers raised money for projects such as buying comfort bags for British children and to help Canadian soldiers' wives buy bridal dresses. They bought books for the Creighton library and paid for bushels of apples for Christmas hampers. They collected clothing to send to allied countries in Eastern Europe.
After the war, the chapter helped to buy toys for children in need, "assisted juvenile delinquent girls," made baby layettes for the Victoria Order of Nurses (VON), and sold poppies for Remembrance Day, according to information compiled by members.
A volunteer retyped handwritten meeting minutes from 1944 to 2014 – the last decade's minutes were scanned – and digitalized them for the city's archives.
As the chapter matured into an adult chapter in the 1950s, projects included raising money for education bursaries, making phone calls to promote blood donor clinics, and hosting Christmas parties for children with disabilities.
"They had so much fun back then," said Anderson, who has been a member for 30 years. "They held themed dances such as the Gold Leaf Ball."
"Today, we support organizations and causes that don't get a lot of public money assistance such as the Pregnancy Care Centre, the Elgin Street Mission, Better Beginnings, Better Futures and the Salvation Army," said Soucie.
The members assist in the distribution of student health kits that were supplied to them free by Global Medic, and provide scholarships for the students with learning disabilities.
Good deeds are funded by membership fees and fundraising.
"The chapter has two major fundraisers. We sell Christmas wreaths in November and geraniums in the spring," said Soucie, whose mother was a member of the Elizabeth Fry chapter.
"We have orders of more than 200 for wreaths," said Anderson. She arranges for a van every year to deliver the wreaths from southern Ontario.
Recently, the members held a porketta bingo at the Trevi Restaurant on Lasalle Boulevard.
The Elizabeth Barrett Browning chapter meets once a month at a member's home.
Six of the chapter's 17 members have been with the IODE for more than 30 years.
Two joined more than 50 years ago. Mary Deeth has been a member for 59 years and Marlene Pentilla has been a member for 56 years.
"It must keep us healthy," said Soucie. "Everyone contributes in some way. For a small group, we work very hard to help the marginalized in Sudbury."
"And we will continue to do so as long as we can," added Anderson.
Vicki Gilhula is a freelance writer. Journeys is made possible by our Community Leaders Program.