Formerly known as Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire until the 1970s, we have been in service since 1900.
We are now celebrating 115 busy years. We began in New Brunswick as a loyal support for Canadians departing to fight in the Boer War in South Africa. Our organization is a federally chartered not-for-profit charitable organization, not affiliated with any other agency or religion.
It will be interesting to note that nationally, the IODE purchased the Bolingbroke Bomber for the war effort. This plane, with the IODE logo painted on it, is now retired and housed in the Federal Aviation Museum in Hamilton, Ont.
On Feb. 10, the ladies gathered for lunch at the Day’s Inn Conference Centre to celebrate the founding of our organization by Margaret Polson Murray. We were delighted to have been joined at the head table by Mayor Andrew Jakubeit, who brought greetings from the city and related what council is presently working on.
One long-time member, Laura Day-Cooke, was presented with her 50-year pin by our president, Beatrice Steele. Quite an accomplishment. Laura also received a congratulatory certificate from the national IODE president Anne Mason. Last year, Coleen Pollitt was delighted to receive her 50-year pin from the chapter.
After lunch, the Canadian flag was given to each person present and we all stood up to sing the national anthem. A little early perhaps, but we were celebrating our flag’s 50th birthday which took place on Feb. 15.
Denise Kadatz
Communications IODE -Penticton