Who We Are |
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A Proud History
IODE Laurentian is a group of women who come from all backgrounds and parts of Ottawa. We are bound together by our shared commitment to helping others. Our story began in 1906 when 23-year old Lady Sybil Grey, daughter of the Governor General, invited 15 Ottawa women to form a local chapter of the new Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire. Our first major project raised 100% of the funds needed to build the Lady Grey Sanatorium on the grounds of what eventually became the Royal Ottawa Hospital. Throughout the world wars, we ran soldiers’ canteens, sent comforts to people serving overseas, established a veterans’ loans fund, and offered relief to the unemployed by paying rents and heating fuel. We also began to endow scholarships. |
Photo: Lady Sybil Grey
In recent years, we have proudly raised more than one million dollars to support local charities, particularly those serving women and children at risk. These days we are known more simply (and less quaintly) as IODE but we remain just as committed as our founders to helping in Ottawa where we’re needed most. |
Highlights of Our Successes in 2025
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