Rideau Hall, Tuesday, October 17, 2006

Given the strong bond between the Office of the Governor General and IODE, it is a distinct pleasure to welcome you to Rideau Hall on this auspicious occasion.

One hundred years of service to your fellow citizens is certainly something to celebrate. And I think it speaks volumes that the Laurentian Chapter of IODE has chosen to celebrate its centenary by doing what it does best: giving back to the community.

Today, this involves much needed funding for a patients’ room for adolescents at the Royal Ottawa’s new facility. In 1900, when the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire was founded, it was to bring comfort to the Canadian men fighting in the South African War.

And the common thread that runs through the work of the many chapters that have arisen since that time is a commitment to improving the lives of people in need.

Obviously, much has changed since the early days of your organization. Over one hundred years ago, members of the IODE were searching for the graves of the Canadians who fell at Paardeberg and elsewhere in South Africa.

At the beginning of the First World War, working with other Canadian women’s organizations, the IODE was instrumental in raising the impressive sum of $200,000 for hospital aid.

And then there were the many thousands of knitted articles—including socks, mittens, mufflers, caps, and others—that were made by IODE volunteers for the courageous men serving overseas.

The genius of IODE is the way your organization has changed with the times. Today’s members are still fired by the same passion to help others that drove those who came before.

But now you have broadened your focus, coming to the aid of many of your fellow Canadians, including some of the most vulnerable members of our society.

There is, of course, IODE’s support for educational programs, including doctoral scholarships, awards for students of the arts, emergency financial aid for high school students, stay-in-school programs, and many others.

However, in addition to this, different IODE chapters across the country are active in a wide range of areas.

For example, there is the support you provide in various remote communities, providing computer and sports equipment, upgrading libraries, and funding literacy programs, just to name a few examples.

IODE also supports substance abuse prevention programs for teens, help for families with special needs children, and breakfast programs in schools.

You help fund equipment for hospitals, the preservation of heritage sites, awards for police officers and firefighters, the list goes on and on…

All of these varied efforts are perfectly captured in a sentence taken from the National Chapter’s website, quote: “IODE is women striving together to make Canada a better place.”

In that regard, your organization is the embodiment of one of our country’s greatest strengths—our concern for each other. Throughout our history, Canadians have looked out for one another, and have helped one another in times of need.

In the early days, Aboriginal peoples helped early European settlers adapt to this country’s cold winters. Later, farming communities would cooperate in planting and harvesting each others crops. Later still, we pooled our resources to fund such programs as old age security, unemployment insurance, and our health care system.

Canadians take care of each other, through public programs, and through private initiatives like those coordinated and funded by your wonderful organization.

The generous donation you presented to the Royal Ottawa Hospital today is an eloquent example of the vital contribution IODE makes to our society.

I wish you much success as you look ahead to another century of good works. I have no doubt that the Laurentian Chapter and IODE will continue to play an essential role in making our great country even better in the decades ahead.

Thank you very much.