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In This Issue:President's Report-------------------------------------------------------------------------------1
Annual General Meeting and Associated Special Meeting, 31 st May --------- 2
Coming Events----------------------------------------------------------------------------------- 2
Dreamland, A History of Canadian Films ----------------------------------------------- 3
Some Richmond Soldier-Settlers ---------------------------------------------------------- 3
Costumes for the 1 50th Anniversary of the Rideau Canal------------------------- 5
Excursion to Cornwall ------------------------------------------------------------------------- 6
The IODE Laurentian Chapter, 1 906 - 201 3 --------------------------------------------- 7
Ode to Laurentian IODE ----------------------------------------------------------------------- 8
Ottawa Regional Heritage Fair - Tues., 23rd April-------------------------------- --- - 8
President’s ReportByGeorge Neville
Remember to visit the Canadian
Museum of Civilization on Tuesday,
23rd April (9:30 am – 2:30 pm) to view
a maximum of 160 student exhibits on
Canadian history at the annual
OTTAWA REGIONAL HERITAGE
FAIR. The youthful exhibitors (Grades
7-9) will be delighted to chat with you
and explain their projects in either
French or English. The formal
ceremonies with presentation of prizes
usually begin by 1 :30 pm.
As a result of a decision taken by the
HSO Board of Directors at its May
2012 meeting, the Historical Society of
Ottawa, as official sponsor of the
Ottawa Regional Heritage Fair for the
3rd year running, will be presenting its
$200 award, as part of The City of
Ottawa Cup in recognition of the “best
exhibit on Ottawa”, as the Sir Richard
William Scott Award. As Dave
Mullington, HSO Director and author
of an HSO history in preparation for
printing, has summarized, “Scott was a
key figure in Ottawa municipal,
provincial and federal politics for more
than 50 years and was the author of the
city’s successful essay to Queen
Victoria promoting Ottawa as the
national capital. As mayor in 1852, he
also calmed tensions between the Irish
Catholic and Orange communities and
did much for the city later as both a
federal and provincial minister”. The
idea for this proposal arose from
Edward Bebee, HSO Director and
Chair of Publications, in the course of
his editorial work in preparing Book 3
of the Jachan Commemorative Series
of Recollections by Lilian Scott
Desbarats (Bytown Pamphlet No. 81 )
who was struck by her comment on
page 21 that “there is no monument to
the memory of the man [her father]
who won for our city the great
privilege of being the Capital of
Canada”. In 1909, Richard W. Scott
was created a knight bachelor.
While the HSO is not in a financial
position to erect monuments, perhaps
for its longer-term planning it could
seek to fund a plaque to R.W. Scott’s
memory for mounting near Sapper’s
Bridge where as Mayor in 1852 at the
age of 27 years, he rose above partisan
religious and cultural sentiments to
lead an Orange Parade from that bridge
down through Lower Town (see p. 7 of
Book 3).
Chance Revelation: A Pioneer Store
in Upper Canada – %ever published!
During questions and discussion
following Kurt Johnson’s presentation
to the February HSO meeting, mention
was made that Marion Scott of the
Goulbourn Historical Society had
found the components in the City
Archives for the above named book
listed as HSO publication #2 on the
back cover of Lett’s Bytown, where
also are listed HSO publication #3
(Recollections of Old Bytown) and
HSO publication #1 (Sights and
Surveys). Your President noted in
The Historical Society of
Ottawa �ewsISS% 1207-1838 Issue %o. 140 April 2013
discussion that no copy of publication
#2 could be found in the HSO Library
or in the Society’s remaining inventory
of publications. At that moment,
Dorene Hirsch made a startling
revelation! She said at the time it was
the intention to publish material from
(Richmond merchant) George Lyon’s
first account book, but the Society
never got around to doing it. Marion
later informed this writer that the
account book runs 175 pages of widely
spaced entries. Edwin Welch had
prepared a 17-page introduction plus a
glossary of contents. Marion is
extracting portions for posting to her
blog <Richmondhistory.ca> for social
history purposes for which she
prepares overview commentaries.
. . . . . cont'd on page 4
NewPolicies
Members may be interested inreading 3 new policies whichyour Board has approved andlisted under "About Us" -"Policies" on the HSO website(hsottawa.ncf.ca). They areessentially a formalisation ofour current practises forPublications, Privacy, andRules of Order for Motions,Debate and Voting.
Coming EventsFriday, April 26
Monthly MeetingSpeaker: Terry West“The Controversial Mac-PapMemorial on Green Island,Ottawa (Spanish Civil War -Canadian Contribution)”Routhier Community Centre*1 :00 p.m.
Friday, May 31Annual General & SpecialMeeting, 1 :00 p.m.Routhier Community Centre*
A note regarding Membership renewals For regular members ofThe Historical Society of Ottawa, your renewal date is shown on youraddress label on this newsletter. Please check it and see that you areuptodate. If not, a renewal form is available for you to photocopy onthe last page of this newsletter, or just send us a cheque that showsyour current address and phone number.
The Historical Society of Ottawa was founded in 1898 (as the Women's Canadian Historical Society ofOttawa).
Its objective is to increase public knowledge of the history ofOttawa by its publications, meetings, tours, outreach
and participation in local heritage events and also by its co-operation with the Bytown Museum, a store of
artifacts reflecting Ottawa's history from Bytown days and into the present century. Its headquarters is in the
Bytown Museum, Lt.-Col. By's Commissariat Building, constructed of stone in 1827 and located at 1 Canal Lane
by the Rideau Canal between the Château Laurier and Parliament Hill.
Page 2 HSO �ewsletter April 2013
The Historical Society ofOttawaPatron: His Excellency the Right Honourable David Johnston, C.C., C.M.M., C.O.M., C.D.
Governor General of Canada
Board Of Directors
President: George Neville [email protected] 61 3-729-0579
Secretary: Don Baxter [email protected] 61 3-745-3430
Treasurer: Anne Carruthers [email protected] 61 3-828-0538
Awards: Alan McLay (Penultimate Past President) 61 3-730-2264
Ed Bebee [email protected] 61 3-741 -7838
Bryan Cook [email protected] 61 3-824-8458
Mary Edwards [email protected] 61 3-824-5490
Jean L'Espérance [email protected] 61 3-421 -7699
Dave Mullington [email protected] 61 3-829-8430
Don Ross [email protected] 61 3-592-2539
Barbara Whitfield [email protected] 61 3-722-2209
CommitteesArchives Brigitte Pollock ([email protected])
Awards Alan McLay
Library Jean L'Espérance
Membership Chair Don Ross
Nominations Alan McLay, Don Ross, Barbara Whitfield
Newsletter Arthur Beaubien ([email protected])
Publications Ed Bebee ([email protected])
Telephone Barbara Whitfield, Pat Richardson
Tours Coordinator George Neville
Web Liason Dave Mullington
Webmaster John Reeder ([email protected])
All general correspondence should be addressed to:
The Secretary; The Historical Society of Ottawa
P.O. Box 523, Station “B”
Ottawa, ON K1P 5P6
HSO Email: [email protected] HSO Web Site: hsottawa.ncf.ca
*Parking at the Routhier Community Centre - from Cumberland Ave. , between St. Patrick St. and Guigues Ave.
31st May 2013 – AGM of the HSO
and a separately constituted meeting
to review, discuss & approve revised
“Purposes & Objects” of the HSO:
• To serve to increase public knowledge
of the history of Ottawa and its region
through publications, meetings, tours,
awards, sponsored research and
maintenance of a Reference Library held
in the Archives of the City ofOttawa;
• To facilitate the archival preservation
of historical material related to Ottawa
and its region;
• To preserve the memory of Lieutenant-
Colonel John By, founder of Bytown
and Chief Architect and Royal Engineer
for the construction of the Rideau Canal
system;
• To support and encourage heritage
conservation;
• To cooperate with other historical and
heritage groups with similar aims.
Report ofJanuaryMeeting:
Ron Elmer – Dreamland, A
History of Canadian Films
Reported by George Neville
The scheduled presentation by Prof.
Chad Gaffield for 25th January was
precluded by a later selection of that
date for his daughter’s wedding. On
relatively short notice, longtime HSO
member, Ronald F. Elmer kindly
consented to bring his projection gear
and show one of his digitized ‘salvaged
films’ , "Dreamland”, an 85-minute
account of the struggles to develop a
Canadian film industry that eventually
led to the formation of the National
Film Board ofCanada.
This fascinating documentary covers
the history of early Canadian movies
from 1895 to 1939 and the attempts to
establish a viable film entrepreneurship
and industry in Canada against the
established, controlling American
interests and networks dominated by
Hollywood syndicates. One of the
earliest ventures occurred here in
Ottawa with the opening on 21 st July
1896 of a 1 ,000-seat pavilion in
Westend Park [later named Victoria
Park in Hintonburg] by the local
Holland brothers, [Andrew and
George] , acting as agents for the
Thomas Edison Vitascope, a prototype
April 2013 HSO �ewsletter Page 3
film projection. The program featured
Belsaz, the Magician [John C. Green]
as the attraction, but it was the short
film. ‘The Kiss’ , a first ever of its kind
of tender, passionate embraces that
captivated and titillated audiences and
made it the ‘hit’ of the show!
"Dreamland" records attempts by
various photographers to chronicle
Canadian events, e.g., the first hockey
game ever filmed occurring in
Montreal in 1902, and the Prince of
Wales visit to Québec in 1903. The
Canadian Pacific Railway Co. was so
taken with the medium that it
sponsored a series of films promoting
awareness of Canadian winter activities
(initially scenes of snow, etc. were to
be precluded, but the photographer
showed winter events to be such fun
that CPR later endorsed them), the
logging industry, and buffalo
stampedes. Another local
entrepreneur, Ernie Shipman, born in
Hull, QC, convinced one of his 5
wives, Nell Shipman, living in B.C., to
be the lead actress in ‘Back to God’s
Country’ (or also pitched as ‘Nude is
not Rude’) [filmed in a Gatineau
stream]. It was a smashing success
returning 300% on its investment.
Later in discussions with Rev. Charles
W. Gordon who wrote under the nom
de plume of Ralph Connor, Ernie
produced some 6 films, one of which
was ‘The Man from Glengarry’ . For
some of his films he used scenes
filmed in Lansdowne Park as well as
ballroom scenes filmed in the Chateau
Laurier Hotel. Unfortunately, Ernie
Shipman fell on hard times, and
nothing more was ever heard of him.
There is a lot of interesting history
packed into this documentary,
available from the Society for
$5.00/DVD at our monthly meetings
courtesy of Ron Elmer who has
donated this and other titles* with
proceeds going to the HSO Research
and Development Fund. Incidentally, it
would appear that the film title,
"Dreamland", was taken from the
name of Dreamland Theatre, [a 300-
seat auditorium opened in 1912] for
motion pictures in Edmonton, Alta.,
with admission for 10 cents.
*Salvaging Memories from Oblivion:
1 . Britannia Beach 1900
2. Steam Day Calabogie
3. Dick Hickey – Blacksmith
4. Lanark Fire 1959
Quebec Beavers – a 1950s film
�WMP/RCMP 100 Years (1895 –
1995)
Ron Elmer introducing the Dreamland film.Photo courtesy ofGeorge �eville.
FebruaryMonthly Meeting -
Some Richmond Soldier-
Settlers - Kurt Johnson
Reported by Don Baxter
On Feb. 22nd, Kurt Johnson took us
back to the 1812-14 war era and
introduced us to some of the soldiers
who had arrived on our shores to fight
for "King and Country" but who stayed
on afterward and whose descendants
are with us in eastern Ontario to-day.
It is a subject he has been devoting
himself to, especially since he retired
from a 43-year journalism career which
included being the Letters Editor at the
Ottawa Citizen from 2001 to 2010.
What he has discovered makes a
fascinating story indeed.
He is very much involved now with
the Goulbourn Historical Society and
Museum and many of his research
subjects came from one of the British
Regiments brought over for the War -
the 100th (or His Royal Highness the
Prince Regent's County of Dublin)
Regiment of Foot - whose members
came mainly from the Munster area of
Ireland, hence our use of that name
locally. Most of those stayed in
Canada after the War and took up
farmland that they were given,
especially in the Richmond and
4 Short
Films
on 1
DVD
Page 4 HSO �ewsletter April 2013
Goulbourn Township area. Soldiers
were given 200, 400 or 800 acres of
free land, depending on their rank.
The first individual we heard about
was Private John Crozier, who was one
of the very few survivors of the �ais
shipwreck over a reef off Port aux
Basques (Nfld.) coming over to Canada
in 1805. Crozier's war ended when he
was captured in the Battle of Chippewa
in 1814, but survived to become a
farmer after the War on a land grant
near Stittsville on Mansfield Rd. at
Huntley Rd.
We heard about Robert Green, Sr.,
and his wife, Sarah, who agonized over
the future for their 5 boys and 1 girl as
his health deteriorated from decades of
service in various British regiments
including the 100th His 3 younger
sons, Robert Jr. , James, and Thomas
joined the Regiment at ages 15, 1 3 and
1 1 , respectively! Kurt showed us a
facsimile shilling of the time, and told
us the history of the tradition of "taking
the King's shilling", which they would
have done. After the war, Robert, Jr. ,
was buried in St. John’s Anglican
cemetery at the age of 70 years in 1860
(tombstone data) which would make
him 18 at enlistment, not 1 5, so that he
could attend to his younger brothers.
All 3 brothers took up land grants after
the War in Goulbourn Twp. nearby
present day Munster.
Maria Hill, married to Sgt.-Major
Andrew Hill, was an army nurse, the
heroine of the book, Daughter of the
Regiment. She presented herself as a
man to be allowed to participate until
1 814 when run over by an ammunition
wagon and her guise was discovered as
care was directed to her wound. She
survived the War, opened a tavern in
Richmond, was portrayed on a float in
an 1867 parade through the town, and
is buried in Beechwood Cemetery.
The next individual we heard about
was Andrew Spearman, made famous
in the book, Flames Across the Border,
by Pierre Berton. Kurt took us on the
night raid on Fort Niagara in New
York State on 13th December 1813
where 344 US prisoners were taken
back to York with 29 cannons, 7,000
muskets and ammunition and even
6,000 pairs of (British) shoes and
clothing. After 400 villagers were
forced out into the winter night by the
burning of Newark by the retreating
American army, British forces
including some of the 100th retaliated
by laying waste to Lewiston, Buffalo,
and Black Rock on the American side.
We heard about Private Hugh Wilson
who was at the attack on Sackett's
Harbour, across Lake Ontario from
Kingston where he was shot in the leg.
Recovered from his wound, he
participated in the capture of Fort
Niagara on 19 December 1813, but
later was captured by the Americans
and imprisoned for 7 months; then on
2nd August 1 814, he was “marched
from Pittsfield (Mass.) to Canada”.
After the War he was given land on the
5th Line (or Copeland Rd.) of
Goulbourn Twp. near the present
village of Munster. He is buried in the
pioneer Shillington cemetery along the
5th Line of Goulbourn whose stones
can be seen today, located right beside
his farm.
One of the more senior people who
made a name for himself in the local
area was Col. George Thew Burke. He
had already fought in Europe and
returned there after 1 814 to serve with
the Duke of Wellington at Waterloo in
June 1815. Later, back in eastern
Canada, he was requested to be
Superintendent of the Richmond
Military Settlement in 1818. He died
at 78 years in Bytown in 1854, a
distinguished colonel of the First
Carleton Militia, school trustee, a
Justice of the Peace, the first MPP for
Carleton Co. in the Legislative
Assembly ofUpper Canada from 1824-
1828, and first Registrar of Carleton
Co. Buried near his wife, Lydia, in St.
Philips R.C. cemetery, Richmond, who
died in 1825 after bearing 9 children,
Burke’s obituary was published in the
Ottawa Citizen.
Altogether - a fascinating trip
through the history of that period and
of our local area.
In introducing Kurt Johnson, George
Neville reminded us of the autumn
2009 HSO bus tour to the Rideau
Military settlements of Richmond,
Perth, and Lanark that included a visit
to St. John’s Anglican Church in
Richmond and the nearby Anglican
cemetery where Capt. George Lyon is
interred in a sarcophagus near the
crypt.
Kurt Johnson expounding on the 100th Regiment of
Foot soldier-settlers at the Richmond military
settlement. Photo courtesy ofDon Baxter.
Initial clearing of the Richmond site, directed by
Col. George T. Burke (with plan in hand) addressing
Sgt. -Major Andrew Hill. Sketch by unknown artist
(wrongly attributed to C.W. Jefferys) - identification
would be much appreciated by Kurt Johnson.
Costumes for the 150th
Anniversary of the Rideau
Canal
By Olive M. Porter
Preface: Further to the news item in
the HSO �ewsletter of April, 2012,
Olive Porter, now living at Trowbridge,
Wiltshire, U.K. was requested to
respond with her recollections of the
costume sewing group at the Bytown
Museum. In responding with the article
below on 6th October 2012, Olive
wrote as an aside that she is “quite open
to correction on any detail except the
pleasure that [she] got from the
experience”.
In 1980, my husband and I moved to
Ottawa from England. He had been
given a job offer that was too good to
refuse. We knew a little of Canada as
we had spent three years in Nova
Scotia, (also a work related move), but
very little of the capital.
We were very happy with our move,
and loved the city, but I was soon
looking for something to do with my
spare time. I heard an appeal by the
Historical Society, possibly on local
radio, for volunteers to act as guides at
the Bytown Museum. At that time, the
museum was run by the Historical
Society under the guidance of a
professional curator. We had visited
the museum and enjoyed the story of
the building of the Rideau Canal and
also the story of Ottawa’s growth from
a rather rundown and disorderly
settlement to the great city it became
and I thought that it might be an
interesting way to spend a few hours a
week.
I seem to remember a crash course on
the city’s history from the curator and
then being assigned to the Thursday
morning shift under the guidance of a
more informed member of the Society.
It was great fun (in a non-riotous way),
and it was a pleasure to meet and greet
visitors and to try to answer their
HSO �ewsletter Page 5April 2013
questions without appearing too foolish
but, most of all, to get to know my
fellow volunteers who became my very
good friends.
Soon after I had joined, the subject of
the celebration of the150th anniversary
of the opening of the Rideau Canal
came up, and it was suggested that we
volunteers should dress in the costume
of the period. This was easier said than
done. Of course there were portraits of
people of that time but these were
usually of grand people dressed in their
very best and these were rather outside
our remit. We had some beautiful
wedding dresses, ball gowns and
christening robes in the Museum’s
collection, and we had access to books
on historical costumes from which we
were able to get some idea of the kind
of fashions that would have been
around at that time, but then we needed
to find out what materials would have
been available to the average woman in
Canada at that time. For this we
resorted to old quilts. Upper Canada
Village has a wonderful collection of
dated quilts and were most helpful
when we visited them with our
enquiries and, of course, we were
inspired by their lovely costumes.
A group of us decided to meet
regularly at the Museum to work on the
production of the costumes. All of us
had some home dressmaking
experience, as most women of our age
did, and we dragged out old patterns
which we adapted to an approximation
of what would have been worn, by the
average woman, on the streets of
Ottawa on any good summer day. It
was very good fun, and I think that we
made a very reasonable job of it.
(It may interest people to know that
in our examination of some of the
vintage dresses in the Museum attic we
found that not every seam was perfectly
sewn nor every hem perfectly even and
some of the alterations were appallingly
rough. So much for ‘ the good old
days’when all work was without fault).
We did consider making a uniform
for a ‘Colonel By’ . Of course we had
his portrait in the Museum to guide us,
and the War Museum in England was
very helpful. We searched the fabric
shops in Ottawa for suitable materials
but, in the end, we decided that the fine
tailoring required was beyond our
capabilities and beyond our collective
purse. In the course of our enquiries,
we did discover that it would have been
possible to acquire a suitable uniform
hat for him from a supplier in the
States, but it would have cost us $300
plus packing and postage. Way beyond
our means.
The clothing of the workers on the
canal was much more difficult to
research. I saw many good sketches by
the Royal Engineers, in the National
Archives, of work being done on the
canal, but the men doing the actual
digging were just vague figures in the
background and work clothes were not
important enough to be treasured by
families. In most cases they would
have been little more than rags before
they were discarded. Once again Upper
Canada Village became our source of
information as they had good
reproductions of the clothes worn by
agricultural workers of that time which
would have been very similar to those
of the canal workers. We did make a
few examples to be worn by some of
the enactors at the time of the
celebrations, but they weren’t half as
much fun as making our rather pretty
dresses.
As you can see, from the above, this
project opened a whole new world to
me and my interest in historical
costumes has continued to this day – as
any glimpse into my attic would make
evident. I gained so much from my
association with the Historical Society
of Ottawa and I earnestly hope that it
continues not only to explore and
record the history of Ottawa, but also to
offer friendship and warmth of interest
to all its members.
Page 6 HSO �ewsletter April 2013
Some Reflections on Olive
Porter’s Contributions
By Dorene Hirsch
What a pleasure to read news of Olive
Porter, reviving memories of the
“sewing group” and the costume-
making done for the 150th Anniversary
of the completion of the Rideau Canal
in 1982. An article published in the
April, 2012 HSO �ewsletter recorded
as much as I could remember of our
costume-making get-togethers. Olive
was really an inspiration to all of us
with her enthusiasm and expertise.
After the festivities of the 150th
Anniversary celebrations, the sewing
group continued to meet and work
together. We accepted the challenge of
making items for sale in the Museum
Boutique, thus raising good revenue
each year. Olive continued to guide us
as we produced cushion covers, with
an appliquéd trillium design, and
matching potholders, very popular with
tourists. We made miniature “Colonel
By” dolls dressed in the Royal
Engineer’s uniform. We made and
raffled a double-bed quilt with pillow
shams. Most popular of all were "Mrs.
Tiggywinkles" pincushions, Margaret
Reeder’s specialty. The pincushion
base was a tightly stuffed fabric-
covered ball, and the head was a
prickly teasel, with a granny cap. They
were reminiscent of the Mrs. Tiggy
Winkles character in the Beatrix Potter
stories, hence the name. Margaret
must have made hundreds of these
pincushions –none of us could match
her expertise.
The quality of the items made was
established by using a “juried” rule of
items accepted for sale.
Along with the craft items in the
Boutique, one of the Museum
volunteers, Theresa “Tess” Foley, who
had an eye for antiques and
collectibles, established a “Collectibles
Corner” in the Boutique. She was
given a small budget, and haunted yard
sales and antique auctions, and
persuaded HSO members to donate
items for sale. The whole Boutique
project managed to contribute as much
as $1 ,500 annually to the Museum,
until failing eyesight and arthritic
fingers forced the members to give up
providing hand-made merchandise to
the Boutique. We had a lot of fun and
many long-lasting friendships while we
volunteered our talents at the museum .
Elegy* to James Sutton Elliott
Here lies Ell iott, James Sutton,
Lover of beer with his mutton.
Finding mistakes by army "clarks";
Hoarding land of Nicholas Sparks;
Tolls on canal, rent on a lot,
Squeezing with aid of lawyer Scott.
Dall ied a while with lady fair.
What of your spouse? A censure bear.
Back to England on half pay;
Made up with Mrs. , a happier day.
Weedon struggles - books in a mess,
Solace sought with comely actress.
The jig went up! With cash and girl
Fled State-side to give it a whirl .
Queen annoyed, sent you to jai l .
Lost the money; gal turned tai l .
Died of fever in New York town.
Story lost of man of renown,
His epitaph now I set down:
Seeking hot lamb, not cold mutton,
Here lies Elliott, James Sutton.
An elegy by Ed Bebee in the style
of Wil l iam Pittman Lett, 1 81 9-1 892,
Poet and first City Clerk of Ottawa .
Ed's accomplice in poetic crime
was Bryan Cook (Feb. 201 3).
*Composed for Bytown Pamphlet
#85 mailed with this Newsletter.
Photo
courtesy
of John
Reeder
Excursion to CornwallThursday, 23 May 2013
Via Willamsburg, #2 Hwy
& Long Sault Parkway,
Wood House Museum,
Glen Walter, Stonehouse
Point, Salem Church
$50.00, Tour & Museums
Meals on Your Own
8:30 AM, St. Richard’s
9:00 AM, St. Thomas’
Reservations to President
613-729-0579 or e-mail
The Coronation
Gates to the
Royal Ottawa
Sanatorium
donated by the
Laurention
Chapter IODE
to commemorate
the coronation
of King George
VI, 1937. Photo:
Royal Ottawa
Hospital, from
"The Story of
the Royal Ottawa
Hospital, 1985".
HSO �ewsletter Page 7
Report ofMarch Meeting:
Valerie Blais – The IODE
Laurention Chapter, 1906
–2013
Reported byMargaret Back
The Historical Society welcomed Valerie
Blais, president of the Laurentian Chapter
of the IODE, as speaker on Friday March
22. Valerie was introduced by George
Neville, and we learned of her career as a
registered nurse, teaching at several
hospitals in Ontario, and at Algonquin
College. She also holds a Master’s degree
in Education, and it soon became clear that
education in all its aspects was a top
priority for her.
Valerie began by asking who knows
what the IODE is? (Ans. Imperial Order
Daughters of the Empire). Fortunately she
found many were knowledgeable, but
although we knew the organization existed
we were about to learn much more about
the contributions made in many aspects of
our lives by the IODE. Valerie then
described some of the history of the
organization. It began in the Boer War
where bitter fighting prevailed and much
suffering occurred among the soldiers.
The founder, Margaret Polson Murray,
was inspired to alleviate such sufferings
and so the idea of an organization of
women dedicated to such a goal was born.
In 1900 Margaret Polson became the
National Secretary and proceeded to draw
up a constitution. An official badge was
designed with seven points representing
the seven colonies (Australia, British West
Indies, Canada, India, Newfoundland,
New Zealand, and South Africa). The
objectives of the organization were as
follows:
1 . Education
2. Care for dependents of soldiers
3. Relief of poverty
4. Support for the Arts
5. Charitable donations
In Canada the IODE was organized into
Chapters and these were associated with
different levels of governance:
(a) Primary Chapters
(b) Municipal Chapters
(c) Provincial Chapters
(d) National Chapter
The mission statement wascondensed to three more general goals:(a) Education(b) Community service(c) Citizenship
Valerie mentioned that over the years2007 – 2010 the IODE in Canada hascontributed $1 1 million in support ofthese goals.Valerie then outlined some of the
important contributions made by theNational IODE in support of thesegoals from its founding to the presentday.1 902-1914: Chapters begun in India,British West Indies andNewfoundland. Provided beds for TBpatients. Built hospitals for preventionofTB.WWI: Sent supplies of all sorts tosoldiers.1 920-1939: Dedicated InternationalPeace Garden. Established WarMemorial scholarships.WWII: Raised $12 million forhospitals, aircraft, supplies to troops.Bought Queen Mary’s Carpet,exhibited it across Canada recovering
its expenses; then in 1951 during thevisit of Princess Elizabeth, had it givento the National Gallery ofCanada.1 945-1967: Continued support for allgoals.1 967: Expo celebration involved anIODE day.1974-1978: Lt. Governor of Ontario,Pauline McGibbon, was a member ofIODE.1985: Violet Downey award forchildren’s literature.2000: 100th anniversary. Focus onprevention of child abuse. Continuedsupport for education, services andcitizenship.201 1 : After the Slave Lake fire, sentfunds to refurnish the library.
Valerie then turned to her ownchapter, the Laurentian, andsummarized some of the contributionsmade over the years.1 906: Laurentian Chapter begun byLady Sybil Grey, daughter of theGovernor General. The Lady Greyhospital was built in Ottawa by the
IODE.WWI: Started the Soldier’s Club onSparks St. Established scholarships.WWII: Continued support with manysupplies (22 Chapters in Ottawa duringWW II).1 955: Bought house on MacKay St.for meetings, but sold it in l988.
April 2013
Valerie Blais poses the question, "Who knows what
the IODE is?". Photo courtesy ofGeorge �eville.
Lady Sybil Grey, daughter ofLord Grey, founder of
Laurentian Chapter IODE. Photo - Laurentian
Chapter IODE, c. 1909.
Page 8 HSO �ewsletter
The Historical Society of Ottawa
gratefully acknowledges the financial
support of the City of Ottawa and the
Ministry of Culture of the Government
ofOntario.
Membership Renewal FormThe Historical Society of Ottawa
Date_______________________Renewal/New________________No. Members______________________Name_______________________________________________________________________________Name (for mailing)______________________________________________________________________
□ Address Unchanged(Show Changes Below)Street________________________________________________________________________________Postal Code________Phone (res)________________Phone (work)________________EmailAddress___________________Interest(Activities?)________________________________________Volunteer?__________________________________
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Charitable receipts for federal income tax purposes will be issued for donations.Please photocopy and complete this form and mail it with a cheque, made payable to The Historical Society of Ottawa, to:
Membership, The Historical Society of Ottawa
P.O. Box 523, Station B.
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April 2013
Lady Grey Hosptial
prior to the building
of the extension and
enclosing the bal-
conies. c. 1910. From
the "Story of the
Royal Ottawa Hospital
1910 - 1985".
LAC photo PA-9075.
1956: 50th anniversary of LaurentionChapter.To the present: Continued support forall three goals through funds raised byhouse-garden parties and guided tours.
Valerie concluded her address with acall for questions and there was eagerresponse from the audience. Georgethanked Valerie for her lively andentertaining approach. We all learnedthere was much more to the IODE thanwe imagined. We were certainlyimpressed with the generosity of thewomen involved in these chapters.
Ode* to Laurention IODE
Do you know of the Order of
Daughters
All loyal to the Empire of
Crown
Though the Empire’s decayed
They're true to their trade
Doing many good works
around Town.
By Bryan Cook, HSO Board Director
*Composed at the March 18th Board
Meeting in a moment of inspiration.
OTTAWA REGIO%ALHERITAGE FAIR
Tuesday, 23rd April 2013
9:00 AM – 2:30 PM at
Canadian Museum of Civilization
Come to view wonderful exhibits
and chat with youthful exhibitors
Today’s youth need our support!