THE IODE'S LORD DUFFERIN chapter members got together at the chapter's 25th anniversary celebrations, which were held in 1933 Since its founding in 1900, the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) has been a Canadian women's charitable organization dedicated to improving the quality of life for children, youth and those in need through and variety of programs and events.

Celebrating its 100th anniversary in 2007, the IODE"s Lord Dufferin Chapter in Orangeville continues to carry on the mission.

In 1907, the 53 members of the new chapter immediately embarked on a series of fund-raising events to raise money to purchase the John Kearns house on First Street and transform it into the Lord Dufferin Hospital.

During World War One, the chapter joined with others across the Dominion to supplement the equipment kits of the soldiers with such comforts as knitted articles.

In 1914, Mrs. A. W. McDougall of Montreal - outgoing secretary of the IODE at the time - outlined the first aim of the order.

"Members are pledged to promote unity between the Motherland, the Sister Colonies, and themselves; to promote loyalty to King and Country; to forward every good for the betterment of their country and people; to assist in the progress of art and literature; to draw women's influence to the bettering of all things connected with our great Empire, and it instill into the minds of the youth of the country patriotism in its fullest sense."

While the British Empire is no more, the IODE's contributions to the country are still with us and have been significant.

In 1997, the Lord Dufferin chapter contributed $100,000 toward construction of the Headwaters Health Care Centre, which opened in May of that year.

The IODE's contributions in the years between are too numerous to mention, and the chapter has soldiered on into the new millennium.

In 2002, for example, it made a $10,000 contribution to the Sunrise Centre, a treatment facility for victims of sexual assault and domestic violence.

It is now 2007 and the relentless efforts of the chapter will be celebrated throughout the week of Oct. 15-21, which has been proclaimed by the town as Lord Dufferin Chapter IODE Week.

Events marking the week include the Thursday, Oct. 18, unveiling of "The Nurse," a sculpture commemorating the organization's continuous contribution to area health care. The ceremony takes place at 11 a.m. in front of the Lord Dufferin Centre, site of the old hospital.

Such a sculpture is appropriate since the IODE opened a school for nurses at the Lord Dufferin Hospital in 1912, and continued to graduate nurses until 1933.

The chapter will also be holding its annual craft show at Orangeville District Secondary School from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 20.

The show is expected to attract over 50 vendors, who will be displaying crafts and gifts, baked goods and a lunch café, among other things.

Finally, a guest list of over 100 is expected for the 100th Anniversary Dinner, which is planned for 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 6, at the Train Station Restaurant.