IODE turns Opportunity Shop proceeds into scholarships by Nathan Howes Special to the Beaver 7 | Friday, August 23, 2013 | OAKVILLE BEAVER | www.insideHALTON.com For nearly a century, the women of the Angela Bruce Chapter IODE have made a difference in Oakville. Formerly known as Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire, the local branch of the national women's charitable organization recently celebrated its 80th anniversary of service at St. Paul's United Church. The Angela Bruce Chapter is named after the wife of the former Lt. Governor of Ontario, Herbert Alexander Bruce. IODE Canada was established in 1900 by Margaret Polson Murray to enhance the quality of life for individuals through education support, community service and citizenship programs. "(When) this chapter started in 1933, there were 24 young women, most of them between 16 and 20 years of age. They were very much into bringing young people into working for charity," said president Maureen Cook. During the Second World War, the Angela Bruce Chapter raised a lot of money for the servicemen and children in town. There was a need, Cook said, because many of the families were left with just a mother to cope. "They needed a lot of help in the war, which we gave them. They had drives, they had (galas) and they gathered up furniture wherever they could to have a sale outside one of the Legion offices," said Cook. Eleven Grade 12 students from various Oakville high schools received $1,000 scholarships from Oakville's Angela Bruce Chapter IODE. From left are Jiaqi Liu, Anastassia Lagounova, Stacy Physk, Christopher Cook, Taimur Khan, IODE president Maureen Cook, Allegra Markus, Samantha McNally, Jenila Foneska, Rachel Costin, and Hyunhee Kim. | photo by Hannah Yoon Oakville Beaver (Follow on Twitter @halton_photog) In 1945, the first $100 bursary was awarded to an Oakville Trafalgar High School student studying nursing or technical training. Preference at the time was given to the daughter or son of a veteran. A $250 donation was also made that year to Oakville-Trafalgar Memorial Hospital, while book prizes were given to schools. "After the war, the emphasis was turned to education and people in need in the Town. Money-raising ideas were reused, and sometimes replaced, and everyone worked hard to be able to meet this commitment," said Cook. The chapter's first building on Lakeshore Road was behind a barbershop, which was considered "a shack," Cook said. In 1966, the Angela Bruce Chapter opened Opportunity Shop. Since then, the group has had three different locations on Kerr Street, where it currently resides. "It's become adult (now) whereas there were a lot of young people in it before. We don't have any youngsters. The teenagers now, once they leave school, don't have time when they go to school (and) to work," said Cook. At the shop, the IODE's current 47 members work in rotating shifts to intake, sort, price and sell lightly-used clothing, books and household items, all donated by the community. Operation of the outlet requires two people per day, five days a week, which is not a lot of help, Cook said, because when people are away, others are working more than they should. "We really do need some younger women who don't work or work part-time or have some spare time and are happy to come when they can," said Cook. The Oakville group and its Opportunity Shop are at a crossroads right now, Cook noted, because of the need for younger volunteers. "Nowadays it's much more difficult to get women volunteers because they live busier lives. That's probably the biggest challenge," said Cook. "We're all willing to do it, but you do need someone to come in and help." see Local on p.11 Thank you to our Corporate Sponsors for helping us achieve our fund raising goals. THE ROTARY CLUB OF OAKVILLE Kevin Flynn, MPP Oakville MPP Kevin Flynn's Civic Holiday Kids Colouring Contest Winners! Winner from age category 912 years old: Jack, 12 years old Engage Rotary, Change Lives. SPONSORS PLATINUM Winner from age category 68 years old: Linda, 8 years old GOLD COPPER Winner from age category 5 and under: Syed, 4 1/2 years old Thanks to all other Sponsors and Friends of the Rotary Club of Oakville To join The Rotary Club of Oakville and to engage in community volunteer services contact linda.hill.pol@gmail.com Service Above Self Community Office: 2318 Lakeshore Road West, Unit 2, Oakville, ON L6L 1H3 905.827.5141 | kflynn.mpp.co@liberal.ola.org Join us on Facebook! Follow us on Twitter!