IODE hopes for return to city
IODE ALBERTA PRESIDENT VISITS FOR REDEDICATION OF THE SOLDIER’S PLOT
Service to queen and country, dedication to Canadian veterans, staunch advocacy for literacy and a sense of unflinching purpose in the defence of children suffering child abuse — all of these features are hallmarks of The Imperial Order Daughters of the Empire (IODE).
Founded in 1900, the IODE was once amongst the most powerful and prominent women’s service groups in Canada, but has seen a marked decline in membership over the last three decades. IODE Alberta president Valerie Braiden would very much like to reverse that outgoing tide in Lethbridge.
“At one time Lethbridge had seven chapters,” explains Braiden. “The last two amalgamated and they finally disbanded in about 1989. So it has been awhile since we had a dedicated presence in the community. We would very much love to be able to start a chapter again in Lethbridge.”
The IODE’s fingerprints and influence on the early history of Lethbridge are clear once you start looking into them, says Braiden. In fact, Braiden was in town to help celebrate one clear example of it with the rededication of the Soldier’s Plot in the Field of Honour in Mountain View Cemetery on Sunday.
“The Sir Alexander Galt IODE Chapter here in Lethbridge helped to maintain the plot and stones,” explains Braiden, “and put the marble gate at the front and installed the wrought iron chain around it. They also ensured each grave had a footstone with the name of the soldier and Sir Alexander Galt IODE Chapter on it.”
The local chapters of the IODE maintained the plot until they disbanded in the late 1980s.
Braiden says the mission of the IODE has never been more important, and Canadians could all do with a bit more of an expression of old-school patriotism and purpose given the confused state of the world at the moment.
“In a nutshell, it is all about service to the community, and to help foster patriotic loyalty in service to the community,” she says.