Ontario Sharing Their History

Ontario, Canada, chartered its first chapters in the late 1960s when Michigan A?K reached out to Windsor, Canada. They were very supportive of this chapter which thrived for many years. During that time, it was common for women whose peers had been identified as candidates for membership to be called to a meeting in a local hotel to discuss membership with some American sisters and Canadians chosen to assist with recruitment. Groups of successful candidates were then invited to form chapters within their local school board boundaries. Our favorite family A?K tale is famous in Ontario. We have often shared the memory of our mother getting such a call and the lively discussion that followed in her kitchen, with our father maintaining that a lady did not accept an invitation to a stranger’s hotel room. Although she did not go that evening, my mother became a member just after the local chapter was formed.

Chapter chartering ceremonies were formal. In 1978, Agnes Shipman Robert-son attended the ceremony at the University Women’s Club. Meetings were formal and followed procedural rules very closely. Members dressed up, and high heels were the norm. Sisters took turns hosting in their homes, pro-viding refreshments. Often small committees mailed invitations to potential attendees through school courier systems. Responding to the invitations was done by telephone. Guest speakers were sometimes invited, but there were many “just social” gatherings.

Ontario hosted the July 1993 International Convention. Marie Harvey and Diane McSaveney were convention chairs. A fond memory is of a friendly Texas sister who arrived at the hospitality suite with homemade bourbon balls. The most overheard remark was, “The summer weather is so lovely, not too hot.” Ontario also hosted a regional conference in 2006. Members remember fondly the special thank you from Joyce Verner after she participated in the early morning walk led by legally blind member Durelle McAllister. Sister Diane McSaveney left a cash legacy to establish a scholarship for a future educator. The scholarship was administered over several years, offering support to young educators.

Many Ontario documents are housed in a special archived collection, The Doris Lewis Rare Book Fund, at the University of Water-loo, giving students for years the opportunity to learn about and understand Alpha Delta Kappa.?

Currently, the initiative in the province has been to formalize support for classroom teachers and retired members by providing events that add value to membership. Guest speakers, online training for Google learners and formal in-service in literacy have strengthened membership and provided opportunities to invite potential members and sisters from other regions to share in the learning. We have created a slideshow to run continuously at events and to be used by sisters as they discuss membership.

Ontario continues to have ten very individual chapters separated by great distances in geographically diverse areas. Each has its own history and unique talents. Many Ontario sisters have served as International leaders.

Learn more about Alpha Delta Kappa International: https://www.alphadeltakappa.org/