100 Years of Alpha Phi in Canada By Monica Kennedy Monczka, Ashley Haugh and Alison Nash (all Xi-Toronto)
From the very beginning of our sisterhood our Founders dreamed of an international Fraternity. Founder Martha Foote Crow wrote: “Now that we have founded the Alpha chapter of the Alpha Phi Sorority, is this all there is to do? ... No indeed ... We have all the alphabet to go through, and to go through again and again ... Can we not have a World Society as well as a National one? Yes, there is enough for all of us, and today is no time to be idle.” It was not long before this dream was to become a reality with the founding of Xi chapter at the University of Toronto in 1906. In November, more than 125 sisters and guests attended a gala, dinner, dance and silent auction at Casa Loma in Toronto to celebrate Xi chapter’s 100th anniversary and Alpha Phi becoming an international fraternity. In addition to being a wonderful evening of sisterhood, reminiscing and meeting new friends, the event raised funds for the Canadian Centennial Scholarship. We were honored to have International President Laura Malley-Schmitt (Zeta Phi-MIT) and Foundation Board Chair Susan Weiskittle Barrick (Beta OmicronBowling Green State) celebrate this milestone event with us. Graduates of our Canadian chapters from the 1940s through present collegians attended the celebrations. We proudly presented Dorothy Ross Mackie (Beta Eta-Manitoba) with a 75-year member pin and Dorothy McCrea DesRoches (Xi-Toronto) with
a 50-year pin. Sisters also enjoyed a wonderful video slideshow that highlighted the history of Alpha Phi in Canada, including two International presidents, hosting two Conventions, IEB and Foundation Board directors, three educational leadership consultants (with a fourth serving in 200708) and many Convention awards. Sisters danced the night away to a sensational band and gave generously to the Canadian Centennial Scholarship through our silent auction. Judy Jakusz (Delta SigmaWisconsin/Stevens Point) was our official Toronto (Xi) and Bishop’s (Eta Chi) collegians and alumna Alison Nash (Xi-Toronto) enjoy the Centennial Gala celebrating 100 years of Alpha Phi in Canada.
SPRING 2007
photographer for the evening and took some wonderful group and individual shots. We are so thankful to the founders of Xi chapter who began it all in Canada: Jessie Adie, Edith Ballard, Margaret Coyne, Marion Findlay, Margaret Houston, Jessie Lang, Vera Lyon, Hannah Mattheson, Daisy McDonald, Sarah McVean, Margaret (Louise) Murray, Kathleen Russell, Doris Thompson, Irene Trowern and Eleanor (May) Watson. One hundred years later, we are proud to say that the Xi chapter of Alpha Phi is the oldest continuous running National Panhellenic Conference Fraternity in Canada and continues to be a source of great pride to our members. Since 1906, six more Canadian chapters have joined the Alpha Phi ranks: Manitoba (Beta Eta), 1928; British Columbia (Beta Theta), 1929; Bishop’s (Eta Chi), 1989; Western Ontario (Theta Eta), 1991; McMaster (Theta Omicron), 1993; and Wilfrid Laurier (Iota Theta), 2002.
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