IODE Gladys Raiter Bursary for Graduate Study
To honour the memory of his wife Gladys, a member of the IODE Queen Anne Chapter in Kitchener, Norman Raiter bequeathed funds to the IODE chapter to establish the IODE Gladys Raiter Bursary for Graduate Study.
This Bursary is awarded based on academic standing and financial need. Applicants must hold an undergraduate degree from a recognized Canadian university. Applications will be considered:
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In celebration of IODE Ontario’s 100th Anniversary in 2020, the committee decided to present two $5,000 awards.
The recipients are Christine Kitoko and Krenare Recaj, both studying at the University of Waterloo.
The recipients are Christine Kitoko and Krenare Recaj, both studying at the University of Waterloo.
Christine Kitoko is currently in her Master of Development Practice Program taking International Development. She has a keen interest in social justice and equity-related issues. She obtained her Bachelor of Arts degree in International Development Studies from York University and worked with a non-governmental organization named “Inner City Outreach” where she was program coordinator for children and youth in the Jane and Finch Community of Toronto. Presently her focus is supporting the community in low-income settings by enabling them to exert decision-making outcomes that will better shape their future and bring sustainable change.
Christine volunteers as a community worker in a care centre as a mentor, tutor and soup kitchen helper. She is on her church’s visitation team, as well as taking singing lessons in her spare time. She was a trombone player in the Salvation Army Youth Band. Christine has already been to Haiti on two humanitarian missions.
One of Christine’s professors described her as the “ideal graduate student; self-motivated, curious, committed, intelligent, well organized, affable and a joy in the classroom with excellent academic work (A average), and passionate extracurricular involvement in social justice.”

Krenare Recaj is currently enrolled in the Masters Program specializing in History. Krenare’s research thesis will examine Canada’s foreign relations with Kosovo focusing on the 1999 Kosovo war and how Canada accepted and settled Kosovar refugees after the conflict. Krenare came to Canada as a refugee after the war in Kosovo and so this is a topic that is very close to her heart.
One of Krenare’s professors stated, “We’ve let about 20 people into our MA Program for the 2019-2020 academic year, and they’re all very strong students. Of that group, Krenare is at the very top. I am so impressed with the quality of her work. I’m equally impressed by her kindness, her professionalism and her dedication to her studies.”
One of Krenare’s main interests involves volunteering for National Service Dogs, an organization that provides service dogs for those living with Autism or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She volunteers in the Evening Enrichment Program where she would go to the kennel and help relax, train, and exercise dogs for 3 hours. Krenare is also a weekend dog sitter. This means caring for different dogs at her home every weekend from Friday to Monday. For a year, she volunteered at a Finishing Home for dogs. This meant taking adult dogs that were struggling with behavioural issues, living with and training them full time for several months until their issues were corrected. Her most recent position with the National Service Dogs is the “Purposeful Puppy Sitter” that includes taking a different dog every week to assess its progress in the program. Krenare states, “Many people think that raising a service dog is fun all the time. However, it means early mornings and late nights, lots of walks, and constant training.”
In 2019, Krenare received excellence in academics, was named on the Deans Honour list and was the recipient of the Kerr Ostrander Leadership for Tomorrow Awards from the University of Waterloo.
One of Krenare’s professors stated, “We’ve let about 20 people into our MA Program for the 2019-2020 academic year, and they’re all very strong students. Of that group, Krenare is at the very top. I am so impressed with the quality of her work. I’m equally impressed by her kindness, her professionalism and her dedication to her studies.”
One of Krenare’s main interests involves volunteering for National Service Dogs, an organization that provides service dogs for those living with Autism or Post Traumatic Stress Disorder. She volunteers in the Evening Enrichment Program where she would go to the kennel and help relax, train, and exercise dogs for 3 hours. Krenare is also a weekend dog sitter. This means caring for different dogs at her home every weekend from Friday to Monday. For a year, she volunteered at a Finishing Home for dogs. This meant taking adult dogs that were struggling with behavioural issues, living with and training them full time for several months until their issues were corrected. Her most recent position with the National Service Dogs is the “Purposeful Puppy Sitter” that includes taking a different dog every week to assess its progress in the program. Krenare states, “Many people think that raising a service dog is fun all the time. However, it means early mornings and late nights, lots of walks, and constant training.”
In 2019, Krenare received excellence in academics, was named on the Deans Honour list and was the recipient of the Kerr Ostrander Leadership for Tomorrow Awards from the University of Waterloo.
Past Recipients of the IODE Gladys Raiter Bursary for Graduate Study (since 1990)
1990
Susan Anstett and Michael Zimmerman 1993
James McGrorey and Micheal Zimmerman 1996
Tara Hyland 1999
Jennifer Fogarty 2002
Leah Rae Butler 2005
no acceptable applications 2008
deferred due to funds 2011
deferred due to funds 2014
deferred due to funds 2017
deferred due to funds 2020
Christine Kitoko and Krenare Recaj |
1991
Lisa Bater and Anita Skihar 1994
Margaret Troyak 1997
Robin Lloyd 2000
William Martin 2003
deferred due to funds 2006
deferred due to funds 2009
deferred due to funds 2012
David Pamaranski 2015
Jessica Dalley 2018
Jenna Harb |
1992
Brenda Ackerman and Graham Gibson 1995
Jane Lomic 1998
Lisa Earle 2001
no completed application received 2004
Sineaid Lagan 2007
Collin Roberts 2010
deferred due to funds 2013
deferred due to funds 2016
deferred due to funds 2019
deferred due to funds |