IODE Ontario Lois Laughren Award for Women in STEM

Honorary Vice President Lois Laughren

One of IODE Ontario’s main mandates is the promotion of further education.  At the 99th Provincial Annual Meeting, April 27th, 2019 in Kingston, we recognized Past Provincial President, Lois Laughren.  Lois G. Laughren was President of IODE Ontario from 2001 to 2003.  She had been a member of IODE since 1959 until her death in November 2010.  In 1985, she moved to Burlington and transferred her membership to the IODE Wellington Square Chapter.  As Lois and Ken Laughren had no children of their own, IODE was the beneficiary of Lois' generosity.

Her donation has allowed IODE Ontario to establish the IODE Ontario Lois Laughren Award for Women in STEM at Ryerson University.  This award will be given to women who have completed at least one year of university and are pursuing an education in the fields of Science,  Technology, Engineering or Mathematics.

The IODE Ontario Lois Laughren Award for Women in STEM has donated $25,000 that was matched through Ryerson University’s PACE (President’s Awards to Champion Excellence) fund, giving a total of $50,000.  The Award is offered to five women at $2,000 each ($10,000 annually) for a period of 5 years. 

Ryerson University chose the first STEM awards in September 2019.  Link to the list of recipients.​