News

Hello Everyone!

I have attached, to this email, the Banquet Form and Bedroom Flyer for the 2026 Annual Session.

Please note that rooms cannot be booked until January 1, 2026!

Please book rooms at the Sessional Hotel only. We need to keep our number of Room Nights up so we can do our best to keep the meeting room prices reasonable. We need to avoid any undue costs so please book at the Sessional Hotel only!

The banquet will be catered by the same people as last year. Last year we had rave reviews of the meal at the Banquet. We are limited as to the number of people we can seat in the banquet room so please get your forms and cheques in as early as possible to avoid any disappointments. A cash bar will be available in the banquet room!

For those registering for the Annual Session of the Grand Lodge of Ontario, the Registration forms are in the back of the 2025 Journal of Proceedings.

Lodge Reps: pages 139 & 140

Past Elective Grand Lodge Officers: Past Grand Masters: pages 143 & 144, Past Elective Grand Lodge Officers: pages 145 & 146

Current Grand Lodge Officers: pages 141 & 142

Please keep this information on hand!

Yours in Friendship, Love, and Truth,

Brother John R. Nichols,
Grand Secretary.

Subject: Code of Ontario Odd Fellows Laws, 2025.

Brothers and Sisters, I am attaching the Code of Ontario Odd Fellows Laws to this email. Further explanation will be addressed below.

Our Sovereign Grand Master, Brother Thomas J. Calabrese has also issued a dispensation to us. The explanation for this dispensation immediately follows in what will be “Section #9, of the Grand Secretary’s Report, in our Advance Journal, for the 2026 Annual Session:

Section #9, Dispensation from our Sovereign Grand Master.
The Code updates that we had sent to Sovereign Grand Lodge for approval, last year, were only partially approved. The dues increase, duly passed at the last Annual Session was in dispute due to a typographical error in the Notice of Motion that was received for our Advance Journal.
The matter was brought to my attention by Brother Wayne Geurts, Past Grand Master and I sent the appropriate appeal to the Executive of the Sovereign Grand Lodge. On Monday, November 17, 2025, we received an email dispensation from Brother Thomas J. Calabrese, instructing me to make the appropriate change to the Code of Ontario Odd Fellows Laws, and to make note in the 2026 Advance Journal that the Code Changes had been approved.
This Section of the Grand Secretary’s report will serve to notify everyone that our 2025 Updates to the Code of Ontario Odd Fellows Laws were approved, in their entirety. The appropriate changes to the Code have been made.

As for the Code of Ontario Odd Fellows Laws, You will notice that I have now officially switched the format of the Code to 8 ½ X 11. The old 8 ½ X 5 ½ Codes are now obsolete. I am hereby advising the Lodges, DDGMs, Grand Lodge Officers, PGMs, PELOs, Executives of the Grand Lodge and Rebekah Assembly, etc, that the old codes are now obsolete. You will now receive a new and updated code electronically each year. Any Lodge that wishes to print the code can just buy a binder to place the Code in it and I will send out “update pages” each year from here on out that could be printed and placed in the binder. This will relieve the necessity of sending out Code Updates in paper format and billing the Lodges. This way of doing the code should net a reduction in costs to the Lodges and the Grand Lodge.

Please note, should any legislation be submitted, that the pages numbers in this new format will be the ones to list in the notice of motion or resolution.

Blessings everyone!

john

Hello everyone!

Our Grand Master, Brother Jason Walt, has asked me to forward this information on the Encampment all Degree Day to you!

john

From: Jason Walt <woolerhillbilly@gmail.com> Sent: November 9, 2025 8:14 AM To: Grand Lodge Accounts <accounts@ioof.net> Subject: Fwd: Encampment All Day Degree day

Hello John. Could you email this to all lodges

Grand Master Jason Walt

———- Forwarded message ——— From: Wayne Geurts <wayne.geurts@gmail.com <mailto:wayne.geurts@gmail.com> > Date: Sun, Nov 9, 2025, 8:10 a.m. Subject: Encampment All Day Degree day To: Ontario Grand Encampment <grandencampmentontario@gmail.com <mailto:grandencampmentontario@gmail.com> >

Hello all,

Ontario Encampment # 11 is planning an all day degree day in Orono Ontario
April 11 2026.

We are having an Odd Fellow from the Kemptville area who wants to take these 3 beautiful encampment degrees..
He is willing to find enough new members in that area to start an encampment.

We will give more specific information closer to the date.

Please reserve this date.

Anyone interested in attending will let me know in advance.
Lunch will be at the hall.
The registration fee will include Lunch
The fee will be set later.

Any Kemptville area Odd Fellows interested in becoming an encampment member, please let me know and I will put you in touch with the Odd Fellow who will be joining.

In Faith, Hope and Charity,

Wayne Geurts,
Grand Scribe

Hello Brothers and Sisters!

Attached is a proclamation from our Grand Master, Brother Jason Walt.

Please feel free to email this Proclamation to your Lodge Membership, and read it at your next Lodge Meeting.

john

From: charles.benson charles.benson <charles.benson@sympatico.ca> Sent: October 20, 2025 2:28 PM To: John Nichols <accounts@ioof.net>; Carson Shulist <raofont@cogeco.net>; Wayne Geurts <wayne.geurts@gmail.com>; Marilyn Wilson <dmgwilson@cogeco.ca>; Bill Crowder <ebcrowder2@gmail.com> Subject: Allan Simpson Educational Fund

Hello All:
I am writing to request your assistance in circulating the attached letter with regard to the Allan
Simpson Educational Fund to all individual lodges in your Branch of our Order.
Your help in making this information available to our membership is greatly appreciated.
Please reach out if you have any questions.
Sis. Carolyn Benson, Bursar
Allan Simpson Educational Fund
Grand Lodge of Ontario – I.O.O.F.

Hello all!

I have been asked to circulate the following email in relation to a 3rd Degree to beheld in Hamilton, on November 5, 2025.

Please follow the details of the email and let Sister Marilyn Wilson know if you plan to go!

john

From: dmgwilson@cogeco.ca <dmgwilson@cogeco.ca> Sent: October 15, 2025 11:25 AM To: accounts@ioof.net Subject: 3rd Degree

Hi John,
Could you please send out an e-mail concerning the conferring of the 3rd Degree.
By request Hamilton District #24 will be conferring the 3rd Degree on Wednesday November 5,2025 at Unity Oddfellows Hall, 64 Wellington Street North, Hamilton ON L8R 1N1. The Degree will start at 7:00 pm. There will be a light lunch afterwards. Cost $10.00 per person. All Oddfellows are welcome. Kindly notify Sister Marilyn Wilson at 905-945-2443 or by e-mail dmgwilson@cogeco.ca <mailto:dmgwilson@cogeco.ca> if you are planning on attending this great night of fellowship.
Thank you John

GENERAL PROCLAMATION.

Dear Brothers and Sisters;

This Proclamation is to inform each Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodge in the Grand Jurisdiction of Ontario of the untimely passing of Brother Jimmy C. Humphrey, Past Sovereign Grand Master.
Brother Humphrey passed away on the 25th day of September, 2025. Brother Humphrey was from The Grand Jurisdiction of Georgia and served faithfully as our Sovereign Grand Master in the 2014 – 2015 Lodge year.
Our Grand Master, Brother Jason Walt, has instructed me to issue this general proclamation, requesting each Odd Fellows and Rebekah Lodge, in the Grand Jurisdiction of Ontario, to drape their Charter for a period of 30 days in loving memory of Brother Jimmy Humphrey, Past Sovereign Grand Master.

Brother John R. Nichols,
Grand Secretary.

Good morning everyone!

I noticed this morning, while in a directory on my computer, that I had not put the Minutes from the Executive Meeting of June 13 into pdf format. This led me to believe that I had not sent these minutes out to everyone. If you have already received these minutes, my apologies. If you have not received these minutes, again, my apologies for their tardiness. I usually try to get these minutes out within a week of the meeting.

john

Hello all! I have been asked to circulate this information about the IOOF Senior’s Home Inc 50/50 raffle that has started as of September 1, 2025.

john

From: Elyse Martin <emartin@ioof.com> Sent: September 5, 2025 1:24 PM To: accounts@ioof.net Cc: Garry Hopkins <ghopkins@ioof.com> Subject: IOOF Seniors Homes: Fall 50/50 Raffle – Get Your Tickets Today!

Good afternoon John,

Hope you are well!

Please feel free to circulate the below email to the Lodges and members for our 50/50 raffle. I know a number of lodges and Odd Fellows & Rebekahs have purchased in the past and WON, hopefully they are interested in participating for the September raffle.

Thank you for your help!
Elyse

<www.ioof.com/>
Elyse Martin Capital Campaign Manager, IOOF Seniors Homes Inc.

<www.facebook.com/ioofseniorshomes>
<www.instagram.com/ioofseniorshomes/>
<www.linkedin.com/company/ioof-seniors-homes-inc/>

705-728-2389 ext. 315 705-725-4610 <mailto:emartin@ioof.com> emartin@ioof.com
<www.ioof.com> www.ioof.com <maps.google.com/?q=20%20Brooks%20Street,%20Barrie%20ON,%20L4N%207X2> 20 Brooks Street, Barrie ON, L4N 7X2

<www.ioof.com/donate>

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___________________________________________

Good afternoon,

The IOOF Seniors Homes Fall 50/50 raffle has launched with tickets available for purchase at www.IOOF.com <www.IOOF.com> . Proceeds from the raffle are donated to our redevelopment campaign to expand our long-term care facility. The grand prize draw will be held on Tuesday, September 30, 2025.

Early bird purchasers will have an opportunity to win a $500 early bird prize drawn on Friday, September 12, 2025.

Purchase your tickets Today! <www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/ioof>

<www.rafflebox.ca/raffle/ioof>

Thank you,
Elyse

<www.ioof.com/>
Elyse Martin Capital Campaign Manager, IOOF Seniors Homes Inc.

<www.facebook.com/ioofseniorshomes>
<www.instagram.com/ioofseniorshomes/>
<www.linkedin.com/company/ioof-seniors-homes-inc/>

705-728-2389 ext. 315 705-725-4610 <mailto:emartin@ioof.com> emartin@ioof.com
<www.ioof.com> www.ioof.com <maps.google.com/?q=20%20Brooks%20Street,%20Barrie%20ON,%20L4N%207X2> 20 Brooks Street, Barrie ON, L4N 7X2

<www.ioof.com/donate>

<tracy.srv.wisestamp.com/px/wsid/m9JKpM4BPZ27.png>

_____
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This communication and any accompanying attachments may contain confidential, proprietary or non-public information. This information is intended solely for the designated recipient(s). If an addressing or transmission error has misdirected this communication, please notify the sender immediately and destroy this email. Any review, dissemination, use or reliance upon this information by unintended recipients is prohibited.

Hello everyone! I wanted to let you know about this event in case you were interested in attending.

john

From: Alex Robertson <rsvp@campfirecircle.org> Sent: September 4, 2025 12:31 PM To: accounts@ioof.net Subject: You’re Invited to Bonfire Bash – Nov 5

Join us for Bonfire Bash Presented by GFL Environmental

<give.campfirecircle.org/s/8469793/xQS5j5z1R>

November 5, 2025 Automotive Building, Toronto
Reception 6:00 p.m. Dinner 7:30 p.m. After-Party 10:00 p.m.
Enjoy a glamourous camp-inspired evening and help Campfire Circle bring healing through happiness to kids with cancer or serious illness and their families.
To learn more or purchase tickets and tables:

<give.campfirecircle.org/s/8469794/xQS5j5z1R> Click Here

Limited Number of individual tickets available.
We expect this much-anticipated event to sell out quickly.
Honourary Chairs Andrew & Marianne Guizzetti Sylvia Mantella
Chair Holly Miklas
Paddle Project Chair Pam Mecklinger

For more information, please visit <give.campfirecircle.org/s/8469795/xQS5j5z1R> bonfirebash.ca or contact Ashley Dykun at <mailto:rsvp@campfirecircle.org> rsvp@campfirecircle.org

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