IOCO CLUBS
IOCO Memories
Chapter 12
Community Groups
Most describe Ioco as the perfect place to raise a family, it was a close knit community and had several community groups.
Women’s service groups were central in putting on a variety of events and fundraisers. The Ioco Welfare Committee was formed to assist the unemployed during the depression. Both the Imperial Order of the Daughters of the Empire (IODE) and the Women’s Auxiliary were active during both world wars in raising funds and sending supplies to Canadian troops. The Canadian Girls in Training did charitable work around town and for the war effort. The Red Cross Women’s Work Committee and the Ioco Social Club also provided services during the Second World War.
The Just Us Girls Club (JUGS) was organized in 1947 and provided a variety of community services. They were a service group composed of mostly local ladies and benefitted many organizations and people. They raised funds to help individuals within the community but also helped raise funds for the soup fund the Ioco School, Christmas hampers, Ioco May day, United and Anglican Sunday schools, the Sunny Hill hospital, scouts, sports teams, library, and set up a scholarship for Moody High school and bursary for second year students at SFU and even put on fashion shows and had a float for the May Day celebrations. They raised money by holding dances, teas, bazaars, bake sales, fashion shows and had rummage sales. They raised a lot of funds for the community and even entered floats in the May Day Parade. The JUGs grew to have 229 members and provided community services in Ioco and Port Moody for 36 years. For twenty years of service they would get a pin.
After the war the Ioco Welfare Community Organization was formed. A Welfare Committee was in charge of distributing the funds raised by the combined efforts of the people, to those most in need. Sales, Auctions, and concerts were held, donations of cash, food and clothing were received, material was purchased and made into clothing, shoes were repaired, also clothing, and Christmas hampers were given out.
Petit point needlework done by JUG Mrs. Mandy Spooner. Donated to the Port Moody Heritage Society by JUG Audrey Cross.
There was an automotive club, a teenage boys club called the Ioco Tuxis Boys and even a gun club called Imperial 22 Club. There was the Canadian Girls in Training club which was a church based program for girls between the ages of 11 to 17, and also the Junior and Senior Girl’s Auxiliaries.
