ORANGE LODGE № 296
Orillia's oldest Fraternity
Welcome to Orillia Harmony Loyal Orange Lodge 296!
Since it's inception, the Orange Order has been known by several different names and acronyms including things like the Loyal Orange Association or L.O.A., the Loyal Orange Lodge or L.O.L., the Orange Association or O.A., Loyal Orange Institution or L.O.I. and simply the Orange Order or O.O.
No matter which name or acronym is used, it all refers to the same Order, which gets it's Orange connection from King William III, prince of Orange (the royal house of the Netherlands) who is credited for establishing the civil and religious liberties that we enjoy today.
Whether it's helping children in our Community, or Supporting our Soldiers half way around the globe the Lodge here at the Orange Hall in Orillia is very active indeed.
In 2011 alone this Lodge contributed close to 2,200 hours of service hours on behalf of Orangeism for different projects, events, programmes and charities.(helping the Salvation Army man kettles at Christmas and looking after our Adopt-a-Street section of Mississaga Street to name a couple).
This figure however is modest, considering that it does not take into account any of the time, resources or money that the Orangemen from Orillia have contributed towards their churches, other organizations, charities or social clubs in the city, outside of what they contribute for the Lodge. Additionally we have donated a few thousand dollars to children and needy families within our local community and held two major fund raisers. One of which was to Support our Soldiers currently serving over in Afghanistan.
We are a small Lodge, with big ambitions to help and improve our Community.
We Support......
We are Patriotic. In fact we are the most Patriotic Fraternity in Canada.
In WWI alone there were 80,000 plus Canadian Orangemen serving King and Country. We have sent care packages to our Soldiers on operations overseas.
A charity near and dear to our hearts and one that most Orangemen stand behind.
Especially here in Orillia. Over the last few years we have enjoyed efforts to raise money to give to the Children's Wish Foundation of Canada.