There is probably no other Canadian phenomenon that exemplified the true spirit of volunteerism more than the Marching Mothers® campaigns of the 1950s and 1960s.
Desperate to find a cure for polio, a highly contagious, disabling and sometimes fatal disease, mothers across Canada joined a North America-wide fundraising drive towards research.
Known as the Marching Mothers®, these dedicated volunteers went door-to-door in their neighbourhoods, collecting donations for the March of Dimes.
From celebrity endorsements, to local media campaigns, to the ringing of fire alarm bells from the centre of town, many in their communities got involved.
Women canvassed their neighbours carrying pickle jars or canvassing kits. Homes welcoming Marching Mothers® turned on their porch lights to signal their support.
Over the years, this simple, community-based process raised millions of dollars for polio research and rehabilitation. It supported the research of Dr. Jonas Salk, whose polio vaccine was released in 1955, putting an end to the epidemics.
But long after the vaccine's discovery, women and men continued the annual marches. The funds initially assisted polio survivors, but today they support a wide range of vital services for adults and children with physical disabilities across Ontario.
Ellen Fairclough: Chief Marching Mother
Ellen Louks Fairclough possessed a trailblazing spirit that helped to shape the character of this country.
When the polio epidemics affected thousands of children, including Ellen’s only son in 1947, she joined the fight against the disease. Ellen convinced the Hamilton City Council to open a disused military hospital to better accommodate the city’s victims.
In 1951, when the Canadian Foundation of Poliomyelitis (today known as Ontario March of Dimes) was established to fund research for a vaccine, Ellen became an active supporter.
She joined the Provincial Board and became a “Marching Mother”, canvassing door-to-door to raise money one dime at a time. Thanks to the efforts of Marching Mothers® like her, the horror of the epidemic ended with the distribution of the Salk vaccine in 1955.
In 1965, Ellen was appointed Chief Marching Mother of Ontario, the honorary head of the province's 40,000 Marching Mothers®.
Then, in 2003, Ontario March of Dimes established The Ellen Fairclough Society, to honour her leadership and recognize those who carry on her work helping people with physical disabilities.
Today, Ellen remains an icon for our 20,000 volunteers who continue to go door-to-door every January to raise money for people with physical disabilities.
Find out more about the Ellen Fairclough Giving Society.
You can also make a contribution by joining the Door-to-Door Campaign.