Ontario Lupus Association formed by group of patients seeing a need for support and education for those living with this little known disease

• First meeting was held at Wellesley Hospital. Honey Agar, one of the founding members was first president.
• Hamilton Lupus Society and Lupus Foundation all formed that year.
• OLA Operated under auspices of Arthritis Society as their first Specific Disease Group, established 12 branches in the next 5 years

Inaugural Chinese Dinner fundraiser hosted by the Chu family in Toronto. The Donna Chu Chinese dinner was   later to be named in memory of their daughter. (Continued until SARS in 2002) 

First Lupus Conference held in Toronto. Frances Gotkin, Honey Agar’s sister, became second OLA President

First Italian Dinner fundraiser hosted by Colagiovanni family

• CBC documentary “I’ll Get There Somehow” directed by John Zaretsky was produced. One of four segments was on Lupus and featured Honey Agar and her family. Great public awareness produced more branches and support groups 
• First in the world Lupus Databank Research Program was inspired by Honey Agar, Dr. Murray Urowitz and Dr. Daphna Gladman
  
   
• Over one million dollars was raised in numerous events. Dini Petty, a Canadian talk show host became the spokesperson for both the OLA and the Databank 
• ACT ( Associated Canadian Travelers) became first OLA sponsor. Geoff Carr, President, was instrumental in the partnership and also founded the North Bay Branch of the OLA October became Lupus Awareness Month and a 2 day seminar on Lupus Epidemiology was funded by ACT

Members of Canadian Lupus Organizations met at a conference in Cleveland Ohio and began discussions to form Lupus Canada. First AGM in 1987

OLA began funding in four lupus clinics in Ontario

Stewart Stainton was elected third President of OLA and was instrumental in developing a junior group. Founded by Andrea-Ou Hingwan it was originally called TOLL (Teens in Ontario Living with Lupus) but was changed to TLC in 1994 ( Taking Life as a Challenge) It conitnues today as youth newsletter on Lupus Canada’s website

President of ACT, Geoff Carr, passed away and OLA Fellowship was named in his honour. In our 18th year, our new Geoff Carr Fellow for 2008/9 is Dr. Zahi Touma. 

Risi and Tolfo families host first Halloween Dance. Renamed “Dance for a Cure” it has become Lupus Ontario’s largest single fundraiser. Held at the end of January each year it has raised over $750,000. to date

Shelagh Purcell became 4th President OLA.. The second Lupus conference was held in Toronto

OLA applied for own Charitable Number

Julia Kane became 5th President, OLA, facilitated Charitable # and incorporation. Office was relocated to Markham. Full time office coordinator hired

Karen Guest becomes sixth president,

First Walk a Block

OLA and Lupus Society of Hamilton complete negotiations to amalgamate, Lupus Foundation chooses not to be part, but would continue to collaborate. 

Amalgamated groups hold first formal AGM in London. Named officially changed to Lupus Ontario, Kevin Stannard becomes 7th President

Lupus Ontario declines division status with Lupus Canada

• Julia Kane gets recycled as President of Board, LO
• Lupus Canada reverts board composition to MO representation.
• First Lupus Ontario HOPE award was given to Tiziana and Lois Tolfo and Tony and Connie Risi for “outstanding leadership in improving the lives of people with lupus”
• Lupus Ontario backs Walk a Block by hiring coordinator Juanita Butler 
• Outstanding success in October Walks raise $256,000 shared with Lupus Canada

• Walk-a-Block was moved to May 10th in conjunction with World Lupus Day… “Walk the World for Lupus”
  Raised $94,000. in Ontario
• Lupus Ontario Hope Award presented to Dr Earl Silverman, Hospital for Sick Kids at “Dance for the Cure”
• Lupus Ontario awarded over $250,000 in education fellowships, research and clinic support