For more than a century, this national organization has provided vital home nursing and health education to Canadians. Founded in 1897 by Lady Aberdeen, the Order developed innovative programs to improve the health of mothers and children, particularly among the poor and isolated. It established the first Canadian training homes for public health nurses, set a national standard for visiting nurse services, and later expanded its work to meet the needs of the elderly and the chronically ill. Through advocacy and by example, the VON helped lead the way to broader public health care programs.