The Manitoba club where all members have the same name

Lois Kruse and co-founder Lois Howard share the quirky 25-year story of Manitoba’s one-of-a-kind Lois Club.

A group of Manitoba women has been coming together for 25 years and all because of one shared trait—their names.

It’s called the Lois Club of Manitoba, and it’s a group specifically for people named Lois.

“[Lois] means warrior maiden,” said Lois Howard.

“[Loises] are adventuresome; they’re friendly. They like to help. They’re out there just to see what they can do in the world.”

It all began when a woman named Lois Dudgeon learned about a Lois Club on the east coast. Dudgeon then told Lois Howard about the idea and the Manitoba version of the club grew from there.

“We decided to get together and have lunch and if only the two of us showed up, then that was it, and if more showed up, better,” Howard said in an interview with CTV Morning Live on Thursday.

“So we planned it, and the first year we had 48 Loises show up.”

The club meets every year on the last Saturday of April. They’ve also gotten together for other events, including the Morden Corn and Apple Festival and the Grosse Isle fall supper.

This year, the group is celebrating 25 years of Lois Luncheons at an event on Saturday at Smitty’s on Kenaston—all Loises are welcome.

• With files from CTV’s Rachel Lagacé.