History
1919 – Founding of Optimist International
1922 – The Optimist Creed was adopted
1924 – First Junior Optimist Clubs formed
1924 - First Canadian Optimist Club formed, the Optimist Club of Toronto
1924 - Second Canadian Optimist Club formed in Hamilton
1928 – Oratory Contest
1955 – 1,000th Optimist Club chartered
1957 – Appreciation Week
1963 – First Octagon Clubs
1965 – Respect for Law program
1971 – Optimist International Foundation
1978 - Optimist International Junior Golf Championships (CGJOI).
1983 – Essay contest
1987 – Women’s Admission to the Optimist membership
1988 – Optimist International Foundation of Canada
1988 - JOOI Organization
1993 – Alpha Clubs into JOOI
For a more detailed history, please click here.