
The Story of the Izzy Dolls
Every year, on 21 June, we mark the anniversary of the death of Master Corporal Mark “Izzy” Isfeld, who, along with his late mother Carol, inspired the Izzy Doll. We also pay tribute to the dedication of countless volunteers who work to ensure that the Izzy Doll Initiative continues to bring comfort to children affected by war or living in crisis, honouring Mark’s legacy of compassion.


It all started when MCpl Isfeld was on his first peacekeeping mission to Croatia. On one occasion, he had noticed a child’s doll lying on a pile of rubble from a bombed house. He thought of the joy a doll can bring and the need to reconnect a child with a doll. After discussing this with his mother, she crocheted some small dolls, and Mark distributed them to the children he encountered during his duties. On his next tour with 1 Combat Engineer Regiment, Mark was killed in a mine detonation on 21 June 1994. After his death, his unit gave the name “Izzy” to this little doll and continued Mark’s mission of distributing them.
After her son’s death, Carol kept knitting the dolls for over a decade. Several friends and other mothers across the country learned of the initiative and helped with knitting while Canadian soldiers distributed them during their missions.
The Order of the Eastern Star supported the project and established a network of knitters across Canada and a means to collect the dolls. The Canadian Military Engineers Association helped with arrangements to distribute Izzy Dolls to our deployed Canadian Forces personnel.


With the death of Carol and Brian Isfeld in 2006 and 2007, respectively, the Isfeld family asked Shirley O’Connell to provide the leadership for the continuation of Mark Isfeld’s legacy. They gave her the title of “Izzy Doll Mama.”
Retired lieutenant-colonel Ken Holmes, historian for the Canadian Military Engineers Association, assists the Izzy Doll Initiative with the coordination of Izzy Doll deliveries and communication with the military units deploying overseas.
Since November 2024, Lise Galuga has assumed the role of Executive Director, continuing the important work of the Izzy Doll Initiative and coordinating volunteer efforts.
Over the years, Izzy Dolls have been delivered to 130 crisis zones around the globe, including Nepal after the earthquakes and Haiti after the hurricane. Ukraine, Afghanistan, Jamaica, Uganda, Guatemala, and Ecuador are among the recipients.
During the COVID shutdown, crocheters and knitters across Canada continued to make Izzy Dolls. When the shutdown was lifted, 17,000 Izzy Dolls were sent to Ukraine for distribution to the children who are the victims of the war.

![A Canadian officer distributes Izzy dolls to children at the Tulizeni Centre orphanage in the Democratic Republic of Congo in March 2017. [Canadian Armed Forces]](http://izzydoll.org/wp-content/uploads/2024/10/Soldier-giving-out-Izzy-Dolls-e1730279284949.png)
Izzy Dolls were also provided to Syrian refugee families upon their arrival in Canada and were sent to Fort McMurray, Alberta, to families displaced by the wildfires. The dolls have been distributed widely across Africa through ICROSS (International Community for the Relief of Starvation and Suffering Canada).
Various Canadian charities and Canadian doctors on medical missions have also distributed the Izzy dolls. Health Partners International Canada (HPIC), which sends medical supply packages to health care workers in developing nations, has also partnered with the Izzy Doll Initiative. HPIC uses the Izzy Dolls themselves as packing materials to protect their medical kits instead of more traditional packing materials. This serves a double purpose:
- supporting their environmental friendliness mandate;
- and allowing the Izzy Dolls to be transported without additional costs to areas of the world where there are children in need of comfort.

The network of volunteer participants involved in knitting the dolls has continued to grow as awareness of the Izzy Doll Initiative has grown. To date, nearly 2 million Izzy Dolls have been knitted and crocheted by volunteers and groups working in Canada, the United States, the United Kingdom, Australia and other countries.
Some volunteers like to make Izzy Dolls as part of a group such as church groups and other community-minded clubs. High school students have also been involved in creating Izzy Dolls as part of their Remembrance projects.
Over the years, the Izzy Doll Initiative has gained significant attention through a variety of projects and initiatives. Author/singer/songwriter Phyllis Wheaton’s book, “In the Mood for Peace: The Story of the Izzy Doll” has touched hearts and inspired countless individuals to support this important initiative. Her music CD, “In Harm’s Way,” has further amplified the message of compassion and hope, honouring the Izzy Doll as a powerful symbol of peace and understanding.

The Izzy Doll initiative has also helped to inspired a new generation of young Canadians.
For a decade, students participating in Veterans Affairs Canada’s “Encounters with Canada” were selected from across Canada to visit Ottawa during Remembrance Week. This programme allowed students to learn about the legacy of Master Corporal Mark Isfeld and create Izzy Dolls to bring comfort to children in need.
The Izzy Doll has become a significant piece of Canadian history, displayed at the Canadian War Museum. It has also found a home in the Canadian Museum of History’s History Box program, a collection of educational kits that bring Canadian history to life in classrooms across the country. The Izzy Doll resources for schools consistently rank among the most popular topics with students, sparking curiosity and fostering a deeper understanding of Canada’s military history and humanitarian efforts.
A lesson plan and an activity booklet by Veterans Affairs Canada were also created to support the Izzy Doll Initiative and allow students to gain an understanding of the importance of Canadian Armed Forces humanitarian work by learning from the example set by the Isfeld family.


Most recently, the Juno Beach Centre added the Izzy Doll to the display in their “Faces of Canada Today” exhibition, opened in February 2024.
This contemporary Canadian gallery reflects significant changes in the culture of remembrance in Canada since the Second World War. It invites visitors to discover topics such as Canadians’ military commitment, immigration and diversity, volunteering, and the activism that forges Canadian society.
Public awareness continues to grow! Izzy Dolls were featured on the Haptic & Hue podcast. The news media reported on the Izzy Dolls and, most recently, on the 80 Izzy Dolls for the 80th anniversary of D-Day project. The Izzy Doll Initiative has also been featured in prominent publications such as the Royal Canadian Legion magazine, Readers Digest’s “Our Canada,” and “PK75,” a magazine dedicated to Canada’s peacekeeping history. These articles have shed light on the inspiring story of Master Corporal Mark Isfeld and the enduring legacy of the Izzy Doll. By reaching a wide audience, these publications have contributed to the Izzy Doll’s iconic status in Canadian culture.

The work to provide Izzy Dolls to needy children continues in memory of Master Corporal Mark Isfeld. Join us by making your own Izzy Dolls and dropping them off with one of our partners. For more information on the Izzy Doll, please write to info@izzydoll.org.