Women's Institutes Celebrate 90 Years

Nearly 1,000 rural women will be honoured next week for improving their communities through education, leadership and personal development. Premier John Hamm has proclaimed Feb. 16-22, as Women's Institute (WI) week across Nova Scotia.

This year marks the 90th anniversary of the Women's Institute in Nova Scotia.

"Rural women have been making a difference in their communities throughout Canadian history, and it is a pleasure to honour the Women's Institute of Nova Scotia this week," said Premier Hamm.

The first Women's Institute branch in Canada was started in 1897 by Adelaide Hoodless, an Ontario farm wife who began teaching women domestic skills. From its humble beginnings, this Canadian movement has grown into the world's largest international organization of rural women with a membership of more than nine million in 70 countries.

In 2002, provincial Women's Institute projects included holding public workshops on rural water quality issues and educating children on the importance of literacy through Stories-To-Go, a resource kit that has an agricultural theme.

"The Women's Institute is known as an organization that can adapt and change with the needs of the community," said Winnie Forbes, president of the Women's Institute of Nova Scotia. "If something needs to be done locally, often the Women's Institute will fill that need."

Special events for the celebration week are being planned by 65 Women's Institute branches in Nova Scotia and their 900 members. One provincewide event is "Light Up For WI," which will be held the evening of Feb. 19. Women's Institute members across the province will decorate their homes with white lights to celebrate the birth of the organization.

"WI Week is an opportunity to celebrate the impact that the organization has on the lives of its members, their families and the general public. It's a chance to celebrate a tradition of sharing skills and information in our rural communities," said Ms. Forbes.

Information about Women's Institute Week activities and the organization can be found on the Women's Institute of Nova Scotia Web site at www.gov.ns.ca/nsaf/wi .