The program for the evening was a drawing contest and Mrs. Heath Woodside won the prize.

In March, a defensive driving course was offered in O’Leary and in the coming weeks and months many members planned to attend. It was decided to take a photograph of the school for the Save our History project. In April, Mrs. Lawrence Harris reported she attended the defensive

driving course and said it was very interesting and beneficial.

The first Potato Blossom Festival in O’ Leary was planned in 1968 by Stanley MacDonald and Alden Weeks. In June 1970 the members of the Knutsford Women’s Institute were asked to enter all 1969 babies in a baby contest and to enter a contestant in the “Beauty Queen Contest”. The festival would take place in July every year to mark the time when the potatoes are blossoming. The first young lady to win the pageant was Miss Sandra (Maclssac) Sabine in 1967. The Queen represents the P.E.I. Potato Blossom Festival at public events, and they attend the Royal Winter

Fair in Toronto to promote P.E.I. tourism and potatoes.

In the 70s, there was a popular saying, Keep On Keeping On, and that is exactly what the

members of the Knutsford Women’s Institute did. Monthly meetings were alternated and held at each other’s homes. The institute women attended seminars and courses. And they continued to make up creative roll calls and have fun programs. They never stopped canvassing for cancer and many causes, and the list kept getting longer - The Foster Parents Plan, the Red Shield Appeal, Home Economics Scholarship fund. They never stopped sewing for the Red Cross or the O’Leary Community Hospital and raising money for the school for furniture and supplies. They organized the children’s end of school summer trip to the shore and swimming lessons, and hosted the Halloween and Christmas parties, supplying treats and games. The institute at times had 7 member’s answer roll call and other times there would be as many at 21. But no matter

how many the number, the women always carried out the task given them.

In March 1973 a book was passed along to members entitled “A Parent’s Guide to Drug Abuse.” Moms and dads tried to nip drug abuse in the bud, but often they did not know what to look for in their child. Glassy eyes, lethargic, mood changes, etc. were put down as a hormonal or a growth spurt. They did not know of the pandemic of street drugs and its harmful addiction

consequences.

112