1978 
     
    
   
   
    
     The April meeting of the Knutsford Women’s Institute was held at the local school, now known 
     
     to the members as the Knutsford Women’s Institute Community Centre. The closure of most of 
     
     the rural schools took away the focus of activity and involvement for many branches. Many 
     
     women’s institutes, including Knutsford, purchased their school in the community and 
     
    

    
     established it as a community centre. Lifetime institute member Wanda Adams said, “We paid 
     
     $24 for the deed and $1 for the school from the government to make it legal.” It took a lot of 
     
     work and money, but like anything else the women took it on. They were now responsible to 
     
    

    
     heat the building, maintain it and upgrade it. Government was eager for the WI to buy the school 
     
     and make it a community centre and be responsible for it. There were 41 people present that 
     
    
   
   
    
     night - 21 members and 20 husbands. 
     
    
   
   
    
     1978 was the 50th anniversary of the KWI and the 65th anniversary of the Provincial WI. It was 
     
     also Joan Smallman’s birthday. To commemorate these important occasions, a cake was 
     
     presented by Mrs. Alvin Yeo. The cake was beautifully decorated in blue and gold, the colours 
     
     of the women’s institute. The candles were blue and gold, as well. Blue and gold were Queen 
     
     Victoria’s favourite colours and she was the monarch at the time the first WI was established in 
     
     1897. Joan Smallman brought her dozen red roses which she had been given for her birthday so 
     
     everyone could enjoy them. Both of these items added to the evening. After the meal the women 
     
    
   
   
    
     departed to the kitchen to begin their monthly meeting, leaving the men to play games. 
     
    
   
   
    
     The two separate treasurers, school and regular, gave their reports and it was decided to transfer 
     
     $50 to school account. Fourteen dollars was put towards the hospital commode chair. A report 
     
     was read about the recent convention at St. Luke’s by those who attended. Red Cross convener 
     
     Betty Sweet said that $13.68 was sent for labels. Swimming lessons meeting would be held 
     
     Monday April 16 at 7 p.m. The Hospital Aid convener reported that a Health Awareness Clinic 
     
     was being held Tuesday, April 18, at 7p.m. at the Lions Club. Members were encouraged to go. 
     
     The quilt committee reported two quilts were completed for Mrs. Waite and three more were for 
     
     sale. Fairley Yeo suggested the quilts be sold for $55 each but the fancy one, a Colonial Lady 
     
     quilt, was to be sold for $80. Nowadays, homemade quilts can go for as much as $800. It was 
     
    
   
   
    
     also moved and seconded that a dinner/buffet be served for the workers at the election in the 
     
    
   
   
    
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