What Women’s Institute Means to Me Fairley Yeo

Women’s Institute has always been a central part of my community, my history and indeed, my identity. It has shaped the person I have become. From the time I was very young, I can remember my mother going to Women’s Institute. She belonged to the West Cape Women’s Institute in the community where we lived. The meetings were held at the members’ home. My mother was very involved in her institute. When Women’s Institute was held at our home, it was very exciting. My mother would be very busy cleaning and getting everything ready for the meeting which would be held in the parlor, used only for guests and special occasions.

I can also remember my mother getting ready to attend the Area 2 yearly District Conventions, held in the Springfield West Community Hall about six miles away. She would be all dressed up. It was a big day to meet with other WI members from the District Convention area which would include the Knutsford Women’s Institute. One of the West Cape WI members who drove a car would pick her and other Women’s Institute members up and off they would go to spend the afternoon developing policy, presenting resolutions, to be taken back to the

PEIWI. This, along with social time and lunch, made a very interesting day for all WI members.

I can also remember the hot lunches the West Cape WI sponsored at the School. Soup cans and bottles were heated in a tub of water over the wood stove in the middle of the room, with hand basins, soap and towels also provided. The WI organized the School Nurse to do inoculations, vaccinations and she also checked our head for lice. There were X- rays for TB, Cod Liver Oil capsules, drinking water fountains and, Fridays after recess, Junior Red Cross meetings. The Women’s Institute lobbied for these services to come to rural PEI while helping with Christmas concerts and school closing picnics at the shore below Greenhill School

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