Contests, concert, craft fairs
WI events spread out across the province will provide lots of fun
The Prince Edward lsland WI board of directors and membership have lots of provincial and branch events to highlight throughout the province over the next few months.
PEIWI is excited to host the fifth annual Island Product Cooking Contest aimed at intermediate and high school students across the Island. Students in grades seven through to 12 are encouraged to enter their favorite recipes for cash. Organized by the board and sponsored by the Department of Agriculture and Fisheries this event features four categories, including appetizer, soup, main dish and sweets. Recipes submitted must feature Island agricultural- and fishery based products. Final judging will take place during February as part of WI Founder’s Week with winners receiving cash prizes. The deadline for students to enter is Dec. 15. Visit www.PEIWI.ca for entry forms and further details.
Women’s Institute branches have always provided a layer of connectivity across the Island, and it is hoped to capture this essence through a community builder book project. Past national president Marie Kenny is looking to combine a collection of stories of past and present WI members who have created legacies on Prince Edward Island.
The short stories are to be a maximum of 500 words with the following: a brief bio about yourself, where you are from, where you came from, about your family; how you came to be part of the Women’s Institute movement; what community means to you, some of your involvement and how it has enriched your life; what have you learned from being a WI member and how being a community builder has changed or inspired you. The submission deadline is Jan 1. For further details, contact the WI office at 902368-4860, WI@gov.pe.ca or Kenny at mkfwic@gmail.com.
Several branch events across the Island are also taking place in November.
The Wheatley River WI Christmas Fair will be held Nov. 10 at the Wheatley River Hall, 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Admission is $2 for adults, and children under 12 are free.
There will be a wide variety of handmade crafts, knitted goods, homemade baked goods, preserves, Island honey and wreaths for sale. Lunch will be served at a cost of $5 per person.
The Wheatley River WI will also hold an old-fashioned variety concert on Nov. 22-23, 7 p.m., at the Wheatley River Hall. There will be skits, music, dancing and more. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door, with students $5 and preschoolers free. Call Carol Axworthy, 902-964-2586, or Tracy Huggan, 902-621-0834, to reserve tickets. A canteen and snacks will be available. Proceeds from both Wheatley River Women’s Institute events will go to the community hall.
The Greater Charlottetown WI (GCWI) will be selling fresh Christmas wreaths this year as a fundraiser. Each wreath will be around $30 and will include an assortment of colourful ribbons and bling decorated by branch members. There are a limited number available, and pre-ordering is encouraged by Nov. 15 emailing Carla at martincarla21@gmail.com.
Rice Point WI will be holding it annual Christmas Craft Fair on Nov. 17, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., at the Afton Community Centre in New Dominion. Admission is free, and canteen services are available.
For more information on these items or to join a WI branch, visit www.peiwi.ca or contact the provincial office at 902-368-4860 or wi@gov.pe.ca. This article is prepared by Ellen MacPhail, executive director for the PEIWI, and appears in The Guardian the second Thursday of every month.