Missisquoi County annual Women’s Institutes meeting was held on April 11
All it takes to join a women’s institute is that you be a woman. The Women’s Institutes in Quebec have been in operation over a hundred years. In this region there have been three branches, Stanbridge East, Dunham, and Fordyce (which meets in Cowansville). Sadly, at this meeting the Stanbridge East branch officially closed. But the Dunham and Fordyce branches are two of the most active in the province.
In the past year the branches have continued to support schools and the women’s shelter, and the group homes. To celebrate Canada’s 150th anniversary, a bench was installed at the cairn in Dunham and in the front peace garden at Heroes’ Memorial.
Linda Hoy, the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada president, was present at the meeting. In her mandate she has visited every province.
Quilts were made over the past year to be given to the Montreal Children’s Hospital, the Shriners’ Hospital, and various Ronald Macdonald Houses. During the meeting it was brought up that there is a call for 200 quilts in the Broncos’ colours being requested from Humboldt. Several ladies volunteered to start a new sewing project in partnership with the Fils Amis quilting store in East Farnham.
The branches also sponsor a story writing contest. This year students from Heroes’ Memorial, Knowlton Academy, Farnham Elementary, Sutton Elementary, and Mansonville Elementary all wrote stories. They will be judged locally and the top winners go on to the provincial level.
The meeting wasn’t all business. At lunch time people had fun trying on fascinators in honour of the upcoming royal wedding. Money was collected for a local school. For this meeting it was St. Leon Elementary School in Cowansville.
If anyone is looking to join a fun and community-based organization they can contact Shirley Vaughan at 450-295-2355 for the Dunham branch or Norma at 450-263-3448 for the Fordyce (Cowansville) branch.