P.E.I. Women’s Institute commemorates agriculture
With the promise of spring on the horizon, the Women’s Institute provincial calendar includes the annual Roadside Cleanup May 11 and the provincial WI convention on May 24.
The provincial Women’s Institute highlights agriculture and recounts a successful donation campaign and several key events in the upcoming month.
PEIWI launched a Pantry Challenge in addition to February’s Taking Care of Women’s Business. Period. 28-day campaign with donations being dropped off for P.E.I. food banks.
Although not tallied yet, the 28-day campaign is appearing to be again well over $5,000 in product and monetary donations to address the need for period products for P.E.I. food banks.
The new Pantry Challenge is a request for Islanders to drop off one food item at a community fridge, pantry or food bank to assist residents in the harshest months of the year.
The Pantry Challenge extends into March to help tackle food insecurity. The provincial board of the PEIWI and its members thank those who are participating in both campaigns.
To assist the Public Schools branch system with Canadian Agriculture Literacy Month, PEIWI distributed WI’S Farm to Table Activity Books to youth in Grade 3 across Prince Edward Island.
More than 800 books were ordered, in two official languages for youth, boasting a 60 per cent increase from previous years.
WI members were also involved with reading to children in the classroom on farm-related themes.
The provincial board promotes a monthly Heard it through the Grapevine segment spotlighting agriculture through the eyes of WI members, available on Facebook and in member mailouts.
Argyle Shore WI member Elaine Potts and her husband operate Potts Sleigh Rides, a family-run operation located at 439 Bonshaw Rd., Argyle Shore.
Celebrating a 50th anniversary in 2025, Noel and Elaine Potts run the sleigh rides during the winter with their three-generation family.
Noel has commented that they are working on the third and fouth generations of patrons and have provided horses over the years for TV shows such as “Emily of New Moon,” “Road to Avonlea” and a Japanese production of “Anne of Green Gables” (Noel played the part of Matthew).
Winners of the WI Island Product Cooking Contest were announced for those in grades 7-12.
he following students received cash prizes in categories with recipes showcasing Island ingredients: appetizers - Jayce Muirhead-mills, Bluefield (Caramelized Onion Dip), Avrie Smith, Kinkora High (Creamy Lobster Chowder), Zoey Mcdonald, Montague Intermediate (Strawberry Salsa); soup - Payton Leger-ford, Natalie Doucette, Bluefield (Creamy Potato Soup), Jayce Muirhead-mills, Bluefield (Homemade Tomato Soup), Keira Duffy, Kinkora High (Potato Vegetable Soup); mains - Elena Jay, Montague Intermediate (Simple Homemade Gnoccchi), Emily Waite, Kinkora High (Bucatini all Amatriciana), Savanna Kropf, Kinkora High (Cottage Pie); sweets - Keira Duffy, Kinkora High (Potato Chocolate Cake), Jayce Muirheand-mills, Bluefield (Tira-mousse-u), Johanna Turkington Bluefield (Quesillo/venezuelan Caramel Flan).
With the promise of spring on the horizon, the Women’s Institute provincial calendar includes the annual Roadside Cleanup May 11 and the provincial WI convention on May 24.
The provincial board of directors is also now accepting nominations for PEIWI member awards. The deadline to submit is March 31.
A complete list of PEIWI awards, scholarships and provincial events is available online.
This article is prepared by Ellen Macphail, executive director of the PEIWI, and appears in The Guardian on the second Friday of each month. For information on the P.E.I. Women’s Institute or to comment on this column, visit www.peiwi.ca, call 902368-4860 or email wi@gov. pe.ca.