The Story of the Alberta Women's Institute

              THE

STORY

OF'

THE

ALBERTA

WOMEl\-'S

INSTITUT.ES

products. In the same year, the president represented the Women's Institutes on a committee appointed by the Premier of the province for the purpose of outlining and planning preparations for a provincewide celebration of the 60th Anniversary of Confederation. In 1927 Mrs. D. R. McIvor became secretary-treasurer of the A. \V.I. succeeding Mrs. A. H. Rogers, who retired after eleven years' continuous service. That year the A.W.I. exhibit at the C.N.E. iJJustrated the influence the Women's Institutes have had on education and better schools in this province. Mrs. VV. C. Short, of W oodbend Instil ute was in charge of the exhibit which consisted in part of a cJeverly constructed miniature moclel of a rural school and playground. peopled with tiny boys and girls and a diminutive teacher, the work of a skilful and artistic young woman, Miss Clementine PoHras. of Edmonton. Floral Emblem Voted Upon In 1928, on the suggestion of the Women's Institutes, the A.dvisory Board in co-operation with the Department of Education, arranged for a vote of the school children of the province as to their choice of a floral emblem for Alberta. Their preference was the wild rose and in 1930 an Act was passed by the Legislature which official1y endorsed their choice. The A.W.I. Separated From Government Such pressure was brought to bear upon the government that in 1928 the Women's Home Bureau Act was passed and the institutes were further cut loose from government financial assistance. This necessitated drastic changes in financial policy within the A.vIT.!. The I\Tinister of Agriculture was approached with the request that in view of what the Women's Institute movement meant to the rural women of the province, the government would provide w'hat might be termed a readjustment fund to be graduated down over a period of five years, the amount to be mutually agreed upon by the A.W.I. Advisory Board and the government. This request was granted with the result that from 1928 to 1932 a gradually diminishing sum was paid to the A.W.I. Provincial Dues Raised At the same time, the A.W.I. in convention in Edmonton. set its fjnandal house in order still further by voting in favor of raising the provincial dues to $1.00 per member. This was done so that at least a portion of the readjustment fund might be invested for a back log of financial security which would yield some yearly reve~ue. The Reserve Trust Fund was to receive any possible balance from current

dues as \velL in order to consolidate the financial position of the
A.W.I. The Women's Institute Act Revised \Vhen the Women's Institute Act was revised in 1928, 1\1rs. Huvck and Mrs. Montgomery were asked by the Minister of Agricu1ture~ to
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