1937 - Convention Report

              TWENTIETH PROVINCIAL CONVENTION 23
REPORT OF DISTRICT No. 1
Mrs. M. R. Upton, Berwyn - Director
I take pleasure in submitting my report of the work carried on by the
Women's Institutes in District No. 1 for the past two years.
This District embraces what is generally called the Peace River Country.
There are three Constituencies here, with twenty- one Branches, representing
some three hundred and fifty women, who have raised approximately $ 4,000.00.
Since the last Convention three of our Branches have become inactive, but
one new Branch has been formed and the membership throughout the District
has been maintained. Interest in the work for Home and Country is keen.
During the past two years Conferences were held in each Constituency at
which a handicraft exhibition was sponsored. This seemed to create a fresh
interest, and certainly increased the attendance at all Conferences.
A successful District Conference was my objective for the north, but owing
to the difficulties of transportation and the great distances to be traversed, it
was decided by the Constituencies that such a Conference would be more or less
local, representing largely the Constituency in which it was held. However, I do
feel the need for something of the kind in the north to link the Branches together
more closely. I hope it may be accomplished in the near future, should travelling
conditions improve.
Since last Convention I have endeavored to interest the Conferences in
forming Girls' Clubs. I find in most communities a number qf young people's
organizations of one kind and another, so that it was not felt there was a very
great need for such clubs.
Peace River Constituency— Mrs. D. Younger, Convener. Has eight Branches:
Hinterland Fairview, Whitelaw, Griffin Creek, Berwyn, Grimshaw, Whitcmud
and Peace River.
The activities of these Institutes have been varied, embracing the social,
educational and welfare branches of Women's Institute work. Excellent papers
have been given by the members, while some outside speakers, have also con­tributed
to the many splendid programs. The material contained in the Provincial
paper, " Home and Country", has been utilized, while the Home Nursing Course
was quite helpful. Berwyn had the local nurses pass this course on to a group
of high school girls.
The roll calls were both instructive and amusing. Some of these were short
cuts in housekeeping, school lunches, serving hints, canning meats, home- made
yeast, pickle recipes, favorite recipes, and many other hints on household
economics; descriptions of Canadian scenery, unfulfilled ambitions, Christmas
and Easter ideas, New Year's resolutions. Irish jokes, and garden hints.
Peace River, Berwyn and Grimshaw report having awarded prizes for
general proficiency in Grade VIII. Musical festivals were assisted and contri­butions
were made last year to the Cancer Fund. Whitelaw has provided a com­plete
bed outfit in a local house as the beginning of a nursing home. Now they
arc working for a resident doctor as their objective this year.
During the past year fire destroyed the Institute hospital at Berwyn. but from
the ashes there has arisen a beautiful modern building. Great credit is due the
small group of women who foresaw the needs of the district and laid the founda­tion
for the present building.
Interest in the care and improvement of the local cemetery has been under­taken
by some Branches.
Funds were raised by talent money, raffles, plays, teas and card parties.
Grimshaw clothed a deaf and dumb child and sent her to the school a
Winnipeg.