1937 - Convention Report

              TWENTIETH PROVINCIAL CONVENTION 7) 1
THE FEDERATED WOMEN'S INSTITUTES OF CANADA
CHARLOTTETOWN, P. E. I.
By Mrs. F. G. Grevett, Delegate
In fancy I shall take you on that long, delightful journey to Prince Edward
Island, leaving Calgary on Tuesday, June 18th, 1935, at 5.20 p. m., reaching
Charlottetown on Saturday Night at 10.40. The first visitor of note to Prince
Edward Island was Jacques Cartier in 1534, and this is what he wrote home:
" A l l the land is low and the most beautiful it is possible to see, and lull of
beautiful trees and meadows."
Ever since visitors to Canada's garden province have felt with this world
explorer, that here is something to write home about. The red soil against the
beautiful green fields and trees captivates one. This island, Canada's smallest
province, is a million- acre summer vacation playground." Summer is long on
the Island, and even in late September, visitors find it hard to tear themselves
away from the delights of a sojourn there.
The Island people are most hospitable, and one quickly feels at home. We
were met on arrival by Mrs. Shaw and other W. I. women, who graciously wel­comed
us and escorted us to the C. N. R. hotel. The Island people have a reputa­tion
for good living. Fresh fish just out of the water, succulent lobsters, milk- fed
chicken, fresh vegetables, milk and cream, are all products for which Prince
Edward Island is noted.
In Charlottetown, the capital city, there are many historic places, and chief
among these is the Parliament Building, in which the famous meeting of 1864 took
place to consider confederation of the several Provinces, which came into force
on July 1st, 1867. Here we were privileged to meet around that historic table.
One could not help feeling a thrill of pride and hope that our gathering might
prove as momentous in the life of Canada as theirs did. In the public library is
a room devoted to exhibits connected with the life of the late Robert Harris,
one of Canada's foremost artists, who painted the famous picture, " The Fathers
of Confederation." The charm of this Province, the colorful background of the
history, and the tales and legends of their people, have been the theme of many
noted writers.
In old Government House, Thomas Carlyle's first love reigned as First Lady
of the Province, the famous ' Blumine" of Sartor Resartus. Not far from the
site of Government House still stands the small dwelling in which she first saw
light of day.
Farms cover the landscape like a checkerboard, and there are many pic­turesque
towns and villages and excellent bathing beaches. The whole north
shore of the Island, a distance of ninety miles, is a series of fine white sand
beaches, beaten hard by the constant pounding of the surf. Two of these beaches
are each no less than twenty miles long. The water deepens gradually, and the
bather is protected shoreward from the wind by the high sand dunes rising from
ten to forty feet. One delightful day was completely given to a drive round the
Island, where we visited several points of interest en route. At Cavendish we
were entertained to a Fish and Potato Flour Cake Luncheon, and later we visited
at the home of Mrs. MacMillan, where we were entertained at Tea by the Corn­wall
W. I. in the beautiful garden surrounding her home.