1930 - Annual Convention Report

              30 A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T ES
busy raising funds for the local hospitals at each of these points. Entertain­ments,
local talent plays, whist drives and darrces have ' been the means of
raising money for this purpose. In Berwyn the W . I. have been instrumental
in having a hot lunch served in the local school through the winter. Through
the co- operation of M r . Seymour, the Provincial Town Planning Commission­er,
Berwyn has undertaken the improvement of the local cemetery.
Owing to the extreme cold and heavy condition of the roads throughout
the whole of the past winter, two of the country branches, E r i n Lodge and
Kerndale, have been dormant. However, with the opening up of spring, it
w i l l < be possible for the women with small children to get out again and
resume their W . I. activities. There is a prospect of two new branches being
organized very soon, one at Whitelaw and the other at Bluesky.
Grande Prairie Constituency ( Mrs. Gillespie, V a l h a l l a Centre, Convener)
has eleven branches: Grande Prairie, Wemble3% Sexsmith, R i o Grande, H u -
allen, Valhalla, Hermit Lake, Equity, Beaverlodge, F l y i n g Shot ( dormant),
McHendry, organized this year, and Millarston, organized last month. La
Glace holds meetings but is not reporting. Their activities were varied. Four
have purchased pianos for the schools; all are doing considerable hospital aid
for the municipal hospital at Grande Prairie or the small maternity home
supported by the Sexsmith W . I. Prizes have been given for school essays
and attendance. A l l are active in bringing cheer to the sick and needy.
Two have been particularly active in beautifying and caring for the local
cemetery.
D u r i n g the year basketry, sewing and home decoration courses were held.
Baby clinics conducted by Miss Emerson of the Department of Public H e a l th
were very well attended.
Last fall conferences were held i n each constituency. In spite of the fact
that the week previous saw a most severe rain and snow storm w h i c h brought
down trees, telegraph and telephone lines and washed out roads and bridges,
these conferences were very well attended. At H i g h Prairie 29 women were
present from the branches then organized; at Peace River 32 women met to
discuss W . I. work, and at Grande Prairie 100 representatives from nine Insti­tutes
were in attendance.
Mrs. Montgomery addressed each of these conferences. It was her first
visit to the Peace River country and I am sure she will not readily forget
her trip. There being no direct railway communication between the north
and the south of the Peace, a car was the only means of transportation. F r om
H i g h Prairie to Grande Prairie via Peace River, a distance of 225 miles, Mrs,
Montgomery went without a murmur, even though at times the road seemed
impassable. However we were both sustained by the enthusiasm which was
evidenced by the fact so many women attended the meetings in spite of the
bad roads. This summer plans are being l a i d for our first District Conference
at Fairview. when delegates from the north of the Peace and those from the
south will discuss common problems.
Last Christmas Grande Prairie Constituency sent a travelling case to
Mrs. Boyd, of Vanrena, as a token of their appreciation for the work she did
during her term as Director.