1928 - Annual Convention

              IS A L B E R T A W O M E N ' S I N S T I T U T ES
At 11 a. m. we entrained for Wolfville, the gateway to the Gaspereau
V a l l e y . The scenery along the way ranges from rugged grandeur to pastoral
beauty, and this was enhanced by the miles and miles of apple trees i n the
early stages of pink and white blossoms with the well cultivated fields and
gardens in between the orchards, and a red ribbon of road winding in and
out amid the rich green of the verdure.
Wolfville was reached at 3 p. m. It, too, stands on the side of a h i l l , and
the neat well- kept homes rise from the sea level up the slopes of the hill,
and above them stand the picturesque buildings of Acadia University, where
the National delegates and those attending the Nova Scotia provincial con­vention
found a comfortable home for the next five day?.
The meetings were held in the new Administrative Building, and the
mornings were entirely given over to board meetings, while in the after­noons
and evenings we held joint sessions with the provincial convention.
During the joint sessions we heard the reports of our National conveners
or standing committees, and we also listened to some very excellent ad­dresses.
Miss Stuart, in her presidential address, stressed the need for
greater co- operation between parent and teacher, the home and the school.
Hon. E. N . Rhodes, Premier of Nova Scotia, in an excellent address, urged
a maximum of assistance to schools, particularly the rural school. Mile.
Durand and Mile. Le Blanc gave splendid talks on the work of the
Cercles de Fermiers of Quebec, outlining some of the activities of the
extension service and telling of its accomplishments. Mlh.-. Le Blanc, in her
own delightful manner, told us that she had determined that the little grey
cup i n the rural school must go. She said it was the l i t t l e grey cup that
once, a long time ago, had been a little white cup and the cup upon which
many, many germs did devil- ope ( develop). Tir. H. A. Chisholm made a
strong plea for the co- operation of Women's Institutes throughout Canada
in helping to disseminate scientific knowledge to wipe out epidemics, also
to protect children against T. B. He said he could easily add 25 veal's to the
l i f e of the individual. In Canada at present thn average life is 55 years,
while in New Zealand it is Dr. Chisholm made the statement that no
advanced cases of T . B . should be allowed to stay in the home where there
are younger children.
Dr. Hammington, in a short address, touched upon such dangers as the
f a l l a c y of the over- drink of water, overuse of bran, and milk lunches taken
at a time when they spoil the appetite for the regular meal. She stressed
the need of plenty of sleep for children, and dealt with the ever- increasing
problem of the feeble- minded. She opposed the idea of sterilization. - Mrs.
C. Field- Robertson told of the many needs in Ontario that the Institutes are
working for, such as putting hydro- electric power into more rural communi­ties
and giving medical service to outlying districts. Mr. Putman spoke of
the great benefit that the Institutes throughout Canada hail been to the
welfare of the Dominion. He likened the Institutes to a school for women
where the women themselves were both the teacher and pupil. He also
pointed out that the Institutes had brought about a more wholesome social
life in rural Canada. In a splendid address by Miss McNally she made
the statement that in a household economic training one was trained for a
vocation and at the same time was receiving t r a i n i n g as a home- maker. We
sometimes like to think that there are no people quite so hospitable as we
of the west, but i f we carried any such ideas east with us we were quickly
disillusioned, for no people of any province could have given a more cordial
welcome or extended more gracious hospitality than did the people of Nova
Scotia.
On Tuesday at 4 p. m. cars were provided for a drive through the beau­t
i f u l Gaspereau valley and a visit to Evangeline's Memorial Park at Grand
Pre, after which a tea was given by the Grand Pre W. I., a t the very pretty
home of our federated president, Miss Stuart. On Wednesday afternoon
there was a drive through the Cornwallis valley, where one followed a red
ribbon of road between seas of apple blooms and green meadows, and
f i n a l l y emerged from the valley and climbed the steep mountain to " Look
O f f " on the point of Cape Blonidon. The view from this point is t r u l y a
delight to the eye, as one can see five counties. On the return trip a
reception was held at the commodious and beautiful home of Lady Borden,
where tea was served by the Canning Women's Institute.