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Ministerial Statement
On the Occasion of the 90 th Anniversary
of the Alberta Women's Institutes
February 18, 1999
24 th Legislature, 3rd Session
Ministerial Statements
THE SPEAKER: The hon. Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development.
Alberta Women's Institutes
MR. STELMACH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a great pleasure and privilege to rise today to
recognize Alberta Women's Institutes as they celebrate 90 years of community service to rural Alberta. It
is really an honour this afternoon to say a few words about this very special organization.
The first Alberta Women's Institute was founded on February 3, 1909, by Margaret Graham at Lea Park,
north of Vermilion, and was built on three important pillars: commitment to community, commitment to
family, and commitment personal growth. Ninety years later these values are just as important.
The Alberta Women's Institutes today are governed by the Alberta Women's Institute Act, which was
first proclaimed in 1909. There are now 100 branches of the Alberta Women's Institutes across Alberta with
a membership of over 1,300 women in both rural and urban areas. I am proud to add that past members
include two of the Famous Five, Nellie McClung and Emily Murphy, whose portraits and contributions are
recognized and prominently displaced in these very hallways.
Voluntarism is at the heart of this organization. Countless hours are given each year to their local
communities to support hospitals, schools, libraries, and community centres. Members also volunteer at local
agricultural fairs and assist in raising funds for various local community projects. By doing so, they bring you
strength and stability to our families and when families flourish, nations flourish as well,
In addition, the Alberta Women's Institutes are an important partner with Alberta Agriculture, Food and
Rural Development. Together we further the work of local farm safety programs; for example, the leading
edge social marketing campaign, A Safe Farm Is A Great Place To Grow with Canadian agriculture safety
programs, and the Classroom Agricultural Program. My department enjoys a close working relationship with
the Institutes, and I look forward to this continuing in the future.
Resolutions by the Alberta Women's Institutes have also strongly influenced government decisions
including the enactment of signs warning of slow- moving machinery and the use of flashing lights on school
buses. The Alberta Women's Institutes are also successful authors and have published three books: Tractor
Trouble, the first in a series of children's books; Yesterday, a pictorial history of agriculture in Alberta; and
Many and Remarkable, a history of the organization and of the women of rural Alberta.
Nationally the Alberta Women's Institutes works with the Consumers' Association of Canada and the
Federated Women's Institutes of Canada on such initiatives as consumer literacy projects. Internationally
the Institutes have raised thousands of dollars for projects in developing nations and have represented
Alberta and Canada at the triennial meetings of the Associated Country Women of the World. The last such
meeting was held in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1998.
Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development I have many opportunities to talk
about agricultural trends and products and markets. However, there is never enough opportunity to talk about
the unsung heros of rural Alberta - that being rural women. Their hard work, often in the shadows with little
recognition, their commitment, their determination, and their strength are priceless. It has been said that
behind every good man there is an even better woman, and nowhere is that more apparent than in our rural
communities.
This truly is a celebration. On behalf of Alberta Agriculture and my colleagues in government we
congratulate you on this significant achievement. You are a source of inspiration to us all, and we thank you
for your countless and tireless contributions toward Alberta families and Alberta communities.
Thank you.
Object Description
| Rating | |
| Title | Pine Lake History - 1990-1999 |
| Subject | AWI: Pine Lake Branch |
| Description | Branch History |
| Language | en |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Type | text |
| Source | Alberta Women's Institutes |
| Identifier | awi0811091 |
| Date | 2007 |
| Collection | Alberta Women's Institutes - Collective Memory |
| Repository | AU Digital Library |
| Copyright | For Private Study and Research Use Only |
Description
| Title | Page 124 |
| Format | application/pdf |
| Source | AWI Collection |
| Collection | Alberta Women's Institutes - Collective Memory |
| Repository | AU Digital Library |
| Copyright | For Private Study and Research Use Only |
| Transcript | Page 1 of 2 Ministerial Statement On the Occasion of the 90 th Anniversary of the Alberta Women's Institutes February 18, 1999 24 th Legislature, 3rd Session Ministerial Statements THE SPEAKER: The hon. Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Alberta Women's Institutes MR. STELMACH: Thank you, Mr. Speaker, it is indeed a great pleasure and privilege to rise today to recognize Alberta Women's Institutes as they celebrate 90 years of community service to rural Alberta. It is really an honour this afternoon to say a few words about this very special organization. The first Alberta Women's Institute was founded on February 3, 1909, by Margaret Graham at Lea Park, north of Vermilion, and was built on three important pillars: commitment to community, commitment to family, and commitment personal growth. Ninety years later these values are just as important. The Alberta Women's Institutes today are governed by the Alberta Women's Institute Act, which was first proclaimed in 1909. There are now 100 branches of the Alberta Women's Institutes across Alberta with a membership of over 1,300 women in both rural and urban areas. I am proud to add that past members include two of the Famous Five, Nellie McClung and Emily Murphy, whose portraits and contributions are recognized and prominently displaced in these very hallways. Voluntarism is at the heart of this organization. Countless hours are given each year to their local communities to support hospitals, schools, libraries, and community centres. Members also volunteer at local agricultural fairs and assist in raising funds for various local community projects. By doing so, they bring you strength and stability to our families and when families flourish, nations flourish as well, In addition, the Alberta Women's Institutes are an important partner with Alberta Agriculture, Food and Rural Development. Together we further the work of local farm safety programs; for example, the leading edge social marketing campaign, A Safe Farm Is A Great Place To Grow with Canadian agriculture safety programs, and the Classroom Agricultural Program. My department enjoys a close working relationship with the Institutes, and I look forward to this continuing in the future. Resolutions by the Alberta Women's Institutes have also strongly influenced government decisions including the enactment of signs warning of slow- moving machinery and the use of flashing lights on school buses. The Alberta Women's Institutes are also successful authors and have published three books: Tractor Trouble, the first in a series of children's books; Yesterday, a pictorial history of agriculture in Alberta; and Many and Remarkable, a history of the organization and of the women of rural Alberta. Nationally the Alberta Women's Institutes works with the Consumers' Association of Canada and the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada on such initiatives as consumer literacy projects. Internationally the Institutes have raised thousands of dollars for projects in developing nations and have represented Alberta and Canada at the triennial meetings of the Associated Country Women of the World. The last such meeting was held in Pretoria, South Africa, in 1998. Mr. Speaker, as Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Development I have many opportunities to talk about agricultural trends and products and markets. However, there is never enough opportunity to talk about the unsung heros of rural Alberta - that being rural women. Their hard work, often in the shadows with little recognition, their commitment, their determination, and their strength are priceless. It has been said that behind every good man there is an even better woman, and nowhere is that more apparent than in our rural communities. This truly is a celebration. On behalf of Alberta Agriculture and my colleagues in government we congratulate you on this significant achievement. You are a source of inspiration to us all, and we thank you for your countless and tireless contributions toward Alberta families and Alberta communities. Thank you. |
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