From the British Columbia Women's Institute News, 1969 For many years, the members of the British Columbia Women's Institutes sewed clothing for the youngsters who were patients in the BC Children's Hospital. The following article provides some additional information on this project and applauds the women behind the sewing machines. The Women's Institutes  members from every district in British Columbia will be interested in what is currently going on at Children's Hospital, and well they may be, for they are represented by proxy in every ward and department. The Women's Institutes have a ..read more

(“Wild Roses at Their Feet” - a story of pioneer women of Vancouver Island by Elizabeth Forbes) It was no use asking Mrs. James MacLachlan to remain cool and and detached when she was fighting for better conditions for women and more especially children. She was always emotionally involved in her “Causes” and worked personally, day and night, to see them through. This was a woman with a tremendous social conscience, coupled with a quiet sense of humour, very impatient of what she scathingly called “red tape”, and extremely bad tempered when balked in what she believed was a worthwhile idea. Co ..read more

Ladies, Branches and Districts, I’m shouting out to remind everyone that May is Nurse’s Month. Let’s get out there and make some noise. A Walk a Thon to support our nurses, by fundraising money for our WI Forensic Nursing Bursary. This can be done by a group of people, an individual etc. All you need is a pledge sheet and sponsors who will pay for each kilometer made in May. You can run, walk, bike, wheelchair or just walk around the house, whatever works for you. Turn your pledges into your branches at the end of May. The branch will send the total amount collected to the BCWI Provincial Offi ..read more

Forensic Nursing is a specialized branch of nursing that addresses the unique needs of individuals affected by sexual violence, trauma, and/or abuse. Forensic Nurse Examiners (FNEs), aka Sexual Assault Nurse Examiners (SANEs), conduct thorough forensic examinations, collect evidence, provide compassionate consultations, and expert testimony in court. Their multidisciplinary approach helps bridge gaps between healthcare and justice, contributing to a more effective response to crimes and improved outcomes for survivors of violence. For Home & Country, Kimberly Rorstrom-Wittig ..read more

This information is an article written by Elizabeth Lefsrud of the Alberta Women's Institute as published in the Countrywoman Magazine, for July/September of 1981: Where would you eat char and caribou, wear mukluks and a mother hubbard and go visiting by snowmobile or dog sled? The answer is in Canada's Arctic North! That's where Pearl Warren of Manitoba, Chairman of the Northern Canada Women's Institute Committee was going in March. Marie Plaizier, President of the Alberta Women's Institutes and I went along. Flying from Edmonton over a black and white vastness of spruce trees mingled with my ..read more

1. Resolution :               Establishment of Rural Women's Employment Action Plan. Mover: Rural Women New Zealand               " That ACWW urge all governments to address the particular needs of rural women by working with representative groups to establish, implement and regularly monitor a Rural Women's Employment Action Plan which ensures access to training and education, fair, equitable and safe employment practices, working conditions and remuneration; acces ..read more

When I was young and newly wed, My friends and neighbours duly said, “Now, you be smart and resolute And join the Women's Institute.” “It will help pass many dreary hour, And strengthen your domestic power.” But I, in turn, was horrified, Was I to be transmogrified? The Institute was for the OLD And I was still young, gay and bold. But then, in time, I weakened some And said, “Alright, tonight I'll come”. I pictured all the nice old dears With clicking tongues and listening ears All caught up  with their knitting trend Domesticated to the end. But now, I think it should be said My precon ..read more

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Our special guests arrived today, along with the first soft snow They sang a pleasant serenade, just to let us know; That they'd arrived to cheer us as they patiently waited there, Assuring a brighter winter in exchange for food and care.  Our special guests swooped swiftly down from the snow filled feathery sky Making a sudden dark shadow as they quickly caught our eye Chirping and chattering endlessly in gaiety and glee Awaiting their morning feeding of seeds and suet from me.  The small charcoal feathered juncos neath the feeder are always found Snatching the bits of goodies that ..read more

In this month of November when we focus on remembering all those military and civilian deaths which were a result of two world wars and numerous other military actions, we face a set of sobering statistics. In World War 1          61,000 Canadians were killed, another 172,000 were wounded In World War 2          45,000 Canadians were killed., another  55,000 were wounded These are dreadful statistics for a country of a population in 1914 of only 8 million! On the home front, women's organizations did ..read more