In 1889, Adelaide Hoodless’s son John Harold died from drinking impure (unpasteurized) milk.  From that day forward, Adelaide made it her mission to educate women, especially mothers, about domestic education.  She truly was a woman with a vision, who worked tirelessly to help other women.  During her life she founded or helped found the Young Women Christian Association, The Victorian Order of Nurses, the National Council of Women, Macdonald Institute in Guelph, the School of Household Science at Macdonald College, Ste. Anne de Bellevue affiliated with McGill University, and the Women’s Institute.

It was February 19, 1897 when Adelaide Hoodless spoke at a townhall meeting in Stoney Creek, Ontario.  The women who attended were receptive to the idea that they too should be educated.  That night the Stoney Creek Women’s Institute was created – the very first Women’s Institute in the world.  Their goal – to raise the standard of homemaking.  The idea spread fairly quickly across the province of Ontario, Canada and then the world.  

Over the years, Women’s Institutes have played an important role in our communties.  Members have created and sent comfort boxes to soldiers in the past and continue to do so.  They lobbied so that art and music were added to the school curriculum and so that sex education could be taught in schools.  They fought for white lines on highways, stop signs at railway crossings, and more generous seam allowances on clothing (we all should thank them for that!!).  WI Members advocated on a number of issues including the right of women to vote and have equal political rights and equal pay for equal work or hours of labour for men and women (1951).

More than 110 years have come and gone.  WI Members have done amazing things for our communities, families and for future women.  Many things have changed, but the need for women to support one another, to share experiences and skills and learn from one another still exists today. 

The Nouveau WI is a new WI Branch, our Members have not be involved for 20, or 30 years like many of the current WI Members but we are committed to an organization that has such a rich history…we’re paving the future, and we’re doing it in a way that will work for women today.  We’re excited about being a new generation of women’s institute Members. 

Drop us a line or come out to our next meeting to see what it’s all about….and today, be sure to thank a WI Member for all they have contributed to making our lives better.

Happy WI Day!!