The Story of the Alberta Women's Institute

              THE

STORY

OF

THE

ALBERTA

WOMEN'S

INSTITUTES

opeTating conceived approval. out a very

day and the happy scene of recovery, and exquisitely executed as to attract Talks on "Alberta's Finest Products"-the attractive exhibit.

all so cunn~ng~y most enthusIastIc Babies-rounded

The 1930 Convention A Women's Institute Handbook was prepared by Mrs. A. H. Rogers at the direction of the Council in 1930, in time for the convention. As the president of the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada was then a n-:-sident of Saskatchewan and as it would be a number of veal'S before' another Dominion president would be so near at hand.' Mrs. \V. F. Cameron. of Davidson, Saskatchewan, was invited to be the guest of honor at the convention held in the Palliser Hotel, Calgary. in 193O. Her many helpful suggestions and her eloquence as a speaker made her visit well worthwhile. The 1931 Convention How the Women's Institute has helped the New' Canadian to find her place. was told by Mrs. Carl Brunner when she replied to the address of welcome at the 1931 convention in Convocation Hall, Edmonton. She said in part, "Be indulgent in your criticism, I beg you, it is not so easy if one does not completely master the language". "It is a very great pleasure to me and an honor to the Shepard W omen's Institute that I am privileged to reply to the friendly words of welcome that have been offered us. When we organized our institute two years ago, I was elected president, not because I was more efficient than anybody else, no, but simply because there was nobody else there who cared for the office. I knew nothing of institute life and work at the time and took office very reluctantly. Had anyone told me then that I would ever have to face an assembly such as this, I would have packed my trunks and gone back to Switzerland to be safely away from all such claims. Today, I consider it a great pleasure, and I am very proud of being accounted worthy to represent our own institute and to reply to the welcome. This seems to make my acceptance as a Canadian very real and it is this day the culmination point of my naturalization. I feel that I am now ranked among Alberta's best. " In 1931 the A.W.L joined the Women's Institutes of the other provinces in making one Women's Institute Exhibit at the CN.E. Alberta's share ,vas handicraft and the exhibit was assembled and shipped under the direction of Mrs. J. Macgregor Smith. Dr. Helen McMurchy, of Ottawa, paid her second visit to an A.W.I. convention on a special mission to spread education on pre-natal care and reduction of material mortality. 1932 Convention Cancelled As the whole province was in the midst of financial depression. it was suggested that the expenses of the provincial organization might -- 19-