The Role Played by Women's Institutes in Western Canada by Louise Showman (Toffelmre)

              1950.- 2 Travelling libraries were established, but the demand tar exceeded the supply." 3 The Lady
Tweedsmuir Prairie Library was started in Calgary, in 1936, and operated through the clubs in
Alberta. Saskatchewan, and Manitoba Donations for the books in this library were from Her
Excellency Lady Tweedsmuir, and Her Majesty Queen Man- . 0 4 Once the education of the
community was being looked alter the health of the families became the next concent.
in most rural communities there was a shortage of nurses, doctors and hospitals. This was
the situation in all three of the prairie provinces, and was a high priority on the agenda of the W. I. s
and Homemakers's Clubs. They were untiring in their efforts to attract trained doctors and nurses
for the niral prairies. 0- . At attempt was made to attract more women into the nursing profession, by
recommending changes to the training program. ™ Whenever possible, nurses were recruited for
the isolated areas, s and community pharmacies, were established." 3 With government
cooperation, baby ciinics, preschool age clinics, dental clinics, school clinics and even eye clinics
were set up. These clinics were manned with trained medical personnel, who, if required could
perform minor surgery at a minimal cost, or if unable to afford even that the cost was paid by the
6 2The Storv of the Alberta Women's Instimte, 17
" 3" Miss J. McMillan Outlines Extension Work in Alberta": N. A( place): N. A.( date);
N. A. ( page)
" The Storv fo the Alberta Women's Instimte, 22
" 5Bossetti, " Rural Woman's University," 162
"" Ibid
"' Catherine Cole and Ann Milovic, " Education, Community Service, and Social Life," 26
" 3 Candace Savage, Foremothers. 25