1939 - Convention Report

              T W E N T Y - F I R S T PROVINCIAL CONVENTION 11
Penticton, B. C., President of F. W. I. C., and Mrs. Wm. Stewart, Peace River,
President of A. W. I. With them on the platform was Mrs. Alfred Watt,
London, England, President of the Associated Country Women of the World.
The meeting opened with the singing of " 0 Canada," after which Mrs.
Stewart in a few well chosen words, extended a hearty welcome to all the
Federated delegates and to Mrs. Watt, then asked Mrs. McGregor to take
over the chairmanship of the meeting.
Speakers from each Province were called upon to tell of the work being
done in their respective Provinces. Starting with Prince Edward Island,
Mrs. L . B. Mellish, of Montagu, President of P. E. I. Institutes, told of Institute
activity there, and was followed by Mrs. Elton Smith, of Caledonia, Nova
Scotia, Provincial President of Institutes in that Province. Mrs. C. E . Petch,
Hemmingford, Quebec, First Vice- President of the F. W. I. C., spoke for
Quebec and Mrs. T . J . McDowell, Milverton, Ontario, Provincial President,
related the work of the Ontario Branches. Mrs. W. Hicks, Souris, Manitoba,
President of Manitoba Institutes told of the work being done in her Province
and Mrs. J . R. Near, Pinkham, Saskatchewan, Provincial President, spoke
of the work done by the Homemakers of that Province, Mrs. H. Pitts,
Nelson, B. C., Provincial President, then gave an outline of the splendid work
being done there. The synopses of these addresses will be found on pag- e 76.
Speaking for Alberta, Mrs. Stewart stated that the Branches carry out
their own individual work in their respective communities and pursue their
own ideas, as well as carry out some Provincial project for cohesion of all the
Branches. She said, " These projects are, providing layettes, taking home
nursing courses and home economics courses, etc. For the past two years,
Alberta Women's Institute members, being of a practical turn of mind, have
been united in raising a Radium Fund."
Hon. Dr. W. W. Cross, Minister of Health, Mr. Kirkpatrick, Chairman
of the Board of the University Hospital and Mr. T. Cox, Treasurer of the
Board, were then invited to the platform.
In making the presentation of the Radium Fund cheque for $ 2,000.00
to Hon. Dr. Cross, Mrs. Stewart, President of the A . W . L , stated that the
radium treatment should be free to all sufferers and urged that the University
Hospital make it go as far as possible, in the name of the Alberta Women's
Institutes.
In accepting the cheque, Hon. Dr. Cross stated that he had not heard a
word about the Fund until he received a letter requesting him to attend the
meeting. He praised the Women's Institutes for their interest and concern
in such a vital matter and promised that the treatment of cancer costs would
be reduced as low as possible. He urged the people to use the Cancer
Commission just set up to find the up- to- date treatment and cures of
cancer.
Mr. Kirkpatrick, Chairman of the University Hospital Board, told of
the work being done there. A new modern X- ray equipment had been
installed, a new outdoor clinic established and other new features added,
and expressed thanks for the generous gift.
Mr. Cox, Treasurer, urged regular medical examinations in order to
detect cancer in its earliest stages, when it was easily cured. He said
there were 75 milligrams of radium in Alberta University Hospital, costing the
Government $ 65,000.00. With this $ 2,000.00 gift they could get practically
50 milligrams, almost doubling the amount on hand and they were very
grateful for the gift.