Keep us, O Lord, from pettiness, let us be large in thought, in word, and deed

Let us be done with fault-finding and leave off self-seeking.

 May we put away all pretense and meet each other face-to-face

Without self-pity and without prejudice.

How do you say that final goodbye to a dear friend? Some one who was always there when you needed them – to offer counsel, to brighten your day, to ease your heart when life was hard?

2023 marks the 75th anniversary of the passing of Madge Watt. In her 80 years of life, she promoted the idea of women working together. Then she proceeded to demonstrate how such cooperation could lead to better conditions in the homes and countries through the efforts and influences of women.

Below are reminders for our 39th Triennial Convention, June 15 - 17, 2023:

With the Triennial Registration we have NO deadline to receive at the Provincial Office now.

This past June the South Vancouver Island District Women's Institute looked around for something we could become involved with, something that is current and needed.

When the BC Women's Institute History Book was being prepared, the committee members sought out information on branches that have since passed into history. Here are some those branches in brief:

Many Women's Institute members are unsure of how the organization is involved with the United Nations. The following article, written by Elizabeth Rushton, Alberta Women's Institute, during her terms as Area President of ACWW for Canada, outlines those links as they existed in 1999.

This is only a simple story told in a simple way

To honour a noble woman who has long since passed away,

Only a humble woman yet through her the world came to feel

Some of the strength and the beauty and the power of a high ideal.

Recently I have been reviewing some of the materials I have on hand about Mrs. Madge Watt and her activities with the Women's Institute. She was one of the early members of Metchosin WI, she was one who had much to offer, and took on a number of duties. One of the first roles she filled was that of the secretary of the Women's Institute Advisory Board which reported to the British Columbia Ministry of Agriculture. (at that time called the Department Agriculture.)

2020 this year will long be remembered as the year of COVID 19. The first whispers of the coming pandemic began circulating in January, and the word kept becoming more ominous as the days passed. The first case of COVID 19 in British Columbia was diagnosed on January 28, 2020.

We thank Thee, God, for eyes to see

The beauty of the earth

For ears to hear the words of love

And happy sounds of mirth;

For minds to find new thoughts to think,

New wonders to explore;

The first thing I remember about the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW) Flag tour was a meeting with World President Raigh Roe - I believe it was in Richmond. Mrs. Roe had flown into Vancouver from her native Australia and had brought an ACWW flag to leave in Canada to start the ACWW Flag Tour.

In the 1976 the South Vancouver Island District Women's Institutes planned an exchange visit with members from Ontario. In august they flew from Victoria to Vancouver, changed planes and landed in Toronto. Here they were met by their hostesses, and travelled by bus to Eramosa School, about 75 miles from Toronto. Here they enjoyed a smorgasbord dinner, some entertainment and their billets.

A devoted worker for the Duncan United Church, organizer and President of the Vimy Women's Institute since it's establishment in 1921, along with numerous other community functions, Mrs. T. C. Robson passed away January 12, 1941.

With members of the Associated Country Women of the World on both sides of the 49th parallel it was inevitable that there should be some to and fro-ing across the border that separates the United States from Canada.

This month's column will different. Instead of telling you about the past of the Women's Institute I am going to pose you a mystery. With this column is an early photograph which was included in the South Vancouver Island District historical materials - just the picture – no clues as to the occasion, the identity of the assembled group, or what the purpose of the gathering was. The picture contains about 50 women, 3 children and 2 gentlemen.

These two historic homes are located close to one another in the general Hamilton area of Ontario and can provide a glimpse into the past, and bring to life the era in which Adelaide Hunter Hoodless and Erland and Janet Lee lived there.

In the earlier years, before agriculture became so reliant on chemicals, the chore of protecting gardens and flowers from insects and other predators required some innovative thinking. I recently came across the story of one Women's Institute and their battle with tent caterpillars.