The Story of the Alberta Women's Institute

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through two miles of snow drifts to attend a meeting; of another riding five miles on the running gear of a wagon; and of many riding five miles on horseback through broken country to let members know of a meeting or of a health clinic sponsored by the W.I. In 1924 Miss Kate Brighty, of the Department of Public Health, gave a demonstration lecture on home nursing in the Pella School and it was then that this young W.I. first heard of the Public Health Nurses that were sent to some of the outlying districts. "Why can not we have one'?" was asked. "You might try," was the answer. The secretary had the application off on the next mail. Four Institutes in the McLeod Valley united in an effort to have a nurse sent to them. Thus was started a 'work of untold benefit to the whole district both north and south of Peers where the nurse was installed in a comfortable log cabin equipped by those four Institutes. In 1955, there still is a Public Health Nurse in Peers, and she is in the same nurse's home. A committee is working to raise funds to add two rooms and a bath to the home. Throughout the district, a charge of $2.00 per family is made each year and is used in keeping the home in repair. The Government pays for the light and fuel and for neeessary furniture. Centralization of schools has taken nlace and [or two and a half years the childI'en from McLeod Valley,- Pella, North Darhy, Shining Bank. and South Hills schools, have been bussed to Fulham School site. The former McLeod Valley and Shining Bank schools wen:~ moved to that site and used as schools. while Pella schoolhouse is being usC\1 as a community centre. There' 118S been no dental clinic since 1940 and since there is (1 dentist located nearby at Edson, there is no likelihood of one being reins1 ated there very'soon. During the pioneering days o[ the Institute, the great day of the year \yas the "Annual" when not only the W.I. held the annual meeting, but husbands and families, and lonely bachelors attended as well. It \';'as a great day-such food, such jokes, such programmes, such music. such singing, such fun and dancing. Words cannot tell of the friendliness, the kindliness and the neighborliness extended not only to the people of the community, not forgetting the children in the four rural schools for whose benefit clinics had been held, but to people farther afield in orphans' and welfare homes in the city. Bnt time has changed things there. Today and for several years past the "Annual" has just been attended by the W.I. members who drive in a truck or car to the annual dinner. Besides this day a picnic is held and ball games and a refreshment booth are held. Four years ago a.~ the picnic, there were two teams to one car on the grounds. In 1954 there was just one team amongst the many cars and trucks. So the little community that organized a Women's Institute in 1916 has gone through the pioneering stage and arrived at the point where roads are provided. cars are owned, schools centralized and children transported by busses-a community that has made progress. - 34 ---