Erland Lee Award

              ERLAND LEE AWARD
This prestigious award is presented by the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada
to a man who most exemplifies those qualities of Erland Lee, which led to the
founding of the Women's Institute, an organization which spread across Canada and
to many other countries around the world.
Mr. Lee was a prestigious farmer at Stoney Creek Ontario, during the last years of
the 19th century.
In 1896, he was president of the local Farmers' Institute, and active in agricultural
and government circles across southern Ontario.
After hearing a challenging address by Adelaide Hoodless, in which she suggested
that " men knew more about feeding their farm animals than their wives knew about
feeding their families ", Erland Lee convinced his Farmers' Institute to invite Mrs.
Hoodless to speak at their annual " Ladies Night".
" The rest", as they say, " is history".
In a day when women were without a public voice, and with limited access to
scientific knowledge, Erland Lee lent them his voice, his position, his contacts and
his influence.
From the idea of one woman and the encouragement and commitment of one man,
the dream of an organization which would educate women in food safety, nutrition,
good health and fitness became a reality.