Home & Country (Spring 2007)

              Alberta Women’s Institutes
10
At the October meeting of Acadia W. I. branch members decided to again
make a scarecrow for the 2nd annual Trochu Thanksgiving “ Communities in
Bloom’ Scarecrow Contest.
Members chose to use the theme of the W. I. participation in the ‘ Run for
the Cure’. Thelma Enzie, Acadia Branch member for 31 years, is an employee
of the Golden Hills School Division, and one of the shop members made the
sign which reads “ W. I. Members Joined in Run for the Cure”. Ken Quinlan
made the framework this year; Don Dowell contributed the frame for last year’s
entry. CIBC donated the huge gloves. The scarecrow face is made up of a huge
sunflower and was donated by a neighbour.
W. I. continues to enjoy the support of so many and were pleasantly
surprised when the ‘ jogger’ won first prize over eleven other entries in the non-profit
section of the competition. wi
O n Sunday October 1st 2006 Ruby Quinlan, Geri Shadlock, Marion Brown,
Brenda Dowell, Joyce Danny and granddaughter Bethany Silbernagel
participated in the CIBC Run for the Cure in Red Deer.
This overwhelming event raised over $ 215,000 for breast cancer
research. Just seeing the stream of more than one thousand women, men, and
children taking steps that will make a difference in the search for the cure gave
everyone a feeling of a being part of a united effort. Although we did not have
the required ten members to form a team, we represented W. I. and all of us are
determined to join again next year.
As Gord Sym, the board chair for the Canadian Breast Cancer Founda-tion
for the Prairies and NWT said, “ At the finish line, there was no winner and
no loser. The winners from the CBCF CIBC Run for the Cure are everyone,
who over the course of their life, will look for the answer; for new treatments,
diagnostic tools and prevention techniques that will create a future without breast
Acadia W. I. Participates in ‘ Run for the Cure’
and ‘ Communities in Bloom’
Brenda Dowell
The first prize winning ‘ jogger’
R uth Virginia Rash was born
on June 23, 1913 in Purple
Springs, Alberta to Mr. and
Mrs. Linvil Rash. She passed away
on November 1, 2006 at the age of 93
years. In 1932 she married Kenneth
Campbell and they raised four sons on
a farm in Burdett.
Ruth was a dedicated member
of the WI for over 70 years. She was a
life member of the Burdett WI where
she held many offices and convener-ships.
Ruth was an excellent seam-stress
and received many red ribbons
in competitions. She received a special
award for sewing at the AWI Conven-tion
in Olds. Ruth led the Burdett 4H
Sewing Club for 14 years. She sewed
professionally for the Burdett commu-nity
sewing many bride and bridesmaid
dresses until she was 90 years old!
Ruth was the secretary to the
Burdett Community Cemetery, book-ing
agent for the Burdett Hall and ac-tive
in the Royal Purple and the United
Church Women’s group. She was a
coordinator for the Canadian Red Cross
and Canadian Cancer Society canvass-ers
in the Burdett area and a canvasser
herself. In 2001 she received an award
from each of these groups in recogni-tion
of 60 years of service. In 1993 she
received a ‘ Citizen of the Year’ Award
from the Burdett Community.
Ruth was a valued and much
loved member of the Burdett Women’s
Institute and will be greatly missed.
We are grateful for her faithful and
dedicated years of service.
Ruth was pre- deceased by her
husband Kenneth.
Ruth Virginia Campbell
1913 – 2006