Policy and Procedures Manual - Update

              daughters would be less likely to leave the farm. 7 When Creelman. Rose and Maddock became
interested, there were only three branches, but under their Uitetage, by 1905 there were 52
branches boasting 4151 members. The Ontario government, convinced of its advantage to rural
societies, offered the newly formed organization assistance in the form of cash subsidies, for hirin
lecturers and demonstrators to teach courses in hygiene, nutrition, cooking, home nursing and
sewing."'
This tire, which had been started with a spark from Adelaide Hunter Hoodless. would
spread throughout Canada and the World. Tne first branches outside Ontario were, in the
Maritime Provinces and Quebec, and in 1909 the first group was formed in Western Canada The
idea spread so rapidly that, by 1919. with ever,- province participating, the first Canadian
Conference was held in Winnipeg. There the Federated Women's Instimtes of Canada was
formed, with Alberta judge Emily Murphy as it first President. 9 Tne idea soon burst from the
confines of the Canadian borders to spread to the United States, and British Isles. In Norway.
Sweden. Demark and Finland it was the Homemakers Association, in Ireland, the United
Irishwoman, in Belgium and France it was known and the Cercles des Fenneries. and in Poland as
the Country Women's Circle. There were also women's organizations formed in Holland. South
. Africa, Rhodesia, Ceylon and India. 1 0 It was this diverse collection of organizations from around
the world, which prompted the formation of the Associated Country Women of the World in
' Crowley, " The Origins of Continuing Education." 80
" Prentice, " Canadian Women," 183
TSossetti, " Rural Women's University," 28
l 0Ibid. 29- 29