Policy and Procedures Manual - Update

              such as the overcrowded, unhealthy conditions of the North end of Winnipeg, "'" but it was the rural
women, who benefited from the non- sectarian, nonpartisan group, and the growth was significant.
One of the reasons behind this was. that at the mm of the century, most of the population of
Canada was living in rural areas, and the women living in these areas were isolated and did not
receive any of the benefits of new developments, that might make their role a little easier. Not
onlj were they interested in house keeping and child rearing, but also the running, and production,
of the farm itself" 1 This new fledging organization promised information on home and farm, as
well as a chance to socialize with other women. As Emily Murphy reflected in 1920. -' The
Women's Institutes arose out of the needs of lonely women on isolated farms. These women
desired to meet at stated periods for the exchanging of council and amenities to say nothing of the
opportunity of exchanging recipes, dress panenis and community news."
All of die women's groups, regardless of the province of origin, started making their
presence felt almost immediately. Their primary focus, on better home conditions, soon widened
to incorporate child welfare, public health, education and better schools, immigration.
Canadianization. home economics and agriculture.
One of the immediate needs of the women of the rural communities was, a rest room in
town. This was of great importance to the farm women, because when a trip to town was
undertaken, would take a complete day with the whole family. In the towns there would be no
2°" Women's Institute of Manitoba"!
'' Crowley, " The Origins of Continuing Education," 78- 79
'" Catherine Cole and Am Milovic, " Education, Community Service, and Social Life: The
Alberta Women's Institutes and Rural Families, 1909- 1945." Standing on New Ground: Women in
AJberta ( Edmonton. University of Alberta Press), 21