age 14 Sundre Round- Up Outdoorsman's Paradise February 22, 1995
Local Women's Group
Celebrates 60th
Members of the Eagle Valley Women's Institute and visiting dignitaries at the group's 60th Anniversary
celebrations in Sundre last weekend.
About 50 people attended
ceremonies at the Seniors
Recreation Centre Saturday to
mark the 60th Anniversary of the
Eagle Valley Women's Institute
( EVWI).
EVWI president Elaine
Kaiser said a good turnout went a
long way towards making the
anniversary celebrations a
success. " I'm pleased with the
results of the attendance" she
explained following the
ceremony.
Featuring several speeches
and acknowledgements, the tea
and ceremony showcased some
of the group's proud history of
community involvement, both
locally and through the larger
world- wide Women's Institutes.
Founded on February 14,
1995, the EVWI was previously
part of the DEL Institute, made
up of the Derbytown, Eagle
Valley and Lobley Wis.
During the weekend
ceremony, Eagle Valley residents
Catherine Bach and Margaret
Dinnsen performed a delightful
" musical history" of the EVWI
for guests, outlining many of the
group's activities over the years.
( Dinnsen, who wrote the
musical history, said the project
took six months to put together).
Cards and letters from many
well- wishers were read to guests.
Among the highlights of those
correspondents was a note from
EVWI charter member Mary
Rogers.
The WIGC Tiger Lilies - a
girls club with the EVWI as its
mother club — served tea and
treats to guests during the
ceremony. Tiger Lilies co- leader
Sharon Pederson explained that
the 18- member club served
guests to " show our support for
the mother club."
During the speeches, guests
heard how the EVWI has been
involved in many community
activities over the years, donating
both time and effort to improving
the lives of local people and
groups.
One of the EVWI's historical
highlights is the group's
extensive efforts in providing
clothing and other supplies to
soldiers and refugees during the
Second World War.
Alberta Women's Institute
( AWI) president- elect Doris
Northey attended the ceremony.
She presented a 50- year pin to
EVWI member Edith Wilson,
and a 25- year pin to EVWI
member Donna Leckie.
Northey congratulated the
EVWI on the occasion of its 60th
anniversary, adding, " we wish
you many more years of service".
Eagle Valley resident Marie
Sihlis accepted a commemorative
plaque from the EVWI for the
Eagle Valley Community Hall.
The plaque - depicting in
photographs many past and
present EVWI members - will
hang in the Eagle Valley Hall.
" We really appreciate all the
support the Eagle Valley
Women's Institute has given the
community over the years," said
Sihlis.
EVWI president Kaiser
explained that despite a downturn
in membership over the past
number of years, the group hopes
to continue its involvement in the
community for many years to
come.
" Before, when more women
were at home homemaking, this
was their once- a- month outing,
to come to a WI meeting and
help their fellow man," she
explained. " But of course with
working women now, that just
continue to give it out."
Today the EVWI is involved
in a host of projects in the
community, including annual pie
sales at the rodeos, and funeral
teas.
As part of the 60th
Anniversary celebrations, the
EVWI sponsored the 10th
Annual Golden Oldie Variet"
Program at the Senior p
Centre SaturH-The
Women's Institute was
founded in Canada in 1897.
Today, there are WI branches
throughout the world, including
in such diverse places as New
Zealand and Iran. The AWI was
founded in 1909.
Carol Brown, the historian of
the EVWI, said the group's
dedication to helping others is
perhaps its greatest legacy.
" It is all rural / women
working to help each other,
working to better themselves,
working to help- their families
through better education, and
helping their fellow man," said
Brown.
