This year, the Glendale Women’s Institute is celebrating a huge milestone for the branch – 90 years of service and education in the local area.
The Women’s Institute is a rural education group that was formed in 1915 in Ontario to ‘revitalize rural communities and encourage women to become more involved in producing food during the First World War.’ They currently have 212,000 members and 6,600 branches worldwide.
The Glendale Women’s Institute holds a monthly meeting at the Bearspaw Lions Hall from September through June.
“Everyone is so caring for each other and that is the reason I stayed,” said Florence Bernakevitch, past president of the group. “After a while you sort of get hooked.”
She described the meetings as part business, part education and part fun.
Bernakevitch said she joined nearly 40 years ago instructing the group in sewing classes and thought it was a great way to get to know people in the community. Over the years, the local branch has lobbied the government and accomplished things such as having traffic lights and turn lanes installed on Highway 1A at Bearspaw Road and 12 Mile Coulee Road. For more information on the branch and how you can get involved, email [email protected].
