Diane Rogers

RED DEER – The founder of the women’s institutes is being recognized as one of the top 25 Canadians. Adelaide Hunter Hoodless, born in 1857, near Hamilton, Ont., gave talks that led rural and farm women to organize. Her role in educating and provoking was first recognized when the federal Historic Sites and Monument Board […] Read more

RED DEER – It took three decades, but a well-known Canadian journalist says she finally has the rules to leadership figured out. Former Chatelaine magazine editor Rona Maynard told the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada triennial meeting June 14 that she was sharing them because, “for WI, the entire community is your office. And the […] Read more

RED DEER – Edmonton crown prosecutor Valerie Campbell startled members of the Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada recently when she told them that Alberta has the highest number of family violence cases in Canada. In a presentation that included frank talk and graphic photos of victims, Campbell said the public does not understand the menace […] Read more

RED DEER – The Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada straddled the child concern spectrum last week by being both prudish and activist. While one resolution asked the federal government regulator to stop vulgar language on TV and radio, another supported a national child-care policy to help rural families. FWIC delegates passed both resolutions at their […] Read more

BIRSAY, Sask. – Barley, long considered a main feed to fatten livestock, can also help people reduce weight and lower their cholesterol and blood pressure. Barley advocate Marj Thomson grows, mills, packages and sells the grain from her farm at Dinsmore, Sask. Thomson, who eats barley porridge every morning, told the June 3 meeting of […] Read more

Red liniment can bring back memories for older prairie farmers. The liniment, made from camphor and hot red pepper to mask minor muscle pain, was the first product in what became the Watkins’ Co. line of simple medicines, household cleaners and spices, says Pauline Atwood, who is researching the significance of the visits of the […] Read more

Rural communities that want to host a farm safety workshop for their children should register for help with the Canadian Agricultural Safety Association, based in Winnipeg. CASA assisted in training volunteers to run 36 such safety camps this year. The deadline for 2007 camp applications is July 15, 2006. While CASA does not offer money […] Read more

BIRSAY, Sask. – Debbie Wood was approaching 40 when she realized something was missing in her life. The single woman had a 20 year career as a teacher, owned a cat and liked to travel. “I said there’s got to be more for the next 40 years,” Wood told the annual meeting of the Saskatchewan […] Read more

BIRSAY, Sask. – Members of Saskatchewan Women’s Institutes were cheering at their annual meeting June 3. They had more money and more members than the previous year. There are now 96 members, an increase of six in the past year. A third of the total membership was at their provincial annual meeting and a dozen […] Read more

This week a new marble headstone went up in the cemetery in Bentley, Alta. The white headstone marks the grave of Patrick Bannon, an American who immigrated with his wife and son and daughter-in-law to Alberta from Minnesota in 1908. The engraved headstone was paid for by the American government and shipped from Virginia, because […] Read more