Power women
Margaret Byl, Kathie Donovan, Christine Reaburn, and Linda Dunn cut the cake celebrating the 120th anniversary of FWIO and Canada’s 150th anniversary, at the 103rd Eastern Area WI Conference which took place at the Embrun Community Centre on Mon., Oct. 16. Photo courtesy Alexandra de Quimper
Candice Vetter
Villager Staff
EMBRUN – On Mon., Oct. 16, the Russell District Women’s Institute, made up of Russell Village, North Russell, Navan, Cumberland and Leonard WIs, hosted the Eastern Area Women’s Institute’s Area Convention. They welcomed 117 members and eight guests to the event, which celebrated Canada’s 150th and the Women’s Institute’s 120th anniversaries.
Other special guests included Margaret Byl (President, Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario) and Christine Reaburn (President of Eastern Area WI). All guests were warmly welcomed by Russell District WI President Linda Dunn.
Guest speaker was Kathie Donovan, who joined Diane Wade in presenting the $500 WI Scholarships to this year’s winners, Kiersten Goodman, a master’s student at Ottawa University with a Kinesiology degree from Queen’s University, and Jacqueline Gauvreau, whose mother Laurie accepted the cheque on her behalf.
Each year the Women’s Institute (WI) offers a scholarship to a deserving student who has completed at least one year of post-secondary study. This year Donovan donated her speaker fee of $500 so the WI could award two scholarships this year.
Eligible applicants may be a child, grandchild, niece or nephew of a present or past WI member. Applicants should be able to demonstrate volunteer accomplishments, an interest in community involvement, and satisfactory academic performance. The application includes a short (250) word essay. Application forms must be mailed to the Eastern Area WI Secretary by Sept. 1 of each year.
