P.O. Box 209
359 Blue Lake Road, St. George, ON
N0E 1N0

Fact Sheet

History of the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada

The idea to form a national group was first considered in 1912. In 1914, however, when the war began the idea was abandoned. At the war's end, it was Miss Mary MacIsaac, Superintendent of Alberta Women's Institute, who revived the idea. She realized the importance of organizing the rural women of Canada so they might speak as one voice for needed reforms, and the value of co-ordinating provincial groups for a more consistent organization. In February 1919, representatives of the provinces met in Winnipeg, Manitoba, to form the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada.

Internal Structure

• Elected executives (3 year terms): President and 10 Executive Officers, one being the President Elect

• 10 National Directors -elected or appointed according to the Constitution of her respective unit

• Executive Director

Committees

Educational

• Agriculture

• Canadian Industries (Environment)

• Citizenship & Legislation

• Education & Cultural Activities

• Home Economics & Health

• International Affairs

Administrative

• Constitution & By-laws

• Finance

• Resolutions

• Editorial & Publicity

Other

• Recruitment & Extension

• Canadian Unity

• Projects

Membership

• Criteria: any member in good standing of any provincial unit, institute, or body of women, duly admitted to affiliation with FWIC

• Annual membership fee

• Charitable status

• 1,000 branches distributed throughout 10 provinces

• 13,000 members

Meeting Structure

• Board meetings - annual

• Executive meetings - semi-annual

• Committee meetings - held in conjunction with executive and board meetings

• Triennial conference

• Workshops

Policy

• Resolutions: submitted by provinces to a resolutions committee consisting of three members appointed by the board of directors; presented by committee for consideration at the two board meetings between national conventions; accepted for presentation to the national convention until three months prior to that convention; copies are then forwarded to board members and to the offices of the Provincial Units one month prior to the convention; emergency resolutions also presented for consideration by the board and national convention; these must be considered by the board prior to presentation at the national convention.

Adelaide Hoodless Homestead

• Owns and operates as a museum the birthplace of Adelaide Hunter Hoodless, founder of the Women's Institute.

• The Homestead is also the location of the National Office.

Communication

• Publishes the newsletter "Federated News" 2 times/year

• Distributes an organizational brochure and an annual report

• Website

External Organization

• Constituent Society of the Associated Country Women of the World (ACWW)

Organization Issues

• Food Safety & Nutrition

• Agriculture Awareness

• Environment

• Health

• Education

• Rural Child Care

• Legal Rights

• Literacy

• Rural Renewal

• Farm Safety

• Financial Planning

• Violence against women

• Support services for the elderly