By Jack Elliott
Correspondent

The Annual Meeting of the Rainy River District Women’s Institute was held Saturday, May 3 at the Senior’s Centre in Stratton. Twenty women from across the District took part in the full day session. The RRDWI is composed of six local Women’s Institutes: McIrvine, Burriss, Chapple, Lake of the Woods, Morson, and Forest (Rainy River area).
In the early days of the District there were 50-60 W.I.s, and it was a primarily rural institution providing rural family extension education. In today’s society issues have changed dramatically, but there are about 60 members across the District still focused primarily on Women’s Advocacy and Issues.
An important mandate that has come to the forefront in W.I.s is the preservation of local history and records. This District’s W.I. is the only one W.I. in Ontario that owns and operates its own museum. Located at Emo, it was recognized by the Province of Ontario a couple of years back for its outstanding contribution to local heritage. But after 40 years the aging structure was badly in need of replacement. Concept drawings and fund raising for a new museum building had been undertaken, but an immediate solution was required.
This year with the help of a 99 year lease from the Township of Emo, the Museum will be moving into refurbished quarters behind the former OPP building off #11 Highway on the east side of Emo. Many records of local societies, organizations, and municipalities are preserved in the Museum and made available to historical researchers.
The W.I. will continue to run the Tourist Information Centre in Emo as it has for the last thirty years.
Ruth Brett, past president welcomed new executive President Eleanor Wiersema, Forest, and Vice President Henrietta McCoy, Burriss. Shari Stamarski remains as Secretary-Treasurer, as does ROSE Coordinator April Chojko-Bolec, Public Relations, Roberta Chabot, Tweedsmuir Curator JoAnn Moen. Finacial Examiner Delores Cross is joined by Annie Holburn and Kristine Carperter assusmes Advocacy responsibilities.