Volunteering with the Women’s Institute of PEI

by Heidi Riley

The Women’s Institute of Prince Edward Island (WI) is a provincial, national, and international organization that is more than 100 years old. There are branches across Canada and around the world. On PEI, there are over 70 branches, with up to 1,000 members.

“The WI is a group of women helping women,” says Sheila Gallant, President of the Women’s Institute of PEI. “We focus on education, learning, and revitalizing women and communities.

“Our focus is on family, home, and community. We believe in a culture of collaboration and sharing. We strive to protect our environment, and we believe that through education, leadership, and goodwill we can build stronger communities.”

New branch seeks members

Recently, a new WI branch opened in Charlottetown, whose members are mostly domestic students and foreign students. “We are seeking other members who would like to become part of this branch. The group has been set up as a support system while they are here learning, with the hope that if they make the province of PEI their home, they will continue be members of the organization.”

Benefits of membership

“We provide opportunities for members to learn, volunteer, and give back to the community.”

The provincial WI board offers the following activities:

• Fall workshops open to WI members and the public, which bring in guest speakers on topics such as mental health and other topics pertinent to the times.
• They also host a major fundraiser for local hospitals, which this year will be held on November 21 at the Delta Prince Edward.
• There is also an annual meeting, which is an educational opportunity for women across PEI.
• Founders Day provides educational opportunities and embraces the history of the organization and founder Adelaide Hoodless.
• The board also looks at ways to promote arts and crafts and keep those skills alive with ongoing demonstrations.

Individual WI branches participate in some or all of the following activities:

• Supporting food banks and community pantries
• Holding a Meet Your Neighbour event to welcome new people to the community
• Holding dinners for seniors
• Distributing Valentine’s baskets to shut-ins in the community
• Roadside cleanup

Volunteer commitment

Branch members meet once a month for about an hour to make decisions on which activities to pursue. “Any other time commitment to organize or attend events is totally up to the volunteer,” says Sheila.