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OPEN FOR BUSINESS: Hundreds of women from across Ontario gath- ered at Guelph Township Park Sunday atternoon. They were there to cele- brate the opening ot the new headquarters oi the Federated Women's in~ stitule oi Ontario. mun arm The Guelph threw WI headquarters opened Sunday in grand style BY HILARY STEAD T cuav Busloads of women descended on Guelph Township Sunday at- ternoon for the grandopening ofthe new provincial headquarters of the Federated Women's Institute of on. tat‘io. “They’re like a close-knit fam- llY.” said Margaret Atkins of the provincial organization. as women from rural communities and small towns across the province lined Up 10 Sign the register beside their new offices in the 19th century farm- house atGuelph'l‘ownshlp Park. The solid historic building "har- kens back to another day," and sig- nifies the "enduring strength of the organization" said Wellington MPP Ted mom. who presented a certificate to the organization on be- haifofPremier Bob Rae. Township Reeve Les Foote told the crowd that the farmhouse had not been used for s‘everal years and that the Women's institute was the answer to what to do with the build- the “We finally found the best tenant “’?C°U1‘levernrid,“ il‘oote said . there were BDBOChes from every wrench of government. as well an ”"1”ill“ih‘ettirienlril‘rhgilniuertity of Guelph. There are-snow links with the univerle because of the post-secondary scholarships and other support the institutes pro- vide. ' Women from all levels of the orga- nization in Canada also spoke at the gathering. . “Long may you continue to make a dltference H for women, for fami~ lies and for communities around the province," said Peggy Knap , Canadian president of Associate . Country Women of-the World. Charv lotte Johnson, president of the Women's Institutes of Canada, said the new home provides a ”new im- petus for the future" for the organi- zation that was founded in Stoney Creek in 1597 and now has 900 branches and 15,000 members. Although the majority of the women attending the event were older. there were younger women, members ofthe Junior Women’s in- stitutes of Ontario in attendance who will carry the organization into the future. Their president. Su- san Penvoy. gave the shortest speech of the opening ceremonies with tier Ono-sentence signal of what the Junior branches have in store an "Never underestimate the power ofn woman." she. said Federateu Women’s Institute Of Ontari° OFFICIAL oPENING PROVINcfiiL OFFICE Located in Township of Guelph hint Sunday, August 21st, 1994 Opening Ceremonies 1:00 PM. f‘l