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"We made an impact," said Temple. The Institute set out originally to educate in the WI for 25 years. It was a most significant part of her life and played a role in society, from the grass roots of rural communities to Queen‘s Park. E8 A TT U |R. |8 Barbara Templé of Grimsby has been involved From providing construcâ€" tion workers with soup in the 1920s, packing care packages and medical supâ€" plies during both Warld Wars, to advising the provincial government on issues from day care to crosswalks and town stop signs â€" the Women‘s Institute has been an inteâ€" gral part of rural communiâ€" ties for the past century. Today, Feb. 19, marks the 100th anniversary of the Women‘s Institute.. Women‘s Institutes ready for centennial festivities Celebrations are aplenty as local branches of the Women‘s Institute mark the 100th anniversary of the organization. Tonight (Wednesday) at 6:30 p.m. the Rosedene Branch and guests will host a special program and bufâ€" fet at the Silverdale Community Hall to celeâ€" brate not only the 100th anniversary but the part the Celebrations planned for 100th anniversary "It is a social and educaâ€" tional organization," she "I joined as a young woman and it was a life saver for living in the counâ€" try," said Temple, 60, after she and her husband moved to a Wellandport farm. The Erland Lee (Museum) Home in founder. local rural women. This â€" explained. education involved numerâ€" After n ous topics including farm Grimsby, safety, nutrition, and home _ to join Be management. Grimsby B local branch has played in developing wellâ€"informed, responsible appreciation of rural living. _ In Beamsville, the Women‘s Institute will hold a reenactment of the first meeting held in 1897. The meeting is today (Wednesday) at 1:30 p.m. at the First Baptist.Church on Mountain Street in Beamsville, across from the The Institute was instruâ€" mental in getting a public "You got so involved in it you missed it," she said. "You really felt a part of something, as far as the changes you made." After moving back to Grimsby, Temple decided to join Beamsville as the Grimsby Beach branch disâ€" banded in the late 19705. Stoney Creek, homestead of the WI‘s coâ€" June 21 at the Hamilton Convention Centre. library. In June, about 4,000 deleâ€" gates are expected to attend the Women‘s Institute Centennial Celebrations. The keynote speaker will be Dr. Roberta Bondar, who was Canada‘s first women in space aboard the space shuttle Discovery in 1992. "We felt the library was important and it‘s still going, so it must have filled a need," said Temple. The Institute was born library in Wellandâ€"port. The WI branches of Wellandport, Caistor and Rosedene in Smithville got the library running as a storefront operation in the midâ€"1970s, before it moved into the community centre. / convention will be held "We really were considâ€" ered sane and sensible," she recalled fondly. This role has diminished as membership has declined over the years, due to an aging membership. "Also it is difficult," said Temple, "when both memâ€" bers of the family are workâ€" ing, they don‘t have the time." Also the rural popuâ€" lation is decreasing. "From the grassroots to our provincial board we would present resolutions to the government," said Temple. "They would ask for input on things like day care. It was a significant role." Feb. 19, 1897, Mrs. Hoodless spoke to 100 women in a town hall meetâ€" ing in Stoney Creek about forming Women‘s Institute groups for rural women. The idea was greeted with enthusiasm, _ and â€" the Women‘s Institutes of Ontario were born. out of tragedy." Little John â€" Harold Hoodless, was 14 months old when he died 1889, of what doctors then called ‘summer complaint‘, a common childhood intestiâ€" nal ailment caused by drinking impure milk. in those days before so much that people today take for granted â€" such as pasâ€" teurized milk. His mother, Adelaide Hoodless, was shocked and angry at her own ignorance of basic domestic hygiene