At the January meeting of the Oliver Women’s Institute a visit was made to the immigrant resource centre on Main Street. Unfortunately, due to sickness and work, only Ruth and Helen went, so our WI business meeting was cancelled.
We met the English-as-a-second language class whose participants had moved to this area from Sudan, Punjab and Colombia. They meet Monday to Friday from noon to 2:30 pm and babysitting is available.
We gave them an idea of who we are and that we work for the betterment of children and families in farming communities and are part of a worldwide organization with members from many farm women’s organizations in 70 countries. (A world conference was held in September in Chennai, India.)
Over a cup of tea and goodies we talked about the problems of affordability, lack of work and difficulties they may have to manage.
If they are wondering how they could volunteer in our community, which would help them meet people and improve their English language skills, we encouraged them to come to our meetings as visitors or members.
Our next meeting will be held February 5 at 1:30 pm at Heather’s Threadz. We will have a quiz about Women’s Institute history and learn about one of our pioneers, Judge Emily Murphy, who was the first female magistrate in the British Empire to have the first all-women’s court in Edmonton in 1916 – much to the disgust of lawyers, who said “women were not persons under the British-North America Act.”
Emily and her four well-known friends were going to find a way to change that.
Contributed by Helen Overnes
