The Narcisse Women’s Institute celebrated its 100th Anniversary a few weeks ago with live music, food and special guests who paid tribute to the organization and the work it does for the surrounding communities.
NWI past president Charlotte Berg said about 50 people attended the celebration at the Inwood Hall on Sept. 23.
The institute was thrilled to have Manitoba’s Lieutenant Governor Anita Neville as a guest.
“I thought it was amazing that our lieutenant governor attended our 100th anniversary,” said Berg. “She’s an amazing woman. She was so open and friendly. And she was so generous; she said if we had a project that she could possibly help with, we could call her.”
In addition to Narcisse, there are women’s institutes in Fisher Branch and Grosse Isle in the Interlake region, as well as locals in other parts of the province. Welcoming all women regardless of their background, their mandate is to strengthen women, families and communities through activities such as fundraising and donations to local causes, the provision of social support, educational enhancement and scholarships for students entering post-secondary education. Local institutes are represented by the Manitoba Women’s Institute, which advocates on their behalf with the provincial government.
Before the COVID pandemic, Berg said the NWI held regular fundraising teas to support communities in their local area. It has funded medical support equipment such as a diabetic pump, made donations to STARS Air Ambulance, prepared care packages for community members who were sick and provided bursaries for Lakeshore School Division students to help them with the cost of attending university. The NWI also regularly donates to the Teulon and District Food Bank.
“The money we raise is used to help women and children and our communities because if you help women, they in turn want to help their children, and their community as a whole thrives,” said Berg.
The 100th anniversary event included musical entertainment from the Stonewall’s Quarry Choristers, a tribute to women’s institute members who have passed on, a silent auction with items donated by NWI members and non-members from the community, speeches and a cake, said Berg. The funds raised from the event will be donated to the food bank in Teulon.
“The Stonewall Choristers provided a beautiful program, and some of the women who attended said they really enjoyed it,” said Berg. “Our meal was catered by Rosie’s Cafe in Inwood. The cafe makes fantastic food and Rosie and her family really did us up proud.”
Other guests included Manitoba Women’s institute board president Debra Barrett, RM of Armstrong Reeve Kate Basford, Interlake-Gimli MLA candidate and agriculture minister Derek Johnson, who spoke about the importance of the institute to the community, and Selkirk-Interlake-Eastman James Bezan, who presented NWI president Linda Dziadek with a plaque commemorating the organization’s 100 years.
“To give time out of their day to attend our anniversary and help us celebrate was a great honour for us,” said Berg.
The NWI has members in Inwood, Teulon, Narcisse, Steinbach and Winnipeg. For more information about joining the institute, visit the Manitoba Women’s Institute online, email: mbwi@mymts.net or call (204) 726-7135.
Express photos Courtesy of The Narcisse Women’s Institute
