The Manitoba’s Women’s Institutes was established as a means of providing an educational and lobbying forum for Manitoba women. With a goal to improve rural families and communities through education and leadership, its origins can be traced to Morris where, in August 1910, a group of 37 local women had formed their own Women’s Institute.
Encouraged by Manitoba Premier Rodmond Roblin and Principal of the Manitoba Agricultural College, William John Black, two women from the college staff—Annie B. Juniper and Margaret Kennedy—were sent around the province to see about expanding the concept to other communities.
Through November and December of 1910, they met other groups of interested women, in Emerson, Russell, Birtle, Strathclair, Minnedosa, Deloraine, Cartwright, Manitou, Morden, Roland, Miami, Carmen, Virden, Dauphin, Valley River, Headingley, Stonewall, Dugald, Birds Hill, and Swan Lake. The enthusiasm of the group at Morris was matched at these other communities, and the network grew from humble origins to include today some 30 local branches with over 500 members.
This plaque was unveiled at the office of the Rural Municipality of Morris in 1960 by the Historic Sites Advisory Board of Manitoba, on the 50th anniversary of the Manitoba’s Women’s Institutes. Another plaque beside it was unveiled on 15 May 2010 for the centenary.
Manitoba’s Women’s Institutes Plaque (August 2010)
Source: Gordon GoldsboroughSite Coordinates (lat/long): N49.35633, W97.36477
denoted by symbol on the map above
See also:
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Fisher Branch Women’s Institute Monument (Fisher Branch, RM of Fisher)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Ranchvale Women’s Institute Monument (Municipality of Rossburn)
Historic Sites of Manitoba: Kirkham’s Bridge Women’s Institute Monument (Municipality of Riverdale)
Manitoba Organization: Manitoba Women’s Institutes
We thank Bev Pike for providing additional information used here.
This page was prepared by Gordon Goldsborough.
Page revised: 19 March 2024
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