The Langford WomenB次元官网网址檚 Institute celebrates a century of community and volunteer work with an anniversary tea tomorrow (Sept. 25), and everyone is invited.

B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檙e hoping to get some new members and see whatB次元官网网址檚 needed in the community,B次元官网网址� says vice-president Tammy Shiells.

B次元官网网址淲e want to get our word out into the community more,B次元官网网址� agrees president Josie Wellwood, whoB次元官网网址檚 been a member for 27 years.

The WomenB次元官网网址檚 Institute has been a pillar in communities across Canada and worldwide for over 100 years, and it all started with a housewife from southern Ontario, says Wellwood.

Adelaide Hoodless from Stoney Creek, Ont., realized that women in the home were more likely to remain uneducated on basic health and safety for their children and households, such as not knowing the dangers of unpasteurized milk. She set out on a crusade to improve education and support for women and in 1897, the first WomenB次元官网网址檚 Institute was born.

It took 17 years for the movement to migrate to the West Coast, but when it did, Langford and South Island women took the idea and ran with it. In June of 1914, a group of 39 ladies formed the Langford WomenB次元官网网址檚 Institute and immediately began making changes in their communities.

That initial group helped establish a travelling library, set up domestic science and dressmaking classes and developed an affiliation with the now-defunct Society for Prevention of Mortality of Infants.

Hoodless herself had lost a child and it seemed her passion for childrenB次元官网网址檚 health carried strongly through into the other groups across Canada.

During the First World War, the ladies knitted warm clothing for the soldiers, adopted a prisoner of war, and contributed in countless other ways.

Later, members petitioned the Railway Commission for cheap fares on the early lines, campaigned with Ottawa for several years to get rural mail delivery established, and a decade after they began, bought the lot at 1016 Dunford Ave. to build a hall for their organization.

The 1.5-acre plot of land, purchased for $184.08, gave the WomenB次元官网网址檚 Institute a measure of security and income, as they could rent out the space to other community groups.

B次元官网网址淚t was a good time back in those days because we owned our own hall and it was paid for,B次元官网网址� says Wellwood.

As the decades passed, the women stayed steadfastly dedicated to improving their communities. In the past 30 or so years, the group has been involved in a multitude of activities. They have:

B次元官网网址� Donated funds and clothing to the ChildrenB次元官网网址檚 Health Foundation of Vancouver Island (formerly Queen Alexandra Foundation)

B次元官网网址� Donated meat every month to the Goldstream Food Bank for over 18 years

B次元官网网址� Provided financial assistance to Ruth King elementary for food and snack programs

B次元官网网址� Provided bursaries to Belmont secondary students who want to pursue nursing or health-related studies

B次元官网网址� Run an annual Hats for the Homeless campaign

B次元官网网址� Fundraised for sewing machines in Africa, clean water in Peru and tsunami relief in southeast Asia, among countless other local and overseas endeavours.

Wellwood encourages anyone interested in the organization to drop by, ask questions and enjoy a cup of tea. B次元官网网址淚 believe in it, and I think itB次元官网网址檚 a great place to make lifetime friends,B次元官网网址� she adds.

B次元官网网址淭here will be tea, coffee, some goodies and a cake,B次元官网网址� says Shiells. B次元官网网址淲eB次元官网网址檒l have flyers and be able to answer questions, as well as some displays on what we do.B次元官网网址�

The tea is from 1 to 3 p.m. at the Royal Canadian Legion at 761 Station Rd., Thursday, Sept. 25.

For more information, call Wellwood at 250.478.1900.

acowan@goldstreamgazette.com