Media
The Federated Women’s Institutes of Canada – WI Canada (FWIC), is the national organization that provides a united voice for all Women’s Institutes across Canada while advocating for national directives in health, poverty, food safety, environmental preservation and community support.
Homestead News, Submitted by Veronica Boone
What has been happening this spring? Easter at Addies!
On April 4th, 2026, the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead welcomed approximately 400 guests for their annual Easter at Addie’s celebration. The event brought together families, friends, and neighbors for a day filled with activities, excitement, and support for a cherished local landmark.
The event featured a wide range of activities for all ages, including an Easter egg hunt, a hands-on petting zoo, arts-and-crafts stations, a museum scavenger hunt, and a variety of outdoor games. These engaging experiences created a joyful and inclusive atmosphere, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy.
In addition to the day’s festivities, the event successfully raised $2,000 in support of the homestead, contributing to the preservation and continued programming of this historic site.
This year’s great turnout, despite the overcast weather, highlighted the event’s spirit of community and generosity, leaving attendees with lasting memories and reinforcing the importance of coming together to celebrate and support local heritage.
Doors Open Along the Grand
On May 9th, the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead had the honour of once again being a featured site for this year’s Doors Open along the Grand! In collaboration with the County of Brant, the City of Brantford, and Six Nations of the Grand River, we opened the doors to a variety of local museums, markets, and businesses, allowing the community to explore all that goes on around them, free of charge. Our homestead welcomed over 100 guests throughout the day, sharing Adelaide’s story and the FWIC's lasting impact on our modern world. We look forward to being a part of this wonderful event for many years to come!
Summer Milk
Over the weekend of May 16th and 17th, the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead hosted a special performance of Summer Milk, a site-specific performance of Adelaide’s childhood and advocacy. This multimedia experience invited audiences to move beyond the present and explore the historic home through the voice of Jane Hamilton Hunter, Adelaide’s mother. Listeners were guided through the home as Jane recounts memories of Adelaide’s life, legacy, and loss—offering a moving and thought-provoking perspective on grief, motherhood, and the enduring strength of women. Guests were then invited to enjoy a garden tea party in the homestead pavilion, bringing this honorary Mother’s Day event to an elegant close.
Upcoming at the homestead!
Yoga with Tracey ($40.00/4-week session OR $10.00 drop in)
Every Sat. 9:30 am
Starting the first Saturday of June, we welcome you to join Tracey Graham, owner of ‘Women Warrior Wisdom’ yoga studio in Brantford, for peaceful morning yoga outside in the homestead pavilion! This series of three, 4-week sessions will focus on pro-aging/age-friendly yoga and strength exercises, helping you to maintain mobility for independent living and graceful aging.
Spring Paint and Sip with Patti Errygers (18+) ($25.00/person)
Date TBD
This June, we welcome back local artist Patti Errygers for an afternoon of wine, treats, and classic painting. Grab some friends and come follow along this step-by-step workshop to create your very own masterpiece in celebration of spring! Guests are asked to please wear ‘painting clothes’ and are welcome to bring an alcoholic beverage of their choice if preferred. Registration fee includes paints, canvas, brushes, drinks & snacks.
Herbal Teas & Remedies Workshop ($20.00/person)
Date TBD
Join us once again and step back in time to discover the healing traditions of the 1800s in this hands-on, herbal tea workshop, hosted at our historic homestead museum. Learn from herbalist Laural Winger how wild and garden herbs can be used to create soothing teas and simple home remedies. Come blend and try a number of herbal teas, enjoy an educational walk around the property, and explore the timeless wisdom of natural wellness—just as it was practiced centuries ago. Make sure you dress weather-appropriately!
What has been happening this spring? Easter at Addies!
On April 4th, 2026, the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead welcomed approximately 400 guests for their annual Easter at Addie’s celebration. The event brought together families, friends, and neighbors for a day filled with activities, excitement, and support for a cherished local landmark.
The event featured a wide range of activities for all ages, including an Easter egg hunt, a hands-on petting zoo, arts-and-crafts stations, a museum scavenger hunt, and a variety of outdoor games. These engaging experiences created a joyful and inclusive atmosphere, ensuring there was something for everyone to enjoy.
In addition to the day’s festivities, the event successfully raised $2,000 in support of the homestead, contributing to the preservation and continued programming of this historic site.
This year’s great turnout, despite the overcast weather, highlighted the event’s spirit of community and generosity, leaving attendees with lasting memories and reinforcing the importance of coming together to celebrate and support local heritage.
Doors Open Along the Grand
On May 9th, the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead had the honour of once again being a featured site for this year’s Doors Open along the Grand! In collaboration with the County of Brant, the City of Brantford, and Six Nations of the Grand River, we opened the doors to a variety of local museums, markets, and businesses, allowing the community to explore all that goes on around them, free of charge. Our homestead welcomed over 100 guests throughout the day, sharing Adelaide’s story and the FWIC's lasting impact on our modern world. We look forward to being a part of this wonderful event for many years to come!
Summer Milk
Over the weekend of May 16th and 17th, the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Homestead hosted a special performance of Summer Milk, a site-specific performance of Adelaide’s childhood and advocacy. This multimedia experience invited audiences to move beyond the present and explore the historic home through the voice of Jane Hamilton Hunter, Adelaide’s mother. Listeners were guided through the home as Jane recounts memories of Adelaide’s life, legacy, and loss—offering a moving and thought-provoking perspective on grief, motherhood, and the enduring strength of women. Guests were then invited to enjoy a garden tea party in the homestead pavilion, bringing this honorary Mother’s Day event to an elegant close.
Upcoming at the homestead!
Yoga with Tracey ($40.00/4-week session OR $10.00 drop in)
Every Sat. 9:30 am
Starting the first Saturday of June, we welcome you to join Tracey Graham, owner of ‘Women Warrior Wisdom’ yoga studio in Brantford, for peaceful morning yoga outside in the homestead pavilion! This series of three, 4-week sessions will focus on pro-aging/age-friendly yoga and strength exercises, helping you to maintain mobility for independent living and graceful aging.
Spring Paint and Sip with Patti Errygers (18+) ($25.00/person)
Date TBD
This June, we welcome back local artist Patti Errygers for an afternoon of wine, treats, and classic painting. Grab some friends and come follow along this step-by-step workshop to create your very own masterpiece in celebration of spring! Guests are asked to please wear ‘painting clothes’ and are welcome to bring an alcoholic beverage of their choice if preferred. Registration fee includes paints, canvas, brushes, drinks & snacks.
Herbal Teas & Remedies Workshop ($20.00/person)
Date TBD
Join us once again and step back in time to discover the healing traditions of the 1800s in this hands-on, herbal tea workshop, hosted at our historic homestead museum. Learn from herbalist Laural Winger how wild and garden herbs can be used to create soothing teas and simple home remedies. Come blend and try a number of herbal teas, enjoy an educational walk around the property, and explore the timeless wisdom of natural wellness—just as it was practiced centuries ago. Make sure you dress weather-appropriately!
How Has WI Made a Difference in My Life?
We are writing a book—with your stories!
100 Voices is a storytelling project that began last fall. They continued for our WI Day celebration, and soon the books will be for sale at the 2027 Triennium Conference at Charlottetown, PEI.
The book will be called WI Wisdom: The Stories That Shape Us.
Stories should be about 4-5 paragraphs long. Everyone’s story about WI is different, but ideally you will answer the question…How Has WI Made A Difference In My Life? One picture, ideally of the author, would be ideal. I will also need your full name, address, phone number, and email address.
If you are sending the information in a printed format (not via email), please send it to Angela Scott, 204 Ivey Road, Limestone, NB E7N 2N4. Please forward your write-ups to angela.beth.scott@gmail.com
Deadline is September 30, 2026
We are writing a book—with your stories!
100 Voices is a storytelling project that began last fall. They continued for our WI Day celebration, and soon the books will be for sale at the 2027 Triennium Conference at Charlottetown, PEI.
The book will be called WI Wisdom: The Stories That Shape Us.
Stories should be about 4-5 paragraphs long. Everyone’s story about WI is different, but ideally you will answer the question…How Has WI Made A Difference In My Life? One picture, ideally of the author, would be ideal. I will also need your full name, address, phone number, and email address.
If you are sending the information in a printed format (not via email), please send it to Angela Scott, 204 Ivey Road, Limestone, NB E7N 2N4. Please forward your write-ups to angela.beth.scott@gmail.com
Deadline is September 30, 2026
With Gratitude to The Women’s Institute Who Shaped My Life,
Submitted by Elizabeth Moore, President, Bond Head Women’s Institute and Vice President, Tec We Gwill Women’s Institute
On May 21, 2026, the Simcoe South Kempenfelt District, Women’s Institute held their 124 Annual meeting. As part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 and in keeping with our guest speaker on Bees and Gardening, we set our roll call to the theme: “Bee A Woman Involved. Share an example of a WI member involved in agriculture.”
It was my absolute pleasure to share the following as the response to the Roll Call on behalf of all of the members of the Bond Head Branch.
Over my life, I have had the privilege of seeing many great women involved in agriculture. I was one of the lucky ones… mentored by strong women who lovingly cared for their families by growing vegetables, baking bread, sewing clothing, and, in between, driving the tractor and milking cows. Their absolute understanding that their role was pivotal to ensuring well-being in both their family and the community was truly the backbone of success.
When I saw today's roll call, my mind was flooded with memories of the past. I thought about being raised on a farm and being part of agriculture, I thought of the bee hives on our farm… and I thought of all the incredible women that I was mentored by on the farm who taught me that women could do absolutely anything…. How on earth could I do justice by paying tribute to just one woman in agriculture… and then I thought… What about paying tribute to all the WI women involved in agriculture?
Our Bond Head Branch started in 1902, and though I don’t know for certain… I suspect that most of our members were farmers and involved in agriculture. Fast forward to today, and while some of us have lived on farms… we are all currently not actively farming or involved in agriculture. Or are we….? After googling the definition of agriculture… and seeing the typical definitions of agriculture that we know… I stumbled on one that I thought really fit for today’s theme. It defined agriculture as: the foundational pillar of all society. That's really interesting, I thought… just like the WI… the foundational pillar of community.
And so… to connect our theme of women in agriculture, bees, and to pay tribute to all the women of WI who went before us … I was thinking…
If you look closely at a bustling honeybee hive, you are not just looking at nature's finest architects… You may see the same beautiful characteristics that define who we are as members of the WI. You will see working together for a common goal… and knowing that together we are stronger and can achieve more.
In the bee world, the females make up the vast majority of the colony and cycle through various indoor and outdoor duties. They feed, do hive maintenance, provide climate control in the hive, guard, forage, and basically do all the work to protect and ensure the hive is healthy and strong. Honeybees survive and thrive because they understand a fundamental truth: no single bee can build a hive alone. It requires collective effort, shared vision, and unwavering cooperation. This mirrors the work efforts that we do as WI. We know that together we are stronger than we could be alone. We recognize that we are a group of women with different strengths, ages, and talents. And like the bees, we have a shared vision and a commitment to something bigger than ourselves… that only happens when we work together toward the same cause, to ensure “our hive” …” the community” is healthy and strong.
Bees communicate through a unique dance, sharing information through various rhythms to help the whole group find direction and know the best
location and distance of the food source. It plays a unique role in their achievement and production. Recent research shows that they refine their dance skills through social learning. Similarly, in the WI, we refine our own dance or life skills as we share our knowledge through mentorship, ideas, focus on student achievement, and powerful advocacy campaigns. We lift each other up through inclusion and education, providing a true sense of belonging. We educate our communities and truly believe that we can make a difference.
When we think of impact… a single honeybee produces only a fraction of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime. Yet working together, a hive produces pounds of sweetness that sustains the community. Similarly, a single WI member can make a difference, but an entire institute can change laws, build dynamic communities, help students succeed, and create lifelong friendships and sisterhood.
So, the next time you see a bee buzzing purposefully in the garden, smile. See her as a sister in arms. Think back to today and remember that we are all women involved in agriculture… foundational pillars in the community, and just like the bees… if we keep buzzing together for the greater good, we can have an impact on each other and our local community, and create positive change for the future. Like the bees… we can make the world a sweeter place to be.
To share the words written in Advice from a Honeybee by Ilan Shamir:
Create a buzz: make an impact … bring passion and energy to what you do.
Stick close to your honey: Nurture your relationships. Just like bees dancing to share directions, be attentive to your community.
Mind your own beeswax: Focus on your own lane, your magic, and your specific role in the world.
Work together: lean on your community and lift others up.
Bee yourself: every bee has a purpose. Bring your unique gifts to the table.
Most importantly… always strive every day in every way to be the best version of you with your own unique talents, strengths, and abilities… We are all women in agriculture. Foundational pillars in the community by the investment of the work we do day after day, year after year…women sharing and women caring. Bee involved. Bee kind to both yourself and others, Bee someone worth remembering Bee cause that is the sweetest, best and most important way to Bee.
Submitted by Elizabeth Moore, President, Bond Head Women’s Institute and Vice President, Tec We Gwill Women’s Institute
On May 21, 2026, the Simcoe South Kempenfelt District, Women’s Institute held their 124 Annual meeting. As part of the International Year of the Woman Farmer 2026 and in keeping with our guest speaker on Bees and Gardening, we set our roll call to the theme: “Bee A Woman Involved. Share an example of a WI member involved in agriculture.”
It was my absolute pleasure to share the following as the response to the Roll Call on behalf of all of the members of the Bond Head Branch.
Over my life, I have had the privilege of seeing many great women involved in agriculture. I was one of the lucky ones… mentored by strong women who lovingly cared for their families by growing vegetables, baking bread, sewing clothing, and, in between, driving the tractor and milking cows. Their absolute understanding that their role was pivotal to ensuring well-being in both their family and the community was truly the backbone of success.
When I saw today's roll call, my mind was flooded with memories of the past. I thought about being raised on a farm and being part of agriculture, I thought of the bee hives on our farm… and I thought of all the incredible women that I was mentored by on the farm who taught me that women could do absolutely anything…. How on earth could I do justice by paying tribute to just one woman in agriculture… and then I thought… What about paying tribute to all the WI women involved in agriculture?
Our Bond Head Branch started in 1902, and though I don’t know for certain… I suspect that most of our members were farmers and involved in agriculture. Fast forward to today, and while some of us have lived on farms… we are all currently not actively farming or involved in agriculture. Or are we….? After googling the definition of agriculture… and seeing the typical definitions of agriculture that we know… I stumbled on one that I thought really fit for today’s theme. It defined agriculture as: the foundational pillar of all society. That's really interesting, I thought… just like the WI… the foundational pillar of community.
And so… to connect our theme of women in agriculture, bees, and to pay tribute to all the women of WI who went before us … I was thinking…
If you look closely at a bustling honeybee hive, you are not just looking at nature's finest architects… You may see the same beautiful characteristics that define who we are as members of the WI. You will see working together for a common goal… and knowing that together we are stronger and can achieve more.
In the bee world, the females make up the vast majority of the colony and cycle through various indoor and outdoor duties. They feed, do hive maintenance, provide climate control in the hive, guard, forage, and basically do all the work to protect and ensure the hive is healthy and strong. Honeybees survive and thrive because they understand a fundamental truth: no single bee can build a hive alone. It requires collective effort, shared vision, and unwavering cooperation. This mirrors the work efforts that we do as WI. We know that together we are stronger than we could be alone. We recognize that we are a group of women with different strengths, ages, and talents. And like the bees, we have a shared vision and a commitment to something bigger than ourselves… that only happens when we work together toward the same cause, to ensure “our hive” …” the community” is healthy and strong.
Bees communicate through a unique dance, sharing information through various rhythms to help the whole group find direction and know the best
location and distance of the food source. It plays a unique role in their achievement and production. Recent research shows that they refine their dance skills through social learning. Similarly, in the WI, we refine our own dance or life skills as we share our knowledge through mentorship, ideas, focus on student achievement, and powerful advocacy campaigns. We lift each other up through inclusion and education, providing a true sense of belonging. We educate our communities and truly believe that we can make a difference.
When we think of impact… a single honeybee produces only a fraction of a teaspoon of honey in her lifetime. Yet working together, a hive produces pounds of sweetness that sustains the community. Similarly, a single WI member can make a difference, but an entire institute can change laws, build dynamic communities, help students succeed, and create lifelong friendships and sisterhood.
So, the next time you see a bee buzzing purposefully in the garden, smile. See her as a sister in arms. Think back to today and remember that we are all women involved in agriculture… foundational pillars in the community, and just like the bees… if we keep buzzing together for the greater good, we can have an impact on each other and our local community, and create positive change for the future. Like the bees… we can make the world a sweeter place to be.
To share the words written in Advice from a Honeybee by Ilan Shamir:
Create a buzz: make an impact … bring passion and energy to what you do.
Stick close to your honey: Nurture your relationships. Just like bees dancing to share directions, be attentive to your community.
Mind your own beeswax: Focus on your own lane, your magic, and your specific role in the world.
Work together: lean on your community and lift others up.
Bee yourself: every bee has a purpose. Bring your unique gifts to the table.
Most importantly… always strive every day in every way to be the best version of you with your own unique talents, strengths, and abilities… We are all women in agriculture. Foundational pillars in the community by the investment of the work we do day after day, year after year…women sharing and women caring. Bee involved. Bee kind to both yourself and others, Bee someone worth remembering Bee cause that is the sweetest, best and most important way to Bee.
