Shawnigan Women’s Institute

by Lori Treloar

The Shawnigan Women’s Institute, incorporated in 1914, grew out of an active WWI Red Cross group and had 35 original members. The Women’s Institute for Shawnigan Lake and Cobble Hill was initially a combined effort, but they separated in 1920.

Alice Ravenhill, from Shawnigan Lake, was the first secretary for the Shawnigan W.I.  She arrived in BC in 1910, from Britain, with a Diploma in National Health and went to work for the Department of Agriculture, helping with the newly established Women’s Institutes. She also became a recognized authority on the Pacific Northwest Natives and was the founder of The BC Indian Arts & Welfare Society.

Miss M. Gildea, who established the very successful Strathcona Lodge School for Girls, at Shawnigan, was also a member. Miss Gildea was one of the first organizers in the Women’s Institute movement in England and lectured around that country. She then moved on to teach. She was headmistress of Strathcona Lodge School from 1927-1950.

The Shawnigan W.I. was important to the formation of the Queen Alexandra Solarium at Mill Bay (site of Brentwood School) providing material and financial help. The women initiated visiting buddies, women who made regular visits to the sick children, and made healthy annual donations. The work of the Queen Alexandria Solarium continues today under the auspices of the Queen Alexandra Foundation for Children, in Victoria.

The W.I. was very involved with local schools. For example, they held essay and poster contests; donated annual prizes for year end; tuned the school piano; provided ice cream for picnics and instigated a milk program.

From about 1948,  the Shawnigan Lake Women’s Institute maintained a public beach on a land lease from the E & N Railroad (Mason’s Beach) and held beach clearing bees to keep it clean and safe. In 1937, the W.I. petitioned for a public washroom in the village, without success. In 1945, they purchased an inhalator for the district.  In 1948, they established a local dump.

The Institute women worked diligently on the war effort: they made several dozen quilts, issued ration books and sent boxes of food and clothing to England. They also offered home nursing and first aid classes

In 1946, the W.I. started the annual Shawnigan Lake Flower Show, an event now in its 63rd year. In 1957, they petitioned for a park on the site of the old Mill. Fortunately for the community, Old Mill Park is preserved for all to enjoy. The Shawnigan W.I. also started the idea of a “Village History” and eventually turned over the information to the Centennial Committee for the project, “Green Branches and Fallen Leaves”, published in 1967.  

From 1955 onward, the W.I. met on a quarterly basis with the eight remaining members. They continued to be involved with the Flower Show and the Public Beach until 1968. Sadly, in that same year, the women voted to disband the local Institute.

It has been said that the Women’s Institutes were generally responsible for the refinement of their communities. Most certainly, the women of Shawnigan Lake worked long and hard to improve our community and their legacy benefits us all.