Mr. Speaker, yesterday, February 19, marked a very important day for rural women in Canada and around the world. It was on that date some 98 years ago that the women's institute was founded in Ontario by Mrs. Adelaide Hoodless, Mr. and Mrs. Erland Lee and 101 members.
Now associated women's institutes around the world provide nine million rural women in 70 countries with opportunities for personal growth, community service and equality.
As former national agriculture chair for the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada I know first hand the important work the women's institute does. Therefore, it gives me great pleasure to pay tribute to our founder, Mrs. Adelaide Hoodless, for her vision and to the countless women who throughout the years have worked tirelessly with the women's institute for the betterment of themselves, their families, their communities, their countries and the world.