The Ghosts

At the banquet on the final day of the 2008 Centennial BC Women's Institute Convention in Duncan, a group of members arrived just before the evening's program got underway. These ladies, referred to as “The Ghosts”, were there to represent prominent members from the WI past and to share history with the banquet attendees. The selected members, garbed in the clothing of the era they were active in were there for the banquet, but also to share their knowledge of the past of the Women's Institute as well as answer questions others at their table may have. There was considerable laughter from some of the tables, I wonder what questions generated that?

The sixteen Ghosts (their names in brackets following the name of the woman they portrayed) represented such notable members as

Adelaide Hoodless (Irene Cake),

Madge Watt (Sharon Kirkpatrick),

Laura Rose (Donna Jack),

Mrs. V. S. MacLachlan (Linda Townsend),

Janie Chalmers (Ann Fiddick),

“Ma”Murray (Bev Byron),

Stella Welch (Kathy Aitken),

Ethel White (Janice Grinnell), 

Verna Braden (Sandra Hemmings),

Ada Shaw (Marguerite Weber),

Gillian Douglas (Florence Watson),

Mary Kitcher (Carol Stewart),

Edith Scott Wilcox (Judy Nelson),

Mildred Roylance (Jean Johnson),

and Ina McDowell (Marian McDowell Davies).

Each one had been sworn to secrecy, given as much information as was able to be found and instructed to move from table to table as the food courses changed.

The Ghosts entered the dining room through a fog generated by a small fogging machine and created quite a stir as their costumes became obvious and the chatter began. It was a busy and laughter filled event, and I believe the Ghosts enjoyed themselves as much as those who were questioning them.

As the evening drew to a close, I was approached by Sheila Needham, then President of the Federated Women's Institutes of Canada, and through her laughter and delight with the participation of the Ghosts, she gave me a hug, and said “That's an idea I am going to steal!”

Ruth Fenner, Provincial Historian, British Columbia Women's Institute