On Sept. 17, women from all across the Pontiac and Eastern Ontario converged on Quyon to rededicate the community centre as the Quyon Women’s Institute Hall.

The modest building’s exterior hides a large hall inside and began life as the Quyon Model school from 1904 to 1950, when the local district decided they needed a larger school. Onslow Elementary School, just across the street, was built.

The Quyon Women’s Institute (WI) then petitioned the school to purchase the building. It then became the Women’s Institute until the early 2000s. From then on, it housed meetings of the WI and became a coordination point for the various project they undertook over the years.

As the years passed, responsibility for its upkeep and maintenance passed on to the Municipality of Pontiac, and it became the Bert Kennedy Centre by the 2000s.

After a concerted effort, led by former councillor and WI member Nancy Maxom, last year, the municipal council passed a resolution to rededicate the building as the Quyon Women’s Institute building in honour of the many contributions to the community by the WI.

According to the Quebec Women’s Institutes website, the organization heralds a long list of achievements over its 108-year history, including mandatory stopping for school busses with flashing lights, the installation of railway crossing signs and marking poison containers, just to name a few.

Debbie Mohr MC’ed, the gathering of the members from Women’s Institutes across the region. In a speech, she remarked on its long history and deep impact on the community. “Women’s Institute members have been instrumental in establishing new laws and amending existing ones,” she said.

The women of the WI are incredibly proud of their traditions and their historical members. It is a special honour to named a lifetime member, which is only possible after 25 years of significant service while a member of the WI. During the dedication,

Muriel Foster clutched her mother’s lifetime member pendant during the dedication and declared, I have my mother’s pendant. “But only a life-time member can wear it. I have never worn it.” She lofted it proudly.

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