File M995.20 - York West District Tweedsmuir history

The York West District Women's Institute was formed in 1901, with founder Mrs. Eleanor I. Cruickshank serving as the first President. The organization served as an umbrella agency providing direction to its constituent local and village women's institutes, and acted as an instrument of liaison between the latter and Ontario Women's Institute. The York West District Women's Institute engaged, during its history, in a number of philanthropic and charitable activities as part of its general mandate to serve God, King, country, and community. It slowly expanded its horizons from an initial concern with educating the organization's membership and the community on such matters as hygiene and health, under the auspices of the Ontario Department of Agriculture, to more lofty undertakings such as preserving community culture through the compilation of its Tweedsmuir history and charitable endeavours. The District Women's Institute rendered particularly significant service during both World Wars, providing food, knitted wear, etc. to the military, as well as assisting the Canadian Red Cross. The York West District Women's Institute ultimately came to count the following local branches of the Ontario Women's Institute under its auspices: Kleinburg and Nashville; Elders' Mills; Vellore; Vellore Juniors; Maple; Woodbridge; Burwick; Edgeley; Thistletown; Elia; Weston; Glen Park; Richview; Lambton Mills; Islington; West Toronto; Eatonville; Lakeshore; Mimico. The York West District Women's Institute disbanded in 1994.