From the Archives: the 100th anniversary of the Burwick Women’s Institute
The City of Vaughan’s archives house more than 600 collections dating from the early 1700s to the present day. Within these files are the stories of how Vaughan evolved from the traditional territories of the First Peoples of Turtle Island to the bustling city it has become.
Let’s look back at our history and share the stories of the people, places and moments that helped shape the city we know today. This month’s feature is on the 100th anniversary of the Burwick Women’s Institute.
Originally named the Junior Women’s Institute, the Burwick Women’s Institute was formed in March 1925. It was created to help follow Adelaide Hunter Hoodless’ mandates on domestic reform, with the motto of the organization being “For Home and Country.” Members would later interpret this to mean bringing cheer to home and country. The group initially had 43 members and meetings were held on the first and second Tuesday of every month at members’ homes, with the host changing monthly. The group’s name changed in 1938 to the Burwick Women’s Institute.
The Burwick Women’s Institute was a very active community organization. They ran meetings, social evenings, a booth at the Woodbridge Fair, an annual dance, charity events, a fashion show, cared for local memorials and more. Most of these tasks were accomplished through the work of various committees, which dealt with matters relating to agriculture, health, education, citizenship, home economics, social welfare, legislation, peace, publicity and war.
Over time, the number of members grew to 76, which later led the group to abandon the practice of meeting in homes in favour of community buildings, such as the Woodbridge Memorial Arena (5020 Hwy. 7) and Orange Hall (previously located on Wallace Street). In 1949, the membership had grown so large that several women split off to form another Women’s Institute in a nearby town, Elder’s Mills. The original organization disbanded in 1996.
One of the key achievements of the Burwick Women’s Institute was the creation of their local Tweedsmuir history, which documented the history of Woodbridge in a series of four books. The first meeting of the Burwick Women’s Institute Tweedsmuir Committee was held in 1967. The books won awards at local and provincial levels and an honourable mention at a national competition for the organized manner and the high amount of detail used in describing the history of Woodbridge.
VIEW VAUGHAN'S ARCHIVES ONLINE!
Looking for more information about the history of Vaughan? The City's Archival Collection is on digital display for all to explore! The below galleries are available in the City's online gallery on Flickr:
- From Township to City: The Evolution of Vaughan
- Historical Families of Vaughan
- Historical Photography
- Past Mayors of Vaughan
- Prohibition in Vaughan
- Recollections of Rural Vaughan
- The Great Depression in Vaughan
- The Mary Wood Collection
- The Way We Were: Representations of Vaughan's Past
- Vaughan’s Forgotten Heroes
- Vaughan Lodge Fonds
- Vaughan Working Environments
- Vaughan Through the Ages: Medicine, Music and Sports and Recreation
- And more!
A personal Flickr account is not required to access the City's online gallery, which contains only a small selection of the full archives collection. If you are looking for a particular image, original file, primary source record or more, please visit the Archival Database or contact the City by calling 905-832-2281 or emailing archives@vaughan.ca.
By managing and preserving both City and community records, the City’s Enterprise Information Management Services team ensures that Vaughan's rich and varied history will continue to be available for future generations. Learn more at vaughan.ca/archives.
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