Our organization was formed in 1921 with a few members, but it soon grew with country and village women working together. They became very active in helping to improve our community by catering to all kinds of events and needs. Our policy has always been to donate to local families in need and in case of fire to help out all we could.

     We sent cigarettes and socks to World War II Lumby service men. We donated the piano and dishes for the old Community Hall, worked with the schools for May Day. When this was replaced by Lumby Days we helped support it by entering the parades which provided everyone with a good laugh with their antics on the float in the parade.

     The W.I. continues to work hard for the Queen Alexander Hospital along with the Children's Hospital and Vernon Jubilee Hospital. We helped get a Medical Clinic and the X-Ray machine, as well as the Jaws of Life in Lumby.

     We give scholarships for a graduating Charles Bloom student. We put on card parties and Spring teas. The first Friendship Tea was held in February 1984 and this we continue to do. At Christmas time free Christmas dinners were put for the seniors and shut-ins are remembered with a visit and small gift.

     Our first May Queen was Linda Jackson in 1923. Our membership has decreased over the years but we are still very involved in the community. We were the first wonem's organization formed that is still going strong in Lumby. The poem was composed and read by Jenny Saunders at the 50th birthday celebration of the Lumby and District Women's Institute.

 

A Lumby woman called her friends, in nineteen twenty one.

"Let's form a group to ourselves, as sisters everyone."

We'll call on all the farmer's wives, and those in town we know

And they formed the Women's Institute, just 50 years ago.

Their names Bessette and Catt and Shields, Woods and Granny Inglis came,

Hardie, Dunnett, Jackson, Rugg, each was a charter name.

Trudell and Loomis, Williams too, Miss Wells and Aurora Leger

By horse and buggy these folks came, a jogging at their leisure.

They founded May Day and its Queens, helped families in need.

And crippled children got their cures, a "burned out" call they'd heed

They sent their help to other lands, when war was causing woe

Old folks and children are still their pets, like fifty years ago.