ELLEN MACPHAIL: December is a month of deadlines

The provincial P.E.I. Women’s Institute (PEIWI) board of directors and members are readying themselves for the upcoming holiday season.

The PEIWI board invites all visitors to share in the festive spirit by visiting the WI Christmas Treat Tree. Now lit at the WI Office foyer at 40 Enman Cres., the tree is once again layered in candy cane treats for all to enjoy.

While visiting the Treat Tree, drop by the WI office for Women’s Institute themed gifts. Items available include a variety of recipe books, youth cooking contest books, pins and pens. A popular gift item this year is a legacy account of WI members building P.E.I. communities by WI member Marie Kenny.

Dec. 15 is the entry deadline for students in grades 7-12 to enter recipes in the PEIWI’s sixth annual WI Island Product Cooking Contest. Entries are to contain three agricultural or fisher-based ingredients. Top entries in four categories will be selected to prepare appetizer-sized portions of their recipe during the final round at WI’s Founder's Day, Feb. 12. Finalists will receive cash prizes. View details online at peiwi.ca.

WI members and residents across P.E.I. are encouraged to, once again, donate a new, small, unwrapped gift to the White Cross Christmas Gift Campaign, as part of the Canadian Mental Health Association of P.E.I. Item examples include hats, gloves, socks, movie or coffee gift cards, playing cards, cosmetics and shampoo. These are given to those who may be alone this time of year and have mental health or emotional issues. Gifts can be dropped off to the White Cross Program at 178 Fitzroy St. in Charlottetown. Call 902-566-3034 for further information. Gift deadline is Dec. 16.

To round out the celebratory time of year, the board of directors of P.E.I. Women’s Institute has chosen a different direction for their annual WI Levee. It has been held on Jan. 1 over the last decade. For Jan. 1, 2020, the board has decided instead to place emphasis on traditional visits and holiday dinners at home with family and friends and visiting other levees. The board wishes all a joyous and safe new year.

This article is prepared by Ellen MacPhail, executive director for the PEIWI and appears in the Guardian the second Friday of every month. For more information on the above items or to join a WI branch, visit peiwi.ca or contact the Provincial Office at 902-368-4860 or by emailing [email protected].