Ontario Women's Institute (Pittsburgh, Ont.)

The Pittsburgh Women's Institute was organized on the 24th of April 1924 . The organizational meeting was held at the home of Mrs. James English of Middle Road and the Departmental organizer was Mrs. Sirrett. Miss Crozier was the first President with Mrs. Colin Rogers serving as Secretary-Treasurer. One early major project was the purchase of a Hall, on Middle Road (formerly a Methodist church) which was sold in 1931. The main tenets of the Institute were to provide community help and leadership through a “non-partisan, non-sectarian and non-racial organization” of regional rural women. The Institute held many events raising funds for various local and international projects.
In the 1940s the Pittsburgh Branch established a relationship with the Oulton Women’s Institute of Norwich, England sending many parcels of food and clothing during, and after, the 2nd World War. It was a relationship that continued into the 1990s.
In addition to sponsoring and giving financial support to a variety of local groups the Institute also fostered many crafting opportunities (such as quilting) for its members. The members of the Pittsburgh branch donated tapestries to both the City of Kingston and the Pittsburgh Township office.
The Pittsburgh Women’s Institute ceased existing as a branch in, or around, 2010.