The Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario (FWIO) was founded in 1897. The organization provided women with information and education in domestic science, particularly supporting their work and learning in rural areas. Over the years, the Women's Institute branches raised money to support wartime efforts, and supported youth programs, public health, and environmental issues. Local branches may do their own work and keep their own records under the auspices of the FWIO.

The FWIO was founded by Adelaide Hunter Hoodless, and Erland Lee with the support of his wife Janet Lee. Hoodless’ passion for the FWIO is due to the tragic death of her 14-month-old son from contaminated milk, in 1889. She advocated for education regarding proper hygiene in homemaking for girls and women. Hoodless met with Erland Lee at the Farmers' Institute meeting in Stoney Creek, Ontario, in 1897. A week later, Hoodless organized the first meeting for the Women's Institute, with 101 women and 1 man (Lee) present.

The Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario were run by rural Ontario women. The FWIO went on to promote rights and education for girls and women in rural and small-town areas, supporting healthy living for children. Today the FWIO still carries out their historical missions. They work nationally and internationally for social change for all women.

Sources

• Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario. Our History. https://fwio.on.ca/wi_history.php
• Wikidata. Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario. https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q19877856
• Wikipedia. Federated Women's Institutes of Ontario https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Federated_Women%27s_Institutes_of_Ontario
• Federated Women’s Institutes of Ontario. “Handbook.” https://fwio.on.ca/docs/Handbook-Final-Word_10-23-12.pdf

Margaret Phillips was born in 1931, in Ottawa, Ontario, and spent much of her life in Northwestern Ontario. Phillips is known as a feminist and social activist, also credited for her anti-racist activism. Beginning her career in organized recreation, Phillips became the first Canadian woman to work as an arena manager (Iroquois Falls 1957-1960), and then as municipal recreation director (Kenora, 1960-1967). Furthermore, Phillips was the first woman President of the Society of Directors of Municipal Recreation of Ontario.

Phillips worked with numerous social activist organizations. She served the Lakehead Social Planning Council as Executive Director (1971-1981), participated in founding the Thunder Bay Women's Centre (1973), was a member of the Northern Woman's Journal Collective (1982-1992), served as a board member of the Canadian Council on Social Development and the Ontario Welfare Council, and co-founded (with Anna McColl) the Northern Women's Bookstore (1984). Notably, the Northern Women’s Bookstore supported local Indigenous and Northern women with various women’s literature, writing groups, and social gatherings, such as book clubs and potlucks. Philips advocated for education around violence against women, lesbian issues, and women’s health.

City of Thunder Bay. Margaret Phillips. https://www.thunderbay.ca/en/city-hall/margaret-phillips.aspx
Lakehead University Archives. Margaret Phillips fonds. https://archives.lakeheadu.ca/index.php/margaret-phillips-fonds
The Chronicle Journal. Margaret Alberta Phillips: 1931-2015. https://www.legacy.com/ca/obituaries/chroniclejournal/name/margaret-phillips-obituary?id=42970445