New art to reflect Women’s Institute’s 100-year anniversary

The Simcoe County Museum on Mon. March 11, 2024 (Steve Mansbridge/CTV News Barrie).

The Simcoe Area Women’s Institute is adding art to its list of accomplishments.

Last year, the Simcoe Area Women’s Institute (WI) celebrated 100 years of service.

As part of this milestone, members of the WI are hoping to commission a sculpture for display at the Simcoe County Museum.

If approved by council, members of the institute will seek grant funding to commission a sculpture by an area artist. It is hoped the sculpture would be completed in 2027.

The Simcoe Area Women’s Institute holds the history of Simcoe County.

Formed in 1925, the organization originated to represent the shared interests of all WI branches in Simcoe County.

By 1926, a historical research committee was formed, with the goal of preserving the county’s history. It is due to their planning and initiative that the Simcoe County Museum collection was collected.

While the art project is still in the early planning stages, the members have proposed a bronze table, chairs and items representing the history of the WI service including a computer, a milk bottle, a basket with seeds, and a Tweedsmuir history book.