Chateauguay-Huntingdon County Women’s Institute president Florence Ellerton is the first Quebec resident to receive the Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Canadian Woman of the Year award.
Every year, the Federated Women’s Institute of Canada chooses one woman from amongst nearly 8,500 members to grant the prestigious Adelaide Hunter Hoodless Canadian Woman of the Year award. Named for the founder of the Canadian Women’s Institute, the honour is given to a member that is considered to be exemplary and supportive to other women, inspiring leadership in others while working to make their community a better place through hard work and dedication. Never before has a local won the award—in fact, no resident of Quebec has ever been honoured, making this accolade a particularly special one for local members. On Friday, April 8th, the President of the Chateauguay-Huntingdon County Women’s Institutes, Florence Ellerton of Hemmingford, was the first resident of the province to receive the honour. The award was presented to Ellerton by the president of the Federated Women’s Institute, Linda Hoy. Also in attendance was Sheila Needham, Canada-area president of the Associated Country Women of the World. The award ceremony took place at Walshaven in Ormstown during the annual general meeting of the Chateauguay-Huntingdon County Women’s Institute, in the company of over 40 members.
Ellerton was nominated by the Hemmingford Women’s Institute branch as a possible candidate to receive the prestigious award due to her extremely active involvement in all community affairs. The mother of three formerly worked in Montreal at the Bank of Montreal—later working for Canadian Customs. After her retirement, the long time Hemmingford resident opted to donate her time to her community. From the Women’s Institute, to her involvement in the Eastern Star, Legion and Red Cross organizations, Ellerton is also a prominent volunteer, offering her time to the local Terry Fox Run, the Barrie Memorial and to the Anglican Church. Ellerton is also known for the time she takes visiting shut-ins, making food gift packages, knitting finger puppets for the Hospital and taking on executive positions in the organizations she is involved in. According to WI member Jolene Robinson, Ellerton was stunned to be nominated. “Her comment, when informed that we were nominating her, was “You’re wasting your time.” She was shaking when she learned she had won. She was shocked,” explained Robinson.
A History
The Women’s Institute was the result of the efforts of Adelaide Hunter Hoodless. Together with Ontario’s Mr. Erland Lee, Hoodless co-founded the WI. Since its founding, the world-wide-organization has consisted of a group of women dedicated to community growth. Along with providing a united national voice for Women’s Institutes, the Federated Women’s Institute of Canada also aims to initiate national programs and provide resource material, to provide a medium of inter-communication among the units of the federation, to provide leadership in the promotion of Canadian agriculture and community living as well as to develop responsible citizens through the study of issues of national and international importance.
