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flawm Gertie Carruthers Gertie (Mitchell) Carruthers was born in June 1923 in Collingwood at the home of her parents on Campbell Street, where they had a garden farm. She started school in Collingwood, and began high school at the age of 12, in Singhampton. Upon completing high school, Gertie was too young to attend nursing school, so in the meantime, she enrolled in a one-year commercial course. Gertie Carruthers Gertie graduated from the General and Marine Hospital Training School in June 1944 and won a postâ€"graduate course in surgery at the Toronto General Hospital. She then returned to the Hospital as an operating supervisor where she met her husband Arnott, a wounded war veteran, when he came to the hospital to have his tonsils removed. Arnott and Gertie were married in January 1946 and went on to have 6 children. Gertie was called back to her profession in 1956, due to a shortage of nurses. Over the years, she worked in several different areas of the hospital and also at the Stayner Nursing Home. All this time, she and her family lived on the family farm at Sunnidale Corners. The couple retired in 2004. Gertie’s motherâ€"in-law took her to the annual meeting of Sunnidale Corners WI (Simcoe Area) in February 1946, where she became Secretary-Treasurer. She started the Tweedsmuir Village History Book with no guide, just directive from Lady Tweedsmuir. Gertie held all offices in the Branch and served 2 years on the District. She became a Life Member in 1971. In 1977, she received special recognition for her essay on "Why | Joined the Women’s Institute”. In 2011, Gertie was presented with a special certificate in honour of 65 years of active membership. Despite many personal obstacles, Gertie still participates when she is able to and her fellow Members admire her perseverance and dedication. â€" f/ $3 O Canada! Amherst Island WI Amherst Island WI (Kingston Area) took part in the Canada Day Parade on the island, pushing their coffee cart and handing out candies to the watching children. At the Saturday morning market, the cart usually sports a colourful umbrella, but in honour of local activities relating to the war of 1812, the umbrella was replaced by the Loyalist flag. The cart is just visible behind Branch Members. Last year, Members voted to buy matching shirts to make a dashing appearance in the parade. There's no mistaking who they are! Hawkestone WI The Members of Hawkestone WI (Simcoe Area) had a beautiful float in this year’s Canada Day parade in Hawkestone. The ladies dressed in “royal” attire to pay tribute to Queen Elizabeth II, in honour of her Diamond Jubilee in 2012. Pictured (LR) are Ruth Leigh, Joan Banbury, Katie Hutchinson, Norma Leigh, Dianne Mawdsley andAnn Jorgenseh. ‘wVJ‘Ln’LVLQEA " WEE/(1 fijfia“l