Women from the Interlake region and Winnipeg will gather in Grosse Isle this weekend to discuss mutual concerns and share information.

The Grosse Isle Women’s Institute will host the annual Winnipeg-Interlake Regional Convention on Sat., March 24. The event is part of the Manitoba Women’s Institute’s one-day regional convention program.

The convention will take place from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Grosse Isle Hall. This year’s theme will be The Living Library.

Grosse Isle Women’s Institute president Marge Knutson said the event is a day of learning and will offer a series of educational seminars.

"We are very pleased to be hosting the event and it will be a time for members of these institutes to enjoy a day together and to learn and be entertained," she said.

Knutson said that the three main speakers for this year’s event will be Laurie Potovsky-Beachell, Lee Garfinkel, Tabitha Langel. Potovsky-Beachell and Garfinkel are both from the Rural Municipality of Rosser.

Manitoba Women’s Institute president Justina Hop said regional conventions are important because they allow the provincial organization to address issues and concerns at a regional level.

"It’s an opportunity for use to gather information from all the rural areas so that we can address issues and concerns from each region at the provincial level," Hop said.

Hop added that she attends every convention in the region and brings concerns from them to the MWI so that her organization can address them at the provincial level.

"We have a voice in the government and we meet with them once a year," she said. "So we can take these concerns to the ministers as an advocate group."

Knutson said that the need for improvements to Highway 6 is a concern that is shared by members of her organization.

"People are concerned about driving on Highway 6 because there has been so many fatalities and critical injuries on that highway," she said.

Hop added said another challenge that needs to be addressed is the lack of services available in smaller communities in the region.

The Grosse Isle Women’s Institute currently has 14 members and is hoping to boost that number, Knutson said. Anyone interested in joining the organization can contact her at 467-9376.

facebook.com/TheHeadlinerWpg
Twitter: @HDLYHeadliner

prescott.james@canstarnews.com