Clyde River

Bruce Brine accepting the Erland Lee Award

Bruce Brine has been awarded the Erland Lee Award of Appreciation, a prestigious award that is given to a man who exemplifies those qualities of Erland Lee which led to the founding of Women’s Institute. Erland Lee was farmer, teacher and head of a Farmer’s Institute in Stoney Creek, Ontario. He was a forward thinking man and provided the assistance needed to launch the first Women’s Institute that is now found around the world.

Bruce’s name was put forward for the award for PEI by the Clyde River W.I. Here is an excerpt from their nomination:

It is with great pleasure that the Clyde River Women’s Institute is submitting the nomination of Bruce Brine as a candidate for the Erland Lee Award of Appreciation.

Since becoming Administrator for the community of Clyde River in 2009, Bruce has given his full support to W.I. activities and endeavours, and he has strengthened the relationship between the Community Council and W.I. as both groups work to enhance our rural community.

Each year, in his administrative role, Bruce applies for government assistance to hire a summer student. He then spends many volunteer hours mentoring and training the student in the duties involved in keeping the community’s public spaces – the Community Centre, Park and Pioneer Cemetery – looking their best. In addition to facilitating the Community Council’s and the Women’s Institute’s joint efforts in maintaining the outward attractiveness of our community, Bruce has been instrumental in assisting the W.I. in obtaining funding from provincial and federal sources for infrastructure upgrades to our Community Centre.

Since 1973, the Centre has been owned and managed by the Clyde River Women’s Institute. The addition of insulation, a new furnace and energy efficient windows has made the former schoolhouse a comfortable site for Institute and community events, and the improved air quality is beneficial to the community museum that is being developed in the basement of the Centre. Bruce’s help in achieving these improvements to our building has been invaluable. As well, Bruce is generous in volunteering his considerable technical expertise to historical lectures, watershed presentations and private functions at the Centre.

Bruce Brine has certainly made an outstanding contribution to the Clyde River’s Women’s Institute as we strive to fulfill our national aim to promote women, families and communities.

His name will also be forwarded for the Canadian Erland Lee Award.

Editor’s note: On behalf of the Friends of Clyde River and our website audience, we congratulate you on this award. Bruce has worked oftentimes behind the scenes over the years as Community Administrator. Bruce, you have done an exemplary job of running the community’s business and it’s your time to shine and receive the recognition that you so richly deserve.