She studied household economics at the MacDonald Institute in Guelph and Household Science at the University of Toronto and subsequently worked as a dietician in Depression-struggling Toronto. In 1939, she married Bob and they raised their family of three boys in Guelph, the UK and Toronto. In 1968, they moved to Vancouver for 9 years before returning to Toronto in 1977. She quickly adapted to the challenges and opportunities following their move to the UK and later to Vancouver. She and Bob shared an interest in classical music, attending summer concerts by the Toronto Symphony Orchestra with the family and singing in their church choirs. They also enjoyed traveling, including trips to Europe, Australia and Japan. Helen enjoyed sewing and was a very skilled seamstress. One Christmas she made formal leather gloves for Bob and the boys. Her faith and family were central throughout her life. She treasured family gatherings at the summer cottage on Lake Joseph as well as opportunities to host several of her grandchildren in their Toronto home. Her quiet cheerfulness and grace were hallmarks of her character. Helen is survived by her three sons: James (Martha); Peter (Julia Turner); and Douglas (Anne). She had seven grandchildren: Linda Dowling (Mark); Alex (Samantha); Matthew (Sandy Georgette Aquilera); Luke (Mika Kosaki Oldham); Timothy (Lurene Bates); and Andrew (Lorraine Kwan) and Dr. Robyn Oldham. She was also the beloved great-grandmother of Paris Dowling; Nicholas, Brooke, and Sydney Oldham; Kalina and Theresa Oldham; David Oldham; Eva Oldham; and Jacob and Hannah Oldham. Memorial donations would be gratefully accepted by The Scott Mission in Toronto and Doctors Without Borders. Helen was a longtime supporter of those organizations. Due to current restrictions, we must look forward to a memorial service at a future date with her friends and relatives. Condolences for the family may be offered at : www.EganFuneralHome.com
Published by Toronto Star on Jan. 29, 2022. View Helen's obituary here.
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 The Private Member’s Bill 216 was introduced by Daryl Kramp, MPP for Hastings, Lennox & Addington in October 2020.
https://www.ola.org/en/legislative-business/bills/parliament-42/session-1/bill-216 Bill 216 passed the first two readings easily and was awaiting its final reading when the September 2021 Federal election was called. All incomplete Bills were postponed when the Ontario government was prorogued for the Federal election. Covid and Mr. Kramp’s personal illness may have added to the delay of Bill 216. To prorogue is “to: discontinue a session of (a parliament or other legislative assembly) without dissolving it.” Merriam-Webster Dictionary We are told that the Bill is expected to be re-introduced to the Legislature in the Spring of 2022 and, as is the custom, will likely be given a new number. Mr. Kramp’s goal is to get Bill 216 though the legislature by April, 2022. In a January 2022 update, Mr. Kramp states, “Bill 216 will create a larger role in the curriculum for Ontario students to learn tips about healthy eating, cooking and purchasing habits. Stake holders and organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society, Heart and Stroke Foundation and Canadian Diabetes Association are firmly backing this idea.” https://inquinte.ca/story/look-ahead-hla-mpp-daryl-kramp To date, OHEA has written three letters in support for Bill 216:
https://cns-scn.ca/education-portal/view/food-literacy-a-competency-progression-framework-for-children-youth Curriculum content and who will be teaching food skills and nutrition are concerns for OHEA. The OHEA Board advocates for fully qualified teachers certified as Family Studies Educators to ensure consistent, accurate nutrition information. When and if more letters to MPP’s are requested, OHEA will contact its members to help support the Bill. Waiting for correct timing and a newly assigned Bill number should better help to direct your letters in the right direction. Thank you to OHEA members for their continued interest and support. Mary Carver, P.HEc.  It is with great sadness that the family of Shirley N. Jones announce her peaceful passing on December 21, 2021, in her 82nd year. Shirley was born and grew up in the Beaches area of Toronto, the eldest of 3 sisters. She is survived by sisters Barbara Taylor (Anthony) and Mary Grant, nephew Douglas Shields, and nieces Karen Taylor Smith (Michael), Kimberley, and Cara Bostwick (Andrew). Shirley graduated from the University of Guelph in 1962, and also earned two Master's degrees in Education. She taught Family Studies in Sydenham, Oshawa, and Mississauga. She was a member of the Canadian Home Economics Association and a representative of Canada to the International Federation of Home Economists. Upon retiring in 1996, Shirley moved to Lake Valley Grove, near Forest, ON. She became very involved in a large number of activities in Forest and had many friends and acquaintances there. She was an avid traveller and an enthusiastic photographer. Shirley moved to Burlington in 2016, when symptoms of Alzheimer's disease made it unsafe for her to live on her own. We want to thank the staff members of LaSalle Park Retirement Residence, Chartwell Lakeshore Retirement Residence, and Creek Way Village for their caring support to Shirley throughout her journey with Alzheimer's. Memorial services for Shirley will be held at a later date. Memorial donations to the Alzheimer Society, the United Church of Canada Mission and Service Fund, Community Living Burlington, or to the charity of your choice would be welcome. Condolences, memories and photos may be left here. For more information, view Donna's obituaries at Circle of Life, and Legacy. Anyone who wishes to remember Shirley may make a donation to the Canadian Home Economics Foundation. The CHEF mailing address is: PO Box 2582 Stn. Main, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4B3. The CHEFoundation is the sole remaining national connection for home economists in Canada. Support provided to it enables grants for a variety of programs and projects which
improve the quality of life for families and individuals in Canada. These funds help home economists to carry out home economics research, develop educational tools, conduct public service projects plus support for post-secondary education related to the home economics profession. Please consider donations to the Foundation any time you wish to remember a home economist. To learn more about the Foundation visit the website at www.chef-fcef.ca  Photo Credit: Adobe Stock Aging is part of life and eventually life gets more challenging as we grow older. Aging not only affects the individual but the care giving family as well. Due to the rise in technology, we are seeing people live longer and at the same time experiencing a higher prevalence of chronic illness. Statistics Canada states that 8 million Canadians aged 15 and above have provided care for a family member or friend with a chronic health illness linked with aging (Statistics Canada, 2015). This connection releases hormones that improve mood, diminish stress, supports physical and emotional wellbeing for the aging (Smith et al., 2021). This early care giving relationship allows those cared for to feel part of the family and can be the least invasive situation for the care giving family allowing both to continue to thrive. At some point in time the individuals will need more assistance beyond the family’s capabilities and then the topic of burden of care may arise. This describes the physical, emotional, social and financial issues caregivers cope with everyday (O’Neill & Ross., 1991). Prolonged care giving periods can create consequences for the caregivers such as anxiety and depression which can lead to being more prone to illness due to a weakened immune system, obesity and other chronic illnesses (Womenshealth, 2015). Ask yourself what’s best for them? After all that’s the goal, right? This brings us to another stage in our lives, palliative. Palliative care improves wellbeing and aides in resilience of seriously ill patients as well as their families. This type of care brings in professionals from multiple disciplines such as physicians, personal support workers and chaplains for example (Shmerling, 2019). This type of care is personalized to the individual’s needs. This area improves quality of life in patients and their families, physical distress, discomfort and can help them live longer. Another area of palliative care is how to approach nutrition. The nutritional goal for palliative individuals is different than someone in the general population. These individuals experience higher amounts of fatigue and a sporadic appetite. They are battling a chronic illness which greatly diminishes their energy stores. Food options that are high in protein and calories will benefit the palliative care individual. Depending on the severity of the disease they could require the same amount of protein an endurance athlete consumes or more. Allow the individual to pick their favorite foods, desserts, or comfort foods, anything to get them to eat. In saying that, it’s important to still eat a variety of food to avoid deficiencies which could affect nerves and muscle and cause future complications (Government of South Australia, 2012). The goal is to ensure their last few weeks, months or even years are filled with happiness and social support. You may not feel like a superhero but that’s exactly how your loved one views you. Remember, take care of them and yourself. References: Government of South Australia. (2012). Diet and Nutrition in Palliative Care. Adelaide Hills Community Health Service. Retrieved from https://www.caresearch.com.au/Portals/20/Documents/Diet-And-Nutrition-Palliative-Care_AdlHillsCommHlthServ.pdf. O'Neill, G., & Ross, M. M. (1991). Burden of care: an important concept for nurses. Health care for women international, 12(1), 111–121. https://doi.org/10.1080/07399339109515931 Shmerling, R. (2019, November 12). What is palliative care, and who can benefit from it? Harvard Health. Retrieved from https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/what-is-palliative-care-and-who-can-benefit-from-it-2019111118186. Smith, M., Segal, J., & Robinson, L. (2021, July 20). Family caregiving. HelpGuide.org. Retrieved from https://www.helpguide.org/articles/parenting-family/family-caregiving.htm#. Statistics Canada. (2015, November 27). Family caregiving: What are the consequences? Government of Canada, Statistics Canada. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/75-006-x/2013001/article/11858-eng.htm. Womens Health. (2015). Caregiver stress . Office on Women's Health. Retrieved from https://www.womenshealth.gov/a-z-topics/caregiver-stress.
 Paris, France, December 13, 2021 – At the Gourmand World Cookbook Awards held last week in Paris, France, world-renowned Ottawa cookbook author and TV host Margaret Dickenson, P.H.Ec was honoured with two prestigious awards in the Entertaining category. From the Ambassador’s Table: Blueprints for Creative Entertaining was recognized in the Best of the Best – 25 Years category, and Margaret’s Table: Easy Cooking & Inspiring Entertaining won in the Best Entertaining Book category. Home entertaining is more popular than ever, and the trend is very likely to continue. Margaret Dickenson’s books are the gold reference in personal entertaining for experienced and novice cooks. Margaret’s Table features 30 menus including themed ideas, 150 unique personally created recipes, brilliant, inspiring and accessible food styling and presentation ideas, over 70 mesmerizing photos, tips, and tricks (make ahead, shortcuts, alternate ingredients and techniques) as well as easy strategies and steps on how to make it all come together. From Chinese spoons and innovative presentation and serving ideas to drizzles and edible flowers, the pages of the books will inspire you to look in your pantry, in your fridge and around your home to find the extra touch of pizazz that will make your dishes particularly special for your guests.
available to order on Amazon and Amazon Canada. “There is a quote by Maya Angelou that I am especially fond of: ‘People may forget what you said, but they will never forget how you made them feel.’ When it comes to entertaining, her words ring very true. I always want to wow my guests and leave them enchanted, so they remember their time at my table long after the event.” -Margaret Dickenson
the last 25 years. This year's competition attracted 15,000 books from 225 countries and regions. The awards ceremony is an opportunity to meet the who’s who in the world of food and wine.
Interview and Media Requests: Margaret Dickenson mldickenson@rogers.com +1 (613) 730-0185  Image Credit: Adobe Stock Being social has become second nature to us and we can’t live without it. We are currently experiencing a massive social reconstruction due to COVID-19. It doesn’t matter what age; we are all affected in one way or another. The impact on the elderly has been quite significant. By 2026 the elderly population will represent 21.2% of the Canadian population (White et al., 2013). This trend is supported by improvements in modern technology, education, living and working conditions (Lorinc, 2008). As we age the demand for social support increases due to the limited frequency of interactions especially in those living alone. Having this lack of interaction poses strain on the elderly which can lead to emotional disfunction, loneliness and can worsen into depression (Rhodes, 2016). A study found that mental and physical health in the elderly were impacted. They reported an increase of anxiety, depression, poor sleep quality and physical inactivity during the lockdowns (Loyola et al., 2020). Elderly, being more susceptible to contracting COVID-19 were restricted with what they could do such as visiting family, grocery shopping and sometimes even walking around their neighbourhoods. Not taking part in their daily routines restricted them from living life well in retirement. What they thought their retirement might look like has been in a constant disarray since COVID-19 surfaced. Everyday there was new information in the media causing concern and confusion for this very vulnerable population. We saw the emergence of the app Zoom which saw a 300% increase globally (SmartBear Software, 2021). It was a learning curve, but it soon became part of our daily lives. According to Stats Canada 60% of seniors (80 plus) in 2016 didn’t have internet access (Schimmele & Davidson, 2019). One could extrapolate these findings and assume these numbers are lower in 2021. Video calling is a great alternative to in person interactions because it allows for each party to form that connection without the physical aspect therefore keeping everyone safe. Those 60% without internet had to be creative to see their loved ones, such as a porch visit and/or drive-bys. As vaccines were discovered and implemented, regulations for those vaccinated were somewhat eased. This gave us the privilege to hug our loved ones once again. Having this physical connection can help jump start the social connections that we made with our vulnerable grand and/or parents. Call your older loved ones as they need social interaction to thrive. References: Lorinc, J. (2008, Aug 09). The medicare myth that refuses to die. The Globe and Mail http://ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/login?url=https://www-proquest-com.ezproxy.lib.ryerson.ca/newspapers/medicare-myth-that-refuses-die/docview/382699579/se-2?accountid=13631 Rhodes. (2016, November 18). Older Adults and the Importance of Social Interaction: A.G. Rhodes. A.G. Rhodes |. https://www.agrhodes.org/blog/notable-newsworthy/older-adults-and-the-importance-of-social-interaction/#:~:text=Studies%20have%20proven%20that%20regular,mental%20health%20for%20senior%20citizens.&text=By%20contrast%2C%20social%20isolation%20typically,other%20mental%20and%20physical%20issues. Schimmele, C., & Davidson, J. (2019, July 10). Evolving Internet Use Among Canadian Seniors. Statistics Canada. Retrieved from https://www150.statcan.gc.ca/n1/pub/11f0019m/11f0019m2019015-eng.htm. Sepúlveda-Loyola, W., Rodríguez-Sánchez, I., Pérez-Rodríguez, P., Ganz, F., Torralba, R., Oliveira, D. V., & Rodríguez-Mañas, L. (2020). Impact of Social Isolation Due to COVID-19 on Health in Older People: Mental and Physical Effects and Recommendations. The Journal of Nutrition, Health & Aging, 1–10. Advance online publication. https://doi.org/10.1007/s12603-020-1469-2 SmartBear Software. (2021). App Usage & Popularity Statistics During Covid-19. Bugsnag. Retrieved from https://www.bugsnag.com/covid-19-app-usage-error-data-report. White, J., Martin, T. & S. Bartolic. (2013). Families Across the Life Course. Toronto, ON: Pearson Canada Inc. (pp.259-291).
 Donna Washburn of Mallorytown, a former President of OHEA. long time P.H.Ec., bread baking specialist and cookbook author passed away on Nov. 28, 2021 after a short illness. Read Donna's obituary here. OHEA extends sincere condolences to Donna’s family and to her business partner and co-author Heather Butt of Brockville – also a long time professional home economist. OHEA plans a blog post soon about Donna’s amazing professional Home Economics career. Anyone who wishes to remember Donna may make a donation to the Canadian Home Economics Foundation. The CHEF mailing address is: PO Box 2582 Stn. Main, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4B3. The CHEFoundation is the sole remaining national connection for home economists in Canada. Support provided to it enables grants for a variety of programs and projects which improve the quality of life for families and individuals in Canada. These funds help home economists to carry out home economics research, develop educational tools, conduct public service projects plus support for post-secondary education related to the home economics profession.
Please consider donations to the Foundation any time you wish to remember a home economist. To learn more about the Foundation visit the website at www.chef-fcef.ca.  Image Credit: UBC Great news, Professional Home Economists! The University of British Columbia has a part-time, fully online program: MEd in Home Economics Education. The next cohort starts in September 2022.
This online graduate program delves into key aspects of Home Economics curriculum with connections to Applied Design, Skills and Technologies (ADST) curriculum, Textile Arts, and Culinary Arts. The next information session is coming up on November 24, 2021 at 3 p.m. PST. RSVP now. Ottawa Home Economists Sew Warm Hats to Meet Expected Increased Demand: Over 600 made in one day10/31/2021  Linda Robbins, PHEc, Hat Day Organizer Thanks to chief organizer, Linda Robbins, PHEc, and a dedicated team of cutters, sewers/sergers, sorters/packers and distributors, Ottawa HEA has surpassed its annual fleece hat production - despite COVID. The team includes Carol Badenoch, Ellen Boynton, Luba Brown, Cathy Enright, Mary Johnston, Elizabeth Lee, Judy Leeson, Linda Robbins, Maxine Robertson, Audrey Schreyer, Lynn Stewart, Susan Thorne and Ellie Topp. The production cycle started in mid-July. Previous clients (Centre507, Interval House, Cornerstone, the Snowsuit Fund and the Ottawa Mission) were contacted to help estimate demand for hats in 2021/22. The Ottawa Mission declined participation due to Covid protocols. Shepard's of Good Hope was added in place of the Mission. Clients indicated need by size and gender or gender-neutral. (Child small, medium, large; Adult small, and medium). The estimates formed the basis of acquisitions of fleece. Donations from Carol Badenoch, Cathy Enright and Mary Johnston, were augmented with "on-sale" purchases from Fabricland and EcoEquitable. By mid-September, cutters had prepared about 619 hats (up from 590 in 2020). Cut hats were made available for an in-person Hat Sewing Day on Sept. 28th at Bells Corners United Church, with required vaccination, physical distancing and safety protocols in place. The volunteers produced an amazing 619 hats in just over 5 hours, with more to come from members working from home. The goal is to have all hats completed by October 19, 2021, sorted/distributed to primary clients by early November. A secondary list of clients has been identified and remaining hats will be distributed to them before the snow flies.
OHEA is pleased to welcome new PHEcs this fall! Read about each new PHEc below.
old, I organized my first food drive, “Fill the [Hockey] Net for the Food Bank”, and in high school created “Food Fight”, a week-long food drive competition between six local high schools in the Quinte Region for which I was awarded an RBC Make 150 Count grant.
I come from a small town in South-Eastern Ontario with a population of only 3000 people! Growing up with few community activities (or malls) piqued my interest in nutrition, cooking, and going to the gym. Little did I know, these interests would lead me to become a Home Economist and turn my passion to a profession. Health and wellness have always been areas that I love to learn and practice. During my second year of university, my professor Dr. Matthews introduced to me the meaning of home economics. I learned that the principles include so many things found in our everyday life, from nutrition and wellness to financials and education. I was surprised to learn the field is not just what I pictured as my high school home-ec course! I am excited to be a part of OHEA and look forward to the coming year! Feel free to contact me at brooke.mclean20@gmail.com
back to her hometown in 2012 to stay close to her family and enjoy the BC landscape. Currently, she works in a senior role for a world class research institute in downtown Vancouver.
Saira has always been passionate about healthy eating and proper nutrition for a good, quality life. She was able to overcome her own weight struggles during university as an undergrad student and sustained her weight loss for decades. As she wants to follow her passion to help others who are facing similar weight struggles and foster a good relationship with food, Saira is in the process of starting her online nutrition business practice - expected to launch in early January 2023. |
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