Jan Bushfield, P.H.Ec., London, OntarioLong before smartboards, Wi-Fi, and standardized classrooms, Ontario students learned in spaces shaped as much by community as curriculum. In this reflective piece, Jan Bushfield, P.H.Ec., a retired Home Economics/Family Studies teacher based in London, Ontario, shares vivid memories of the schools that shaped her early education - from one-room schoolhouses to university lecture halls, and everything in between. My parents both attended a one-room school, located within walking distance of both of their homes, where one teacher taught grades 1 to 8. In rural areas, where most kids lived on farms, many had a rather long walk to school. My father started first grade a year late because the walk for him was so long.
By the time I started school in 1953 at the age of six, there had been some reorganization of the schools. Kindergarten didn’t yet exist in rural areas, but busing had been introduced, and since this made longer travel possible, some of the old one-room schools had been closed or repurposed. The first school I attended, Caesarea Public School, was one of the original one-room schools but by then only served grades one to three. It was about a ten-mile bus ride from our house, and three or four yellow school buses picked up all the students from the entire township and delivered them to each school. At my school, grade one pupils filled one row, about eight of us. We sat in stand-alone desks arranged in neat rows, each desk with a drawer beneath the seat to hold books and papers, and a hole in the upper right corner of the desktop to hold an ink bottle. Grade one pupils learned to print with fat pencils, so we had no use for ink. At the front of the room, behind the teacher’s desk, were wall-sized chalkboards made of smooth black slate. Wiping them off at the end of the day with a chalkboard eraser was a prized assignment. Displayed above the chalkboards were large cards illustrating the correct way to print the letters of the alphabet, and on one wall was a map of the world that could be pulled up and down like a window shade. Fun fact: by repeatedly studying the alphabet cards backwards, I eventually learned to repeat the alphabet in reverse, inspired by a senior student on my bus who liked to show off that impressive skill. Heat was provided by a wood-burning furnace in the cellar, with radiators along the sides of the room where we would spread our wet hats and mittens during the snowy season, creating the very distinctive aroma of wet wool. There was also a wood-burning stove in the middle of the room where, on very cold days, our teacher, Mrs. Venning, would prepare a large pot of either hot chocolate or chicken noodle soup to supplement the cold lunches we brought from home. We carried our lunches in rectangular tin lunch boxes, often decorated with some of the heroes of the day. Mine displayed The Lone Ranger. I wasn’t the Cinderella type. Just inside the front door were cloakrooms - girls on the right, boys on the left - with benches, coat hooks, and a shelf for our lunch boxes. The “washroom” was an outbuilding behind the school, divided for boys and girls, and accessed by going out the front door and following a path around back. It featured a wooden bench seat with a hole sized to fit a small bottom. There was no running water or electricity. There were spiders, though. Caesarea School was permanently closed at the end of that year, and in September all elementary students in the township attended a large, newly built school in the village of Blackstock: Cartwright Central Public School. It had several classrooms, a teacher for each grade, a gymnasium-auditorium, an office for the principal (where the strap was sometimes administered to the hands of misbehaving boys), and modern washrooms. I attended grades two through six there. Meanwhile, just around the corner, the “old” one-room Blackstock elementary school remained in use for senior grades until an addition to the new school could be built. I considered it an exciting privilege to spend grades seven and eight there, isolated from all the “little kids,” though that did mean a downgrade to less-than-modern washrooms. One of the fun benefits was a large table located at the front of the classroom where an ongoing lunchtime Monopoly or Clue game could continue, hotly contested, all week. There was also a piano where a friend and I alternated playing O Canada and God Save the Queen at the beginning of each school day. Our high school, just a little further down the street, was old and small - one of the smallest high schools in the province. It served a student population of about 100, with one classroom for each of grades nine to thirteen. Classrooms were assigned according to size and enrollment, and we remained in the same room for most of the day while teachers rotated between classes. There were only thirteen of us in grade thirteen, so we were assigned to a small classroom that also served as the library. For many staff members, this was not their dream job, and many stayed only until they found a less demanding assignment in a larger school. Two notable exceptions were our principal, who spent his entire career there while also teaching French, and our math teacher, who taught all math and science to all grades until his retirement. I spent five fun and busy years there. Student council roles, glee club, drama productions, school outings to the Royal Winter Fair and Toronto theatre, and community events like Commencement and the annual “At Home” prom filled our days. In a small community, everyone knows everyone, and school events doubled as social gatherings for the wider community. Our school didn’t have an auditorium or gymnasium large enough for everyone, so we used the village Recreation Centre. Imagine phys. ed. class: change into gym clothes, walk to the Rec Centre, play basketball, walk back, and change again - all in a 60-minute period. In 1965, I graduated from high school, delivered the Valedictory Address, and headed off to the University of Guelph to explore the wider world, acquire the education that would shape my future career, and meet the man I would spend the next 58 years with. I was a student at MacDonald Institute, an all-female college that, along with Ontario Agricultural College and Ontario Veterinary College, amalgamated in 1964 to form the University of Guelph. Mac offered a four-year Honours degree in Household Science. For the first three years, we studied a common core curriculum that included sciences, humanities, and home economics. In year four, we selected a major; mine was clothing and textiles. All first-year students were required to live on campus in gender-segregated residences. Mac students lived in MacDonald Hall, adjacent to our classes and across the street from Creelman Hall Cafeteria. We wore skirts to classes at Mac, had curfews, and signed in and out each evening. Males were not allowed beyond the common room unless they were enterprising enough to climb through a window. Four years later, as a graduate of Mac ’69 with an Honours Bachelor of Household Science degree and a new husband, we moved to London, where I completed a year of teacher training at Althouse College of Education. What was meant to be a temporary stop became a lifelong home. We both enjoyed long teaching careers and long retirements here, and with luck, London will remain my home for many years to come.
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Ottawa HEA sends sad news about long-time member Pat Steele who passed away on March 21, 2025.
Pat was a graduate of U. of Guelph, B.HSc., and Laval University, M.Sc. Dietetics and Biochemistry. Her career was centered in Ottawa with Health Canada, Consumer and Corporate Affairs Canada, and the Canadian Food Inspection Agency. Throughout her career, Pat specialized in food labeling, particularly nutrition labeling, and was a proud member of the Dietitians of Canada. A donation in Pat’s memory has been sent to the Canadian Home Economics Foundation. Family and friends are invited to visit at the Central Chapel of Hulse, Playfair & McGarry, 315 McLeod Street, Ottawa on Friday, April 11, 2025 from 4:00 pm to 8:00 pm. Her funeral will take place at Christ Church Cathedral, 414 Sparks Street, Ottawa on Saturday, April 12, 2025 at 2:00 pm, with a reception to follow. In lieu of flowers, donations may be made to Christ Church Cathedral Ottawa, the May Court Hospice, the Cornerstone Housing for Women or the charity of your choice. See Pat's official obituary here: https://www.hpmcgarry.ca/memorials/patricia-steele/5466263/index.php It is with heavy hearts, Millie's children, Dawn (Peter) Kilmer, Scott (Wendy) and Tracy (Tavia) Reynolds announce the passing of their biggest role model and cheerleader, Mildred Reynolds (nee Sjolie), on February 29, 2024, at Rose Garden Hospice. She was predeceased by her husband of 60 years, Garry Reynolds, her parents and two sisters, Janet and Joan. Mom was born January 6, 1941, in Preeceville SK, to Elmer and Lena Sjolie. She was the oldest sibling to Donald, Janet (Dennis) Szafron, Joan (John) Publicover and Lorna (John) Thomas. The Sjolie family grew up in Sturgis on the first cooperative farm in our Province. This is where Mom began her lifelong commitment to building community where everyone can thrive and grow. She was a connector and collector of people. Mom was a lifelong learner. She attended the University of Saskatchewan, where she met and married the love of her life, Garry Reynolds. She completed bachelor's degrees in Home Economics and Education, followed by her Master of Education degree. After retirement, she taught at ITEP and audited University classes, completing one this past year on French Communism. She stayed connected with her students throughout her life and loved to hear about their accomplishments. She taught students in numerous schools including City Park, Aborfield, Mount Royal and Nutana. Millie's commitment to community included building of Millie's Early Learning Centre, volunteering at St. Martin's Church, advocating for the College of Home Economics, membership on the Board of the College of Medicine and Nursing, supporting many new Canadian families as they begin their new life, and travelling to Ghana to teach about food storage and preservation. Nothing was impossible to accomplish when mom set her mind to it. Her friends can attest that it was hard to say no to Millie. Family and friends who became family were a large part of Millie's life. She kept tabs on all of us and reminded us to stick together. She was available for everyone. Mom was so proud of her children, in-laws, nieces, nephews, great-nieces, great-nephews, grandchildren, and great-grandchild. She loved hearing about what we were up to over a tea or an email. Her speciality was those fabulous dinner parties. Mom and Dad loved to entertain. Special memories revolve around those beautiful table settings, and the kitchen sink, washing the dishes following a delicious meal. There were sooooo many dishes, towel snaps and gales of laughter. Millie and Garry, have seven grandchildren, Ali, Cait, Patrick, Jamie, Matthew, Ryan, and Rebecca; and one great-grandchild, Elle. Mom created a hidden special garden and delighted in sharing the beauty of their backyard with friends and family. We spent countless hours in her exquisite flower garden drinking lemonade, telling tales and hearing about their travels around the world. A Celebration of Millie's Life will be held at 2:00 p.m., on Sunday, June 23, 2024, in the Riverview Room at the Remai Art Gallery, 102 Spadina Crescent E, Saskatoon, SK. In lieu of other tributes, donations in memory of Millie may be made to Millie's Early Learning Centre, 411 11th Street East, Saskatoon, SK S7N 0E9, Rose Garden Hospice, Box 2092, Prince Albert, SK, S6W 0A3, or a charity of the donor's choice. Thank you, Mom, we are so proud of all you have accomplished. Rest easy, we will carry on and be the change we wish to see. Family and friends wishing to send online condolences are welcome to visit www.beaulacfuneralhome.com . Arrangements have been entrusted to the care of Beau "Lac" Funeral Home and Crematorium, Marianne Turcotte, Funeral Director, Prince Albert, SK 306-763-3322.
The family of Dianne M. Scott, wife of the late L. Mansel Scott, and daughter of the late LeBaron and Freda (Holder) Sheldrick are saddened to announce her passing which occurred on Wednesday, November 29, 2023, at the Saint John Regional Hospital after a brief illness.
Dianne was a 1959 Teachers’ College graduate and a longtime member of NBHEA. She spent her working career as a Home Economics Teacher for over 36 years, most of these at Barnhill Memorial School. Together, Dianne and Mansel loved to travel across the Maritimes and Eastern United States by trailer with kids and dogs in tow, finally spending many years at Pine Cone Trailer Park in Sussex. In retirement, Dianne spent most of her free time volunteering with the School Milk Fund, Saint John Art Centre, Saint John Sculptures, and the Imperial Theater, among many others. Specifically, she was very active with the School Milk Fund organized in 1961 to provide milk for school children in need of extra nutrition in the Saint John schools. Dianne is survived by her daughters, Cindy (Mike Splane) and Kim (Everett Crawford), her sister and best friend, Donna, sisters, Terry, Debby and Lori along with many nieces, nephews, numerous friends and her cherished pets. In addition to her husband and parents, she was predeceased by brother, Billy. Arrangements are under the care and direction of Brenan’s Funeral Home, 111 Paradise Row, Saint John, NB, (506-634-7424). Visitation will take place on Monday, December 4, 2023, from 1:00 – 4:00 PM. Interment will take place in Ocean View Memorial Gardens at a later date. Donations in memory of Dianne may be made to the Saint John School Milk Fund or to the ICU at the Saint John Regional Hospital. Online condolences may be placed at www.BrenansFH.com. Vivian May Bruce (May 4, 1931 – October 12, 2023)
It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Vivian Bruce on October 12, at the age of 92. Vivian was born in Regina and spent her early years in the small town of Bechard, Saskatchewan where her father was a grain buyer for the Saskatchewan Wheat Pool. She was an only child who grew up with family around her. Vivian was especially close to her cousin William (Bill) Long, and as an adult she became a member of his family sharing holidays and celebrations with them. Her family moved to Regina in her high school years where Vivian graduated from Balfour Tech. Vivian continued her education in Winnipeg at the University of Manitoba where she graduated with a B.Sc. (H. Ec.). She completed a dietetic internship at the Vancouver General Hospital in 1954. She then began her career in dietetics at the University Hospital in Saskatoon where she met a lifelong friend and colleague Vera Moroz. In 1960 Vivian returned to the University of Manitoba where she completed her M.Sc. in Nutrition. In 1963 Vivian began a 33-year career at the University of Manitoba. She took a study leave to complete a Ph.D. at the University of Wisconsin in 1972. In 1981 she was a visiting associate professor of nutrition in surgery at the University of Pennsylvania in Philadelphia. Vivian took an active interest in her students. As one said on the occasion of presenting her with an award in clinical nutrition, “Her undergraduate students were her children and her graduate students were her family.” In 2019, Vivian was recognized with an Order of Manitoba. The citation stated, “As professor of food science and nutrition at the University of Manitoba, Dr. Vivian Bruce was instrumental in conducting the first research exploring the health benefits of canola oil and establishing its unique nutritional properties. Working with her colleague, the late Dr. Bruce McDonald, she conducted important research with positive ramifications for food science and the economic viability of key Manitoba crops.” Vivian was an active member of the University Women’s Club for many years where she was involved with the walking group, current events and bridge. She was a member of Crescent Fort Rouge United Church where she participated in the outreach program that led to her volunteer work with refugees. Vivian enjoyed travelling for many years with her friend Jackie Dupont. Vivian was predeceased by her parents Douglas and Lela (Long) Bruce and cousins Bill and Eleanor Long. She will be lovingly remembered by her many cousins, among them Margaret (Bruce) Young, Lizabeth (Stan) Oleksinski, and Timothy (Brenda Beckman-Long) Long and their families. She will be deeply missed by her many close friends including Kim McKay and Tracy McKay. We would like to thank Carrie and Jasmine and all the staff at Riverwood Square for their kindness and care while Vivian lived there. Thank you to Dr. Cavers, nursing staff and nursing assistants on 4 South Victoria General Hospital for their kind and compassionate care. A Celebration of Life will be held November 15 at 10:30 am at Crescent Fort Rouge United Church, 525 Wardlaw Avenue Winnipeg. For those who wish to attend virtually, follow one of the links below. https://twitch.tv/crescentfortrougelive https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY_yu6hzsG1yoisFBHvGm5A?view_as=subscriber https://www.facebook.com/cfruc/ In lieu of flowers please consider a donation to The Dr. Vivian Bruce Bursary Fund, at the University of Manitoba or the charity of your choice. Sustain Ontario’s Food Literacy Working Group submitted a Proposal to the Ministry of Education in July 2023 outlining recommendations for the government to further advance food literacy in Ontario. We await a reply from the Ministry of Education. Meanwhile, OHEA members can now read the Proposal as posted on the Sustain Ontario site here. We were proud to represent OHEA as one of 29 organizations involved and thrilled to work closely with like-minded professionals across the province.
 At the AGM celebrating the 90th anniversary of the Ottawa Home Economics Association (OttawaHEA) June 2023 a decision was made to establish the Ottawa Home Economics Association Fund within the Ottawa Community Foundation (OCF). The goal of the fund is to establish a legacy in support of the goals of home economics to improve the quality of life for families and individuals. The inaugural focus of the Fund will be support for: - Pre-natal and infant programs with a strong nutrition component - Organizations providing nutritious food to at-risk populations The initial donation of $7,000 was the result of initiatives and projects undertaken by members of OttawaHEA over many years This amount is not yet sufficient to generate annual grants to finance stand-alone programs. On an annual basis the OCF will consult with OttawaHEA through the Fund Advisor (currently Ellie Topp, P.H.Ec., OttawaHEA Treasurer) regarding joining with grants from other Funds to support existing programs in line with home economics goals. A report on the Fund will be included in the annual report of OttawaHEA. At any time people are invited to make a donation to the Fund simply by visiting Ottawa Community Foundation. Click on ‘Donate to a Fund', then ‘Donate Online' and type in Ottawa Home Economics Association Fund where you may choose to donate either to the investment part of the Fund or directly to the grant portion which ensures that your donation will go directly to the annual project chosen for support. Charitable tax receipts will be issued for individual donations. Members are encouraged to invite friends to donate to help build our new Fund. OttawaHEA is excited to launch this initiative and to know that its funds are being used to support home economics related projects within our city.
 It is with sadness that we announce the passing of Dr. Margaret Arcus, Professor Emerita of the School of Family and Nutritional Sciences, on June 27, 2023. Margaret was born on April 30, 1935 in Auburn, Nebraska, U.S., and completed her PhD in Home Economics Education from Iowa State University. Margaret was founder of the Family Studies program at UBC. She was the Director of the School of Family and Nutritional Sciences when it was part of the Faculty of Land and Food Systems, and taught Family Studies and Home Economics from 1968 until her retirement in 1999. Margaret was a highly esteemed academic and a true professional in how she treated colleagues, students and staff. Always with a smile and friendly demeanour, she performed her duties as an administrator and educator very well, receiving numerous teaching awards from UBC and from the National Council on Family Relations.
She was active in provincial, national, and international home economics and family studies organizations including the Canadian Home Economics Association (CHEA), the National Council on Family Relations (NCFR), and the International Federation for Home Economics (IFHE). In 2000, NCFR established the Margaret E. Arcus Outstanding Family Life Educator Award in her honour. While a student at Iowa State University, Margaret met Peter Laurence Arcus of Hamilton, New Zealand, and they were married on June 26, 1966. Throughout their married life, they were best friends and true partners who shared a love of family, of music and theatre, and of travel to many corners of the world. Original source: UBC Faculty of Land and Food Systems Despite only 4 days’ notice, 10 members of the Ottawa HEA were enthusiastic attendees of our first Bring your Own Picnic at the historic Maplelawn Garden, on August 17, 2023. Maplelawn is the beautiful walled garden of one of Ottawa’s earliest surviving stone houses. It has been maintained by volunteers for 30 years, and was in full mid-summer bloom. We strolled the garden paths, caught up on personal news, and enjoyed lunch on picnic tables under the shade trees. Cathy Enright, P.H.Ec. brought extra treats to share: drinks, marinated vegetables and cookies! The consensus seemed to be that we should do it again next summer. Elizabeth Lee, P.H.Ec. It is with sadness we announce the passing of Joan Marilyn Allen-Peters, age 90, of Kentville, NS formerly of Amherst, NS. Joan passed away at the Evergreen Home in Kentville, NS on Tuesday, December 13, 2022.
Born in Amherst, NS, she was the daughter of the late Kenneth Patterson and Dora (Jones) Allen. Joan attended Amherst Regional High School then Acadia University where she graduated in 1953 with a B.Sc with honors. After receiving a Masters degree in science from Penn State in 1955 she worked as a nutritionist at University of Delaware, was an instructor of home economics at the University of Hawaii and served as a home economics advisor for Iroquois Gas in Buffalo, NY before eventually settling in Durham, New Hampshire where she worked as a professor of home economics at UNH. During this time Joan was involved as an editor and host of several television programs at WENH in Durham where she received many accolades and awards for her service and programs in TV. In 1967-8 Joan took time out to work at Queen Elizabeth College in London, UK before returning to UNH. In 1970 Joan took a job with the United Nations Development Program and worked at an agricultural college in the Philippines until 1972 when she returned to New Hampshire. In 1979 Joan worked for the Caribbean Food and Nutrition Institute and was stationed in Kingston, Jamaica where she was nutrition educator and coordinator for much of the West Indies until 1982 when she returned to Nova Scotia briefly before taking an education post at Bath College of Higher Education, Bath, UK in 1983. During this time she travelled extensively and lived in Geneva, Switzerland and Sri Lanka for a spell. In 1987 Joan returned to Nova Scotia once again and became a professor of Home Economics at Acadia University, her Alma Mater, until her retirement and she remained active in the Wolfville community. In her later years, Joan lived at Wickwire Place then finally in assisted living at Evergreen Home in Kentville, Nova Scotia. She is survived by son Karl Peters, brother Deane Allen, sister-in-law, Nancy Allen, and many nieces, nephews and cousins. She was predeceased by her mother Dora, father Kenneth and brother David Allen. Arrangements are under the care and guidance of Jones Family Funeral Centre, 70 Church Street, Amherst, NS, (902 667 8777). A Funeral Service will be held on Friday, May 12th, 2023 at 2pm at the First Baptist Church. Livestream will be available through the church website at Funeral Service for Joan Allen Peters - YouTube. Donations in memory of Joan may be made to a charity of your choice. Sharing of memories and condolences may be sent to the family by visiting online memorial at www.jonesfamilyfuneralcentre.ca or through the Jones Family Funeral Centre Facebook Page. Original obituary from Jones Family Funeral Centre. |
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