2018 OHEA Awards -OHEA's President's Distinguished Service Award and OHEA Founder's Honour Award Recipients and Speeches

At OHEA's 39th annual conference on March 24, 2018, Jason Eaton, P.H.Ec., and Erin MacGregor, RD., P.H.Ec., were awarded with OHEA's President's Distinguished Service Award and OHEA Founder's Honour Award, respectively.  

Cindy Hartman, P.H.Ec. presented Erin with her award at the conference.  Jason was not present at the conference, but Cindy gave a speech about both Erin and Jason at the conference. Cindy presented Jason the OHEA President's Distinguished Service Award 2018 at the LHEA AGM & dinner on Tuesday May 8th at Growing Chefs in London.

Please see photos and speeches below.

Congratulations to Jason and Erin, both very well deserving recipients of the 2018 OHEA awards!

OHEA President’s Distinguished Service Award 2018

The winner of the 2018 President’s Distinguished Service Award recognizes the outstanding volunteer contribution of an OHEA member who has proudly represented the profession of home economics and the Ontario Home Economics Association.  I am pleased to announce this year’s winner is Jason Eaton, P.H.Ec.    

Jason is one of four males who are part of our membership of over 300.  Bravo to Jason for embracing OHEA and always being available to speak to students on the benefits of belonging to a professional association.

A graduate of Western University/Brescia University College, Jason holds a double major in History and Family Studies.  He became a P.H.Ec. in 2014. Very soon after, Jason became totally involved with volunteering and working in the community with low-income status youth with the London Middlesex Health Unit.

He joined the OHEA Executive in January 2017 and is VP of Communication, Social Media and has helped grow the audiences for each of the social platforms as well as expand the content on the association website.  Jason always offers sound advice and great ideas at executive and branch meetings and offers his time and ideas for planning the conference. He is a very valuable asset to the association.

Jason is an avid food and travel blogger and his posts can be found on Twitter.  Highlights of his blogging career include being the Canadian Beef Blogger Ambassador. In 2017 Jason joined the OHEA Mentorship program and has mentored students looking at careers beyond dietetics.   He has been a guest presenter at many Brescia events.

Along with his passion for grilling, cooking, Jason travels to the Caribbean, exploring the Caribbean culture and food.

Comment from Dr. June Matthews, PhD, RD, P.H.Ec.:
For the past couple of years, Jason graciously agreed to give guest lectures on the Social Determinants of Health in Dr. Matthews' Professional Perspectives course. Social Determinants of Health are a set of factors, such as income, education, early childhood development, food security, housing, and social safety networks that influence the health of people and communities.  Based on his work with Youth Opportunities Unlimited, Jason provided examples of at-risk youth whose health and well-being have been affected by these factors. This brought the theory to life! Jason also encouraged the students to join professional associations such as LHEA and OHEA, highlighting all the benefits of membership. He has also promoted attendance at OHEA conferences. His messages were well received by the students, and more than one was inspired to follow his example and seek additional education and employment beyond the field of dietetics. His active involvement in social media, both for his own career interest and on behalf of OHEA, also sparked the students' interest.

Please join me in congratulating our very deserving recipient of the 2018 President’s Distinguished Service Award - Jason Eaton, P.H.Ec.

Cindy Hartman, P.H.Ec.
President - OHEA

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OHEA Founder’s Honour Award
It is my very great pleasure to present the OHEA’s Founder’s Honour Award to an active Professional Home Economist, Registered Dietitian, Food Blogger, AgScape© spokesperson and food advocate:

Congratulations Erin MacGregor, P.H.Ec. RD
A graduate of University of Toronto with a Bachelor of Kinesiology, Erin then attended Ryerson University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Applied Science in Nutrition and Food.
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As a Dietitian, she works in a clinical setting at an acute care teaching facility - Sunnybrook Hospital, Toronto.  She combines her RD and PHEc credentials as co-owner of How to Eat, a food and nutrition communications business that aims to help families cook at home and raise a generation of happy, healthy eaters. Erin speaks highly of her 2 professional designations - communicating always that each offers her a unique set of skills, strengths and capabilities.  

For professional associations to continue to be viable and relevant in today’s fast-changing world, it’s important to have members actively participate and assume important roles within the association and promote the profession of Home Economics. Erin is one of these dedicated members.

Erin contributed to the OHEA executive by serving as VP Communications 2010-2012 and as VP Social Media 2014-2016. During the latter, Erin worked with a team to launch OHEA’s Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn platforms. These platforms give OHEA the opportunity to share trusted and reliable home economics information.

Erin also developed and contributed numerous recipes to OHEA cookbooks, The Vegetarian’s Complete Quinoa Cookbook and HOMEGROWN. She contributed her time over two full weekends to test members’ recipes for HOMEGROWN.
Erin has also written OHEA media releases and blog articles for the OHEA website.

Erin never runs or hides when she receives a request from OHEA. Erin knows she is being asked for her time - often to present at a Ryerson Student Meet & Greet Event, or at an OHEA conference.  

In 2017, Erin joined the OHEA mentorship program to help foster a new generation of PHEcs.  For students, the mentorship program is a fantastic opportunity to talk to members who have amazing careers and accumulated personal experience. Mentors can offer students ideas and suggestions regarding education and career paths.

Erin lives and eats in Toronto with her husband, 2- year old daughter and 8- year old fur baby. 

Comment from Ellen Pruden of Canola Eat Well Director, Manitoba Canola Growers

Erin is a professional home economist, a registered dietitian and most importantly a curious human who is interested in learning.  She combines her inquisitive personality with her vivacious appetite for learning while having the pulse of her community where she engages with them online and in person.  She has become a recognized, trusted voice in the nutrition and culinary community sharing her values, thoughts and approach to being an all-inclusive eater and learner.  She is taking the fear out of food. 

When you meet Erin in person, her smile and personality shines through.  She is approachable, welcoming and funny.  She is just the kind of Home Economist and RD that a food community is looking for.  Her education, training and skillset welcomes the viewer into her world with no judgment, just an enthusiasm and passion for life.  Erin makes recipes, food, nutrition and learning achievable and with ease.  Her passion spills over to her community that she is cultivating and encouraging them to be their best self, to embrace all foods and to learn more about them. 

Please join me in congratulating our very deserving recipient of the 2018 OHEA Founder’s Honour Award to Erin MacGregor, P.H.Ec.

Cindy Hartman, P.H.Ec.  
President - OHEA