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.  

​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.  

In July, 1976, the Ottawa Home Economics Association (Ottawa HEA) along with the Canadian Home Economics Association (CHEA) hosted the Xlllth  International Congress of Home Economics and the Council meetings. It was the first and only time to-date that Canada hosted the event. 

Held at the then-new Skyline Hotel, the theme would still apply today — Life, not just Survival: Home Economics and the Utilization of the World’s Resources.  Linda Reasbeck, P.H.Ec., listed in the Congress Program by her maiden name, Linda Stepenoff, chaired the Organizing Committee. “What an incredible undertaking,” she recalled.

At the 90th Anniversary Luncheon of the Ottawa HEA on June 6, 2023, held at the Britannia Yacht Club, Linda reflected on memories and precious keepsakes from the 1976 Congress.  

With 1200 delegates from 52 different countries and proceedings available in English, French and German, it was a major project to organize.
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Approximately 50 Home Economists worked on various committees to coordinate essential activities. With the support of mentors such as Margaret Pope and Ruth Shaver, the relatively young, enthusiastic Home Economists did an outstanding job. 

Given a budget of approximately a quarter of a million dollars (considerable for 1976) we exceeded the IFHE’s Executives’ expectations and were one of the first Congress hosts to stay within budget and return approximately $40,000 to the IFHE. 

Most of our members hosted 5 to 10 delegates in their homes for dinner to provide a taste of Canadian hospitality.  With military precision, Margaret Ripley organized the feat of grouping individuals from different countries and coordinating transportation to members’ homes.

Miss Isabel Horne of Australia, President of IFHE at the time, was wonderful to work with and as hosts we were determined to prove that we from “the colonies” were capable of meeting and surpassing expectations of the European and American delegates.

Many of us were young professionals at the time. Teamwork initiated friendships and appreciation of one another’s professionalism and skills. 
Many of us remain very active in the Ottawa Home Economics Association to this day.  Forty-seven years later.”

On display at the 90th Anniversary celebrations, Linda had memorabilia from the event including a handful of the registrations with fascinating postage stamps from around the world. Clearly, 1976was an era well-before online registration.

Many thanks to Linda for sharing memories of this special event in the history of Ottawa HEA, making the 90th Year Celebrations even more special.

In addition to chairing the AGM and 90th Year celebrations on June 6th, Elizabeth Lee, P.H.Ec. created an amazing timeline featuring highlights of Ottawa HEA events from 1932 to 2023. She researched minutes to capture the most fascinating details for the 80th year celebration and updated the paper history with the last 10 years for our 90th year.  
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A few highlights that Elizabeth recalls:
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• We had more than 250 members in the 1970's, when there were Home Economists working in the federal government, at Agriculture Canada, Health and Welfare and Fisheries, ODA County Home Economists, many Home Ec. teachers in High schools and middle schools, staff at University of Ottawa and Kemptville College, and one at Ottawa Gas.  (I think the Dietitians had their own group by then)
• Even though we haven't had a president for more than 20 years, we had 8 former presidents in attendance at the 90th anniversary and received messages from 3 more who could not attend.
• Over the years, we've had some interesting projects - the warship in WW2, Dial-a-Dietitian as a Centennial project, fashion shows, bridge parties, rummage sales, hosting the IFHE Congress in 1976 and in more recent years, offering student Awards at Brescia and Ryerson (now Toronto Metropolitan University) and several years of hat making for local charities.
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Ottawa HEA members are forever grateful to Elizabeth for her many contributions to Ottawa HEA and for creating this remarkable and tangible history.

At the Ottawa Home Economics Association (Ottawa HEA) 90th Anniversary Celebrations held on June 6 , 2023, Home Economist Elizabeth Larmond Elliot presented a ‘revisited’ talk she had given in 1967 forecasting what Canadian would be eating in Year 2000. 

Elizabeth Larmond Elliot is former Director of Industry Services at the Canadian Gain Commission, in Winnipeg, Manitoba.  Retiring in 1999, Elizabeth has lived in Ottawa for several years where she stays active in several groups including Ottawa HEA.

Originally, Elizabeth’s talk projected 33 years into the future, but she clearly updated it for this occasion and compared — Then and Now.

Elizabeth took all 31 members in attendance for the Ottawa HEA celebration down memory lane in her review of Canadians’ eating habits over several decades.

Canadians basically went from a meat and potatoes diet in the mid-60’s where beef was the primary protein to an era where chicken ruled often served with rice or pasta instead of potatoes. Canned foods have been replaced by fresh fruits and vegetables.

Some promising developments of the 60’s such as food irradiation have been rejected by consumers while others, plant-based protein, for example, have been accepted. One unexpected development is ultra-high processed foods which are high in sodium, sugars and saturated fats.   “In the end, consumers rule”, explained Elizabeth.

Trends were influenced when more women entered the workforce. The percentage of women working outside the home rose from 37 in 1964 to 82.8% this year. There was a new availability and taste for global flavours.  International tastes increased as travel increased in the past 50 years and the Internet has influenced both eating and spending habits.

Quoting Dr. Malek Batal, Professor & Research Chair Human Nutrition, University of Montreal, Elizabeth explained, “A more diverse population, changing health trends and a globalized food chain have changed Canadians' palate in ways unimaginable in the '60s. When you look at demographic changes, economic changes, trade changes and health messages, you understand food changes." CBC News — 2018.
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A special thank you to Elizabeth Larmond Elliot for sharing her knowledge and insight as she helped to make the 90th Anniversary celebrations even more special.

​The Honourable Elizabeth Dowdeswell, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario was invited to attend the 90th Anniversary and AGM of the Ottawa Home Economics Association, held June 6, 2023 at the Britannia Yacht Club.

Her Honour holds a Bachelor of science in Home Economics degree from U of Saskatchewan and a Master in Science in Behavioral Studies from Utah University.

She is an Officer of the Order of Canada. A member of the Order of Ontario, and the recipient of numerous distinctions and fellowships.  She holds 12 honorary doctorate degrees and she is our current, Lieutenant Governor of Ontario.

Her office was unable to schedule an in-person visit to Ottawa; however, she did consider it seriously.  Instead, she sent this letter read by Mary Carver, P.H.Ec., to open the luncheon celebrations.

Click here to see the letter.

There was no ‘formal’ meeting of Ottawa HEA on March 21 st -World Home
Economics Day this year, instead members were encouraged to invite another Home Economist out for lunch to discuss current or past careers.
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​A professional logo is designed to celebrate the 90th anniversary of the Ottawa Home Economics Association. Ottawa Members are encouraged to download this logo as part of their e-signature. To add this logo to your e-signature, right-click the image above and click "Save As" to your desired location in your computer. Then, upload the file to your email service's signature.

TOMORROW is not just a film; it is the beginning of a movement seeking to encourage local communities around the world to change the way they live for the sake of our planet.

TODAY, we need a new direction, objective... A new dream! The documentary Tomorrow sets out to showcase alternative and creative ways of viewing agriculture, economics, energy, democracy and education. It offers constructive solutions to act on a local level to make a difference on a global level. So far, no other documentary has gone down such an optimistic road:

 Part 1: Agriculture and Energy
 Part 2:  Economy, Democracy and Education

Thanks to Betty Young for organizing and hosting this February Ottawa HEA meeting with a choice of viewing dates that include discussion and networking time.

OHEA members can view this video anytime at:

https://www.filmsforaction.org/watch/tomorrow-take-concrete-steps-to-a-sustainable-future/

Nineteen members of the Ottawa HEA gathered at the Algonquin College
Restaurant International on Dec. 6 . 2022. The meeting was well-organized by Sue Thorne, Anne Woo, P.H.Ec. and Linda Robbins, P.H.Ec., complete with table favours, social time, a clever gift exchange and a delicious buffet.

Restaurant International, a hands-on learning laboratory that provides Algonquin College students the opportunity to apply and reinforce learning outcomes, practices and skills they learn in their programs. Menus are created by students and faculty from culinary and hospitality programs in the School of Hospitality & Tourism. Food preparation and dining services are facilitated by students as part of their course studies.

Home Economists can appreciate the huge challenges of teaching food preparation via Zoom during the pandemic and enjoy being able to once again support the Algonquin faculty and students, in person.