Through the Years Series Introduction

The Association has seen a lot of growth over the past 40 years.

In 1989, the Ontario Home Economics Association (OHEA) was granted registration status by the Ontario Legislature. The Act granted voting members of the Association the right to use the designation “Professional Home Economist” or P.H.Ec. for short.

The Act specified the objectives of the Association are to:

1. Promote the well being of the individual and home and community life in Ontario;
2. Respond to social issues affecting the well being of the individual and home and community life and to make recommendations to the appropriate agencies and levels of government;
3. Disseminate information and knowledge as it relates to food, clothing, shelter and human relationships;
4. Encourage research in home economics and related fields and aid in the dissemination and application of the findings;
5. Maintain and promote high professional standards among home economists through continuing education and professional development;
6. Respond to issues which affect home economics; and
7. Facilitate communication and co-operation with local, provincial, national and international home economics groups.

Today, the Association is a not-for-profit organization that serves its members and the greater public. Our members teach the art and science of everyday living, helping individuals lead happy, healthy and knowledgeable lives.

Over the last 40 years, Professional Home Economist have impacted the lives of many. Members held various positions across the province, specializing in one economics-related area or several. Examples of the fields in which home economists are active include:

• Community service and development
• Advertising, marketing and sales
• Product research
• Food writing/editing
• Promotion and public relations
• Consumer consulting
• Recipe development
• Teaching
• International development
• Resource management
• Textile design
• Financial counselling, and
• Fashion/craft editing, to name a few.

OHEA will be consistently posting over the next six weeks for an initiative we've called Through the Years. This blog series will highlight Professional Home Economists who are past presidents, executive members and current members that have contributed to the profession. These are just a few, a snapshot, of the many members making a difference in the field of home economics.

We hope this series will bring back fond memories for members and inspire our student members for the career possibilities this field brings.