History

OFSHEEA memberships are open to all who maintain an interest in Family Studies Home Economics Education; these individuals are the driving force who will lead us through the 21st century. But where did OFSHEEA begin?

1903

Ms. Adelaide Hoodless

In 1903, at the request of the Minister of Education, Mrs. Adelaide Hoodless called a conference of the Ontario Teachers of Domestic Science and Art to be held at the University of Toronto. The stated object of the conference was “to discuss the advisability of organizing a Section of the Ontario Education Association for the consideration of subjects bearing upon Home Economics and Domestic Art.” As a result of this gathering, a section by the Council of the Ontario Education Association was formed. Of the eighteen teachers attending this conference, nine paid the fee of fifty cents, the amount decided upon for active membership. Mrs. Hoodless was elected president, Miss F. Curzon the Vice – President, and Miss Grace Roberts the secretary of this, the first session of what was later known as the Home Science Section of the Ontario Education Association.

1920

Focus on Domestic Science

From 1920, the section became known as the Household Science Section. Over the years, attendance increased and at the same time, the types of work in which the members were engaged became more varied.  This was the case to such an extent, that the major interests of the larger portion of the group centred around the problems inherent within the domestic sciences in secondary education.  As a consequence, in 1927 the Household Science Section asked the privilege of affiliating with the recently organized Household Science and Arts Subsection of the Technical School Section. With this request having been granted, the Household Science Section as a separate section ceased to exist.

1938

Name Change

In 1938, the official name of the organization was changed to the Home Economics Section of the O.E.A.  In 1972, the Family Studies Home Economics Association of Ontario was incorporated and was an affiliate of the O.E.A.  In 1977, the name was changed to its present name – Ontario Family Studies Home Economics Educators’ Association. The mission statement of the association was written in 1989 “with the ultimate goal of strengthening the family, the role of OFSHEEA is to initiate and facilitate the professional development and personal growth of educators to promote quality family studies programs in Ontario.”

Did you know?

The Association holds an annual conference each year in the fall; with the first one being held in 1904. At the annual conference, Regional Awards of Merit are presented to teachers who have been nominated for their excellence in teaching of family studies. The Adelaide Hoodless Award recognizes family studies educators for their active leadership and scholarly endeavours combined with their substantial improvement of Family Studies Home Economics Education at any level of education.  Over the history of the Association, a number of print resources have been published such as the OFSHEEA Journal, OFSHEEA Newsletter, and various teaching resources.  OFSHEEA has been involved in supporting other provincial, national and international Home Economics Associations. In conjunction, with the· Canadian Home Economics Association and Canadian International Development Agency, OFSHEEA partnered with the Home Economics Association of Swaziland to develop Family Studies textbooks.