The Impact of PHEcs

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Category: PHEc Stories

Call for Submissions

Here's what we're looking for:

• a brief description of an accomplishment your most proud of regarding your work as a home economist
• your name
• your title and the organization you were working with

Our Stories

Marlene Baskerville, PHEc
Manitoba Agriculture, Food and Rural Initiatives

After graduation I got a job with the Manitoba Agriculture as a District Home Economist. I lived in the Boissevain area for 25 years, 14 of those as the Home Economist and 11 years raising a family and doing community volunteer work. As a Home Economist I was involved with the 4-H and Youth program working with clubs, parents, leaders and young people ages 9 – 19 in areas of skill, communication and leadership development. I always felt good when I watched a 9 year old, hardly able to tell me their name, start the program and then grow to a young adult who is self assured, confident and capable of doing whatever they wish. I always knew then that I had chosen the right career as a Home Economist.

Lindsey Mazur, RD, PHEc
Previous workplace: Burntwood Regional Health Authority, Thompson General Hospital

While working at my first job after graduation as a clinical dietitian in Thompson, Manitoba, I came across many language barriers between me and elderly Aboriginal patients in the hospital. I developed a great relationship with the Aboriginal Services Worker, Claurie, who was able to translate for me to ensure I was able to properly care for the nutritional needs of these patients. Unfortunately, Claurie and I came across the same struggles with these patients--their nutritional, cultural and spiritual needs were not being met at the hospital because the food served was foreign to them. Claurie and I were able to give these people a voice by surveying them. I compiled the research and brought forth the results to upper management and made recommendations for change. Although I was not able to see changes implemented while in Thompson, I am proud that I was able to show respect and dignity to these people and to promote positive change on their behalf.

Yvonne Turenne, PHEc
Retired Teacher

Division scolaire franco-manitobaine

The time when I felt most passionate, engaged and energized as a professional home economist was in 2004 when, after a 15 year stint as a stay-at-home mom, I was asked to set up a brand-new, state-of-the-art home economics department at École/Collège régional Gabrielle-Roy in Ile-des-Chênes.  The department also welcomed students from five feeder schools who had no knowledge of what home economics was all about.  Here was my chance to have an impact on the families of six rural communities!  What started out as a part-time position teaching Gr. 7 - 9 Clothing and Foods became a full-time Gr. 7 - 12 Clothing, Housing & Design, Family Studies and Foods & Nutrition program by the time I retired four years later.  I feel I accomplished more in the last four years of my career than in the previous thirty!

Heather Deibert, PHEc
Free Lance Home Economist

The year was 1997.  I was employed by the City of Winnipeg as a Home Economist with Winnipeg Hydro. The city was dealing with the worst flood scenario since 1979.  It was being called "The Flood of the Century".

All the city's resources were being deployed for flood relief.  As Home Economists we were well versed on communicating and dealing with the public.  We were transferred over to the Flood Hotline - a call centre for flood inquiries. People from all over the world were calling asking about how the flood was affecting their family and friends.  My training as a Home Economist helped me feel very comfortable talking to these people. A lot of them just wanted to talk to someone and be reassured that the whole city wasn't going to be under water. I felt qualified to deal with these people in a professional, yet personal manner. I will always remember 1997 and my involvement with the very human side of the "Flood of the Century" and how I helped make a difference.

Getty Stewart, PHEc
Speaker & Head of the Home Range
IBEX

I have always valued the training in decision making, problem solving, human dynamics and communication skills that we receive as part of our Human Ecology degree. Putting this training into practice to help others makes me feel proud and excited to be a Professional Home Economist. One of my greatest moments came last year when a participant in one of my Engaged Leadership workshops called me several days later and shared how the workshop changed her life. By taking her through a thought provoking process and challenging her to consider her leadership style, she was able to find a new, more satisfying direction in her life.