Hall of Fame
Kay Hodgins
by Mary Adams
Tonight the Hall of Fame is honouring Kay Hodgins, who has been an integral part of the ‘old girl’s’ home ec. network for many years.
Kathleen Mary Watson was born in Toronto and graduated from U. of T. with a B.A. in Household Economics in 1945. Sally Henry was one of her classmates. Kay liked university so much, she decided to stay on to get her M.A.
Her first job was with Canada Packers. To the consumer she was Brenda York. She loved this job and Kay says that this was a golden age for home economists because the economy was healthy and consumers had money to spend on all the new products that were suddenly coming onto the market after the war.
When Kay and husband Eric started a family, she left Canada Packers and did freelance work. Aside from the usual recipe testing and food photography, some of her ongoing assignments included: spokesperson for Fleischmann's corn oil margarine, judging the Star Weekly's annual recipe contest with Marjorie Elwood, doing 'hands" for Jello TV commercials and demonstrating Frigidaire appliances.
When Maple Leaf Mills decided to do an all new Purity Cookbook, I had the sense to hire Marjorie Flint and Kay to work on the project.
Kay joined Hayhurst Advertising in 1963 as Director of Women's Services, a part time position she held for seven years.
When the Department of Consumer and Corporate Affairs was established in 1970, Kay became the Ontario Manager of Consumer Services and spent the next 13 years helping consumers. A great deal of consumer legislation was brought in during those years including guidelines for flammable fabrics, child car seats, baby cribs and textile labelling. It was part of Kay's job to educate consumers about these regulations.
While Kay says that she was lucky to be in the right spot at the right time, Kay was also the right person, because she was always the consummate professional.
Kay retired from Consumer and Corporate Affaires in 1983 and went back to freelancing. For the past ten years Kay has spent a great deal of time doing volunteer work at the Big Sister Thrift Shop on Avenue Road.
Kay has been a member of THEA for about fifty years, was president in 1959-60 and has served on countless committees over the years.
It is a pleasure to present you with this engraved silver bowl and welcome you to the ultimate "old girls club", the OHEIB Hall of Fame.