Sally Henry Memorial Award Winner—2007
Barb Holland
by Olga Kaminskyj and Mairlyn Smith
From Olga
Barb Holland is an active and involved member of OHEIB, THEA, OHEA, Cuisine Canada and WCN. Barb is on the Executive of OHEIB as Administrator, which involves much multi-tasking, including managing the membership, the newsletter and the Freelance Directory.
Barb was on THEA executive for many years, twice as president and is a recipient of THEA’s Marjorie Thomson Flint Award in 2000, for having “made a distinct and sustained contribution to the Association and having shown outstanding accomplishments in the profession of Home Economics”. In the early years of OHEA, Barb was on their Executive and recently coordinated the OHEA booth at the GFF (with Mary Carver).
Barb is a role model for younger Home Economists; she gives freely of her time and advice to newcomers to our profession. Barb is well connected in the industry and is always willing to share her knowledge. OHEIB members especially rely on her for advice or information, via email, telephone, and in person. We are all fortunate that Barb seems to have her finger on the pulse of our profession. She is always willing to help and knows where to get the required information.
As a professional, Barb is hard working, organized, efficient, involved, reliable, resourceful, and practical—the epitome of a Home Economist.” Throughout her career, she has been a highly respected Freelance Home Economist.
From Mairlyn:
Active in all facets of the world of home economists, she has manned OHEA booths, written press releases for OHEA; recipe edited and tested recipes for the PMH Goes Down Easy Cookbook. She is constantly promoting home economics and its positive influence on consumers through her networking and media work.
Barb is my “Go to It Home Ec” – if I need to find something, someone or ask for help; she has the answer. She organizes, solves problems, and is always there when you need a volunteer or someone to whine to! She is positive, enthusiastic, and a great listener. She is my mentor; I have always wanted to be the kind of Home Economist Barb is.
Aside from our profession, Barb is involved in her community as secretary of the Vinegar Hill Ratepayer’s Association; secretary and Board member of the Koshlong Lake Association and a writer and editor of their newsletter. She also volunteers for Information Markham, manning yet another booth.
Congrats Barb!