Elsewhere in Canada, local associations were thriving. In 1922
and 1929, British Columbia and Alberta, respectively, formed provincial
federations. Once again, Ontario stepped in to take on a new challenge
and in 1927, at a meeting of the World Federation of Educational
Associations, the Canadian National Federation of Home and School
Associations was born. In 1950 and again in 1997,the name
of the national organization was changed, finally becoming the
Canadian Home and School Federation.
Today, there are active Home & School associations in all ten
provinces. In 1963, the Yukon Federation of Home and School Associations
was admitted. The CHSF and its component units were given official
recognition as charitable organizations in 1973.
At the 1963 annual meeting of OFHSA, the members adopted the current
structure for our federation. This provided a direct line of communication
between local associations and the provincial organization.
In her last report to the Ontario Federation of Home and School
Associations, Ada Mary Brown Courtice wrote - "More and more
we come in contact with interested audiences of men and women
eager to find a way of educating public opinion for improved educational
advantages for the home, the school, the community. More and more
we find trustees and Ministers co-operating in this business of
reasoning together about education and the problems of life."
Courtice's vision of OFHSA was non-sexist and non-elitist - a
grassroots organization of men and women interested in improving
childhood and childhood education. Today, OFHSA members across
this province continue the work begun so long ago.
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