University of Saskatchewan

Immigration and western expansion in Canada brought pioneer families to isolated farms, many with little or no farming experience. Safe water, food production and preservation were critical issues along with hygiene, sanitation, disease and food availability.

Home economics began in the late 1800s in response to worldwide change and development. The agrarian way of life that had provided food, clothing and shelter to generations shifted to an industrialized society that resulted in large-scale migration to cities and abroad.

The household science department became a school in 1928, a college in 1942 and in 1952 was renamed the College of Home Economics.

The college was disestablished in 1990, with the home economics teaching area continuing in the College of Education and the nutrition program in the College of Pharmacy, re-named the College of Pharmacy and Nutrition in 1995.

Ethel Rutter started teaching degree classes in household science at the University of Saskatchewan in 1917. She described the equipment in the original foods laboratory as being two New Perfection coal oil stoves, one sink, a small ice refrigerator, two large cupboards and Bunsen burners under metal screening for top of the stove cookery. | College of Home Economic Archives photo