John G. Diefenbaker, University Chancellor, making presentation of an honourary Doctor of Laws degree to Euphemia Jane Thomson at Cconvocation held at Centennial Auditorium. Visible in background are l to r: Norman K. Cram, University Secretary, and D.G. (Tom) Gauley, chairman, University Board of Governors.
Bio/Historical Note: Euphemia Jane (Douglas) Thomson was born in 1901 at Tantallon, Saskatchewan. Primary training was the one-roomed Holar school, next Tantallon village school, then Moosomin Collegiate. Thomson received her BSc in Home Economics (magna cum laude) from the University of Manitoba in 1924. She taught for one season at the School of Agriculture at Olds, Alberta, before taking Dietician training at a hospital in St. Paul, Minnesota. In 1926 Thomson directed a pilot project in Winnipeg as the Visiting Nutritionist with the children from the out-patient department of the Children's Hospital. Euphemia married Wallace A. Thomson (Ag. 1919 Sask) in 1927. He taught physics at the University of Saskatchewan from 1920-1924. He was an instructor in physics at the University of Manitoba when they were married in 1927. The Thomsons operated a farm at Pense, Saskatchewan, and established themselves in the livestock industry - Holsteins, Shorthorns and sheep. Adult education was Thomson's life work and she has always been receptive to new ideas; she pioneered the selection of varieties of vegetables suitable for home freezing; new techniques in sewing and needlework were studied in both formal and informal classes. Thomson served the Homemakers’ Club of Pense (now Women's Institute) since 1927 and held the office of president for ten of those years. Her activities in provincial affairs have gone far beyond the community of Pense. Thomson organized numerous 4-H clubs. Over the years, she judged the Saskatoon and Regina "A" fairs, all of the "B" fairs and many of the "C" fairs in Saskatchewan. Thomson was Past President of the Saskatchewan Home Economics Association and an Honourary Life Member of the Regina Branch. She was a member of the Committee for Revision of the High-School Home Economics Curriculum from 1946-1948. During World War II she was a member of the Regina Regional Wartime Price and Trade Board which monitored prices and rationings. Thomson co-authored the original resolution for the organization of a Canadian Association of Consumers now known as the Consumers Association of Canada. She became President of the Saskatchewan Consumers Association. Thomson died in Regina in 1981.
