Margo Oliver Explained

Margo Oliver (1923 – 4 June 2010) was a Canadian cookery expert. She was the food editor of Weekend Magazine and wrote a number of cookbooks as well as articles on the subject of cooking.

Early life and education

Oliver was born and grew up in Winnipeg, Manitoba. She worked wrapping parcels at Eaton's department store. She took a business course and for a short time worked as a legal secretary.[1] In 1950, she earned an undergraduate degree in home economics from the University of Manitoba, followed by a year of graduate work at the University of Minnesota.[2]

Career

Oliver worked for General Mills in the Betty Crocker Kitchens in Minneapolis. She became Canada's first "Betty Crocker" after General Mills expanded its operations into Canada.[3] As "Betty Crocker", she spent four years traveling throughout Canada, appearing on radio and television, speaking to groups and giving cooking demonstrations.

She joined the staff of the (now defunct) Montreal Standard newspaper in 1959 as food editor of the weekend newspaper supplement, "Weekend Magazine", and its successor "Today", until 1982 when "Today" ceased publication.[4] At her behest, the Standard built a proper test kitchen for her where she tested recipes for her columns in "Weekend Magazine" and "Today". During her time with Weekend Magazine, she married Victor Morgan.

Many of Oliver's recipes were reprinted and reviewed in newspapers and magazines.[5] In 1993, she was inducted into the Hall of Fame of the Ontario Home Economists in Business (OHEIB).

Oliver died in June 2010 in Fergus, Ontario.

Writings on cooking

Many obituaries published immediately after her death incorrectly stated that she wrote seven cookbooks, as does the article in the OHEIB Hall of Fame.

In English

During her time at "Weekend Magazine" and "Today", Margo Oliver published approximately 10,000 recipes in the two, as well as five cookbooks plus several more ephemeral publications. (Many of the recipes originally published in "Weekend Magazine" and "Today" reappeared in these cookbooks.) Later, she published a further three cookbooks.

In French

Several of Margo Oliver's cookbooks also appeared in French:

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: Margo Oliver Morgan . Helen Hatton . 18 July 2009 . OHEIB Hall of Fame . Ontario Home Economists In Business . Toronto . https://web.archive.org/web/20080725114007/http://www.oheib.org/hall_of_fame/oliver.php. 2008-07-25. 16 June 2010 . dead .
  2. Julian Armstrong. "Food editor's recipes appeared nationally". Montreal Gazette 2010-06-09
  3. https://www.chowhound.com/post/canadians-favourite-margo-oliver-recipe-886093 "CANADIANS - what is your favourite Margo Oliver recipe?"
  4. News: Margo Oliver introduced fine cuisine to Canada . Judy Creighton. 9 June 2010 . Winnipeg Free Press . Winnipeg, Manitoba.
  5. https://www.proquest.com/docview/436810376 "Salmon loaf and patties treasured family favorites"