Slate of Candidates: RTAM AGM 2026 For President: Jayesh Maniar Biography I have vast experience in leadership and serving on and leading Boards and Committees. I am currently serving as: · · · · ·
President of RTAM (November 2024-November 2026) Executive of ACER CART as the Western Representative Constitution Committee of Manitoba Association of Retired Government Employees (MARGE) Executive member of MTS’s TEAL Group (Teachers of EAL) Advisory Board of the Gujarati Cultural Society of Manitoba (GCSM).
My varied work experience in education as well as my term as the President of RTAM give me a proven track record of successfully leading the RTAM Executive and Board and overseeing many committees as well as a proven track record of presenting and leading various initiatives. To meet a rising and diverse needs of seniors, I advocated for a better formula for our pensions and worked with and continue to work with ACER CART, advocating for a change in the national dental plan for more of our members to qualify and a more inclusive national Pharmacare plan. To maintain RTAM’s long-term viability, we began exploring the possibility of building an apartment complex for our members, in addition to increasing our membership.
Reason for Running · · · ·
To continue the work that we have already started, both for RTAM and ACER CART To serve on RTAM’s Board as well as other Boards in my service to others To ‘give back’ for a glorious career in education Leading numerous Boards and Committees, I believe in empowering committee members to use their passion and skills to contribute to a successful completion of a project.
Some successful skills that I bring to this leadership position are: · · · ·
Technology Interpersonal skills Communication Leadership
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Collaboration Strategic planning Problem-solving Commitment to excellence
As President, I will: · · · · · · ·
Continue to work in ways to sustain the long-term viability of RTAM Advocate for our members with government officials and other senior-serving organizations Encourage programs, such as aging at home, that will allow our members to be active and engaged in their homes and within their communities Work with former chapters to return to RTAM as well as help develop new chapters and/or special interest groups Maintain RTAM’s processes to current rules, regulations, and legal requirements Create a supportive and an engaging member community Increase RTAM’s Student Awards Endowment Fund with the Winnipeg Foundation.
For Director: Betty-Jean Checkley Biography I have been an active RTAM Board member since 2023. Professionally I have been involved in education for 31 years, 10 years as an EA, and 21 years as a teacher for the Portage school division. I also taught 3 years, after retirement from the division, at RRC Polytechnic in Portage, instructing a course for Educational Assistants. After experiencing education from many different perspectives, I honestly believe that every individual in a learning environment can make a difference. I also am an active substitute teacher.
Reason for Running Why do I wish to continue to serve on RTAM’s Board? I believe that RTAM provides opportunities for the best outcomes for all retired teachers. RTAM provides opportunities for insurance, connections with other retirees through SIGS (special interest groups), like chapters,
choirs, and travel. Additionally, there are opportunities to gain experience through webinars. Aren’t we as teachers all lifelong learners? I have served on the Board as a Chair for the EDI committee, 3 years as a member of the Student Awards Committee, and am a Co-chair for our local Chapter in Portage la Prairie. Our Board works well together, and I believe that we have grown together. I hope to continue to be part of the growth for RTAM. Personally, I am grateful for family and friends. I am very immersed in volunteerism in my community, most of my favourite events usually happen outdoors. I love to travel and hope to have opportunities to do more of it. I love my active lifestyle, I strive to maintain good physical health to keep my mobility up, and my mind sharp.
For Director: Linda Connor Biography My name is Linda Connor, and, as a full member of RTAM, I am submitting my name to be a Director-at-Large on the RTAM Board. I feel my professional and personal qualifications and insights, described below, would be an asset to serve the retired Teachers of Manitoba and to advance the mandate of RTAM Board. As an educator for 35 years and a consultant for 14 years, I believe I have proven myself as a “lifelong” learner dedicated to my beloved profession. As an educator, I worked to advance knowledge and engagement for my Middle and Senior Years ELA and Social Studies students. I was also the coordinator of the school yearbook during my entire career, and I was an active member and the President of our school union (WJSTA- the first private school union in Canada). During my career I returned to University to add 2 more degrees to my BEd. While teaching, I served on the Social Studies Curriculum Middle and Senior Years Development Team and co-authored 3 textbooks as well as the textbook guides (Grade 7, 9, and 11). In my years as a the MB Social Studies consultant, I developed and implemented the Grade 11 History of Canada course, Grade 12 Global Issues Course, Canadian Law course, and the Sustainable Agriculture course. I recently co-wrote the new Treaty Education optional Grade 12 course.
Reason for Running I think my skills as an educator, writer, presenter, and as a creator of diverse ways of thinking, doing, and becoming would be of value to the RTAM Board. In each of my endeavours, I have dedicated myself to serving the educational community of Manitoba, in the classroom, and beyond the classroom. I am proud to be an educator and a learner, and would be honoured to serve on the RTAM Board.
For Director: Darlene Searcy Biography I am a retired teaching professional who has been working as a substitute teacher for the last six years or so. I have worked in a number of divisions in Manitoba, and worked for the majority of my career in two large divisions. I have several educational degrees including a Post Baccalaureate and a Master’s Degree in which I studied the use of technology in the classroom. I am a Class Seven and am still very interested in my career and in particular, the future of education in Manitoba.
Reason for Running I think, as professionals, it is important to continue, especially as time passes and societal norms change, to pay attention to what our national and provincial politicians believe to be in the best interest of youth and reflect policy based on the best current research to meet the needs of all students. As teachers, we need to stand together and support each other, regardless of where we are in the employment/learning continuum. I am still very interested in my career and the work I have been carefully trained, licensed, and educated for. Schools and those who work in them play an enormously important role in the basic structure of society, in the quality of our citizens, and the unseen future. Knowledge is indeed power, to lead and to support.
For Director: Bea Walker Biography I recently retired from the Flin Flon School Division after 39 years of teaching in Brochet, The Pas, and Flin Flon. I am currently the President of the Athapap Cottage Owners’ Association which represents the interests of permanent, seasonal, and remote resident owners of cottage properties within Bakers Narrow Provincial Park or Manitoba Municipal and Northern Relations jurisdiction. I served on the MTS Provincial Executive and on the following MTS groups and committees: ● Group Benefits (Chair) ● Workplace Safety & Health (Chair) ● WELCOME PX Ad Hoc (Chair) ● General Secretary Selection Committee ● Teacher Education & Certification (Chair) ● Teacher Ed. & Cert. Minister’s committee ● Curriculum & Teaching (Chair) ● Inter-organizational Curriculum Advisory Committee ● Teamsters Bargaining: Administrative Staff ● Teamsters Bargaining: Support Staff ● CTF Status of Women (selected as a representative to the United Nations Commission on the Status of Women) ● Young Humanitarian Awards ● Professional Code of Conduct Review Committee I served on the Flin Flon Teachers’ Association as President, Vice-President, Bargaining Chair, PD Chair, Treasurer, Secretary, Employee Benefits Chair, Public Relations Chair, and Workplace Safety & Health Chair. I have also served on the NDP provincial executive as a member at large as well as an official agent for the Flin Flon constituency.
I live at Bakers Narrows on the lakefront in the home my late husband Dallas and I built. I have volunteered my “spare” moments fostering for the local SPCA and was an executive member of the Flin Flon Heritage Project. I currently have two rescue dogs that were a “foster fail” when
the SPCA was evacuated because of forest fires in 2025. I also try to play guitar, snowshoe, hike, and like to take photos to record my personal vision of the beauty in the world. Reason for Running My unwavering commitment to teachers and the profession is demonstrated through my service as a member-at-large of the Manitoba Teachers’ Society as well as the Flin Flon Teachers’ Association. I am a strong believer in the power of the collective voice. Our members face challenges in their retirement. Ongoing collaboration and communication with MTS, TRAF, MSBA, and other provincial and national organizations can significantly amplify our collective voice. RTAM must continue to engage our members, advocate for our members, and most importantly, listen to our members in order to respond effectively. We can engage members using effective communication and by encouraging member involvement in our organization. We can advocate for members with an active dialogue with our education partners and the government. We must ensure our benefits are protected and advanced. To effectively support members, we must listen and respond by fostering respectful, collaborative relationships and strategically plan to meet a wide range of diverse needs. Working together, we can make a difference. We must anticipate and prepare for the best ways to serve our members in a continuously changing political and social climate. I might not be able to change the world, but if I make a difference for one member, then the world has changed for that member.