Vol. 32 | No. 4 | Spring 2021 206 - 1555 St. James St. Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 | 204-889-3660 | Toll Free: 1-888-393-8082 | info@rtam.mb.ca | www.rtam.mb.ca RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA Cover Photo by Judy Olmstead RTAM Photo Contest Entry Summer 2020 NOTICE OF AGM MEETING RTAM AGM Wednesday, May 5, 2021 You are invited to attend the 2021 Annual General Meeting of the Retired Teachers' Association of Manitoba. The Meeting will be held virtually over ZOOM. More details on page 13. See NOTICES regarding KIT on page 31.
published here
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Summer 2020
All materials for the next of no and by May 10, 5:00 p.m. Materials do not necessarily represent the or of
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He shared stories of schools with mice and stories of schools with fiddle music in the evenings. Published by 206-1555 St. James Street Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 Phone 204-889-3660 • 1-888-393-8082 Email: info@rtam.mb.ca • www.rtam.mb.ca Editor-in-Chief: Doreen Sage Box 252, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0 Email: Executivekit@rtam.mb.caDirector:Gordon Fardoe Email: gfardoe@rtam.mb.ca Office Administrator: Denise Bellesia Email: Memberdbellesia@rtam.mb.caServicesCoordinator: Dianne Casar Email: dcasar@rtam.mb.ca Board of Directors 2020-2021 President: William Cann Vice -President: JoAnne Hoyak Secretary: John Sushelnitsky Treasurer: Pat Bowslaugh Past President: Peggy Prendergast Directors-at-Large Linda Blair Joan Dawson Jack Fraser Guy BethLindaDoreenBrianKenAlisonHansenLoganMalcolmPatersonSageScottSmith CreativeGaylDesign:PunzalanDirector, Blue Ink Media Email: Website:gayl@blueinkmedia.cablueinkmedia.ca Images : Adobe Stock, freepik.com and pixabay.com, except the ones provided by the contributors. Copyright © 2021 by RTAM All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be reproduced, distributed, or transmitted in any form or by any means, including photocopying, recording, or other electronic or mechanical methods, without the prior written permission of the publisher. Return undeliverable Canadian addresses to: RTAM, 206 - 1555 St. James St. Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 KEEP IN TOUCH Vol. 32 No.4 • Spring, 2021 RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA 2220 President's Message 3 Succession/Leadership Crisis and Service Survey ............................................. 5 RTAM Benefits Summary Compared To Blue Cross And Manulife Plans ............................................... 6 Committee Highlights 8-11 2021 Annual General Meeting Forms ....................................................... 13-18 Restricted Surplus . . . A Refresher ................................................................. 20 PR Report 20 Sister MacNamarra and Rossbrook House .................................................... 21 Mime Westcott, A Supercentenarian, Looks Back at 22 RTAM E-mail Contest Winners ....................................................................... 24 My First Year Of Teaching 26 Marjorie Hadaller is 100 ................................................................................ 26 Hon. Murray Sinclair 26 Photo Contest Entries ............................................................................... 27-29 Historic Sites of Manitoba ............................................................................. 30 NOTICES 31 2 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
materials received.
CONTENTS
I, and others like are winners of the genetic lottery. Many centenarians have clusters of long-lived Storozinski
Gemache RTAM
right
me,
relatives. Dennis
The fourth MTS-RTAM Liaison meeting is scheduled for March 25th. The RTAM President has also been invited to make an unprecedented presentation to the MTS Presidents’ Council on March 25, 2021. The focus of this presentation will be RTAM’s new Free First Year Membership Initiative for retiring teachers and the benefit of joining RTAM to access our superior Prestige Travel Insurance.
T
Photo by Linda Boughton
RTAM2020President-2021
The revisions to the Benefits at a Glance document, along with a shorter version, have been completed and will be used to supplement the Free First Year Membership initiative as recruiting tools with active teachers considering retirement. The Benefits at a Glance chart compares the three Group Insurance plans available to retired teachers in Manitoba: RTAM (Johnson), MTS (Blue Cross) and WTA (Manulife). Along with the Why Join RTAM - Talking Points and the Free First year membership, these recruitment tools will be used for future
RTAM Photo Contest Entry
here have been several important developments since the Winter issue of KIT. I remain indebted to the Executive Officers, Executive Director, office staff, individual directors, standing committee members and chapter presidents for their valued assistance in successfully addressing emergent issues and moving our organization ahead.
The RTAM Executive continued to develop closer ties with the Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) and the Manitoba School Boards Association (MSBA). During December we participated in Zoom meetings involving both organizations concerning improving working conditions for substitute teachers during the COVID-19 pandemic and advertising the application process for Manitoba’s new Remote Learning Support Center. On January 12, the third MTS-RTAM Liaison meeting was held via Zoom. The meeting focused on Pension related issues as well as RTAM’s new First Year Free membership initiative and the MTS Recommendations on the K-12 Review.
Summer 2020 RTAM.MB.CA n 3
Next page →
President's Message
In December, 2020, the RTAM President, Vice President and Executive
Director successfully completed negotiations with TRAF executive officers to improve the Pension Application form and to introduce a Free First Year Membership recruitment initiative for new retirees effective January 01, 2021. To provide additional support for TRAF pension counsellors, the RTAM President and Vice President completed a revision to the Why Join RTAM - Talking Points and forwarded it to TRAF. The Talking Points will facilitate TRAF staff in explaining the benefits of joining RTAM to new retirees as well as being posted on the RTAM website and used in future Pre-Retirement seminars. On February 05, 2021, TRAF Vice President, Brad Prokop and RTAM representatives agreed on the final details of administering the new Free First Year Membership program, additional statistical reports to measure the success of this program and the possible provision of maiden name information to supplement RTAM’s In Memoriam.
RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA
Bill Cann
Pre-Retirement seminars, posted on the website, shared with Chapter Presidents and published in KIT.
The President, Executive Director and appropriate Directors are in the process of negotiating a contract with Blue Ink Media for website services and the printing of KIT.
I look forward to seeing many of you on Zoom at our AGM.
§
On January 21, 2021, I wrote a letter to the Prime Minister, Premier and other federal and provincial politicians. The letter requested the federal government to place “for-profit” Long Term Care Facilities under the Canada Health Act. Letters congratulating new Manitoba Government cabinet ministers have been sent as well as letters requesting a renewal of annual meetings with the Minister of Education, the Leader of the NDP and the Leader of the Liberal party.
The results of the Email contest are somewhat disappointing: 120 new email addresses, 443 updated emails and 26 from individuals who are not currently RTAM members. Our primary goal was to get responses from some 3,500 RTAM members for whom the Office does not have an email address. Moving forward, I believe that while RTAM should continue to encourage members to submit their current email address, further financial incentives are unlikely to yield better results.
The president is conducting Zoom meetings with Chapter Presidents every two months. Chapter Presidents, including those from other provinces, continue to express appreciation for the ability to virtually participate in RTAM affairs. It is generally agreed that this has been one of the few silver linings in the coronavirus pandemic. Indeed, the convenience of participating from home without having to invest travel time has considerably enhanced the role of Chapter Presidents in providing effective input into the running of RTAM.
The Executive approved in principle that the AGM will be held by Zoom on May 5, 2021.
As part of our new Governance model, the Executive approved, in principle, the transfer of Operational Responsibilities from the KIT Editor to the RTAM Office staff.
Since September, 2020, the Executive has been studying possible solutions to the Succession/ Leadership Crisis. Current Policy 6.04 (b) limits directors to five years of continuous service and would require 12 of the existing 15 Directors to retire in May 2022. As part of the solution, on January 14, 2021, the RTAM Executive and Chapter Presidents approved a proposal to establish a six-year rotation of responsibility to recruit new members to serve on RTAM committees for up to two-years. Committee members who decide thereafter to stand for election as an RTAM Director, will also be guaranteed that they will not have to chair a committee during their first year on the Board. Other solutions include current directors recruiting new committee members by May 2021 and possible amendments to the current Policy. Finally, I would like to encourage all RTAM members to consider volunteering to serve on a Standing Committee or the Board of Directors. The leadership of RTAM and its future direction rests in your hands.
I have established five criteria for Presidential approval of information to be posted on the RTAM website and/or printed in KIT as well as governing presidential actions. These criteria are applied both in order of priority and collectively. The criteria are: 1. Relevance to RTAM, 2. Provincial scope, 3. Relevance to Seniors (Older Adults), 4. Current information, and 5. Emergent Issue.
PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE 4 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
President's Message . . . continued from previous page
Improvements to the RTAM website are being made almost on a daily basis. These efforts make it easier for visitors to find relevant and current information quickly. Moreover, tracking statistics from the last quarter of 2020 indicate continuously increased usage. My letter to the Prime Minister on RTAM’s position concerning Long Term Care Facilities has been posted as a banner. The RTAM President initiated two additional postings detailing our Group Insurance programs and a new link to the Manitoba Government COVID-19 Vaccine website. The Office Manager is looking into acquiring a YouTube TV channel to store recorded RTAM webinars and interviews.
This rotation is meant to encourage each chapter to nominate a candidate as an RTAM committee
2025-2026
§
Hanover Association of Retired Teachers and/or Interlake Retired Teachers' Association
2020-2021
Intermountain Retired Teachers' Association, and/or Neepawa Area Retired Teachers' Association
Éducatrices et Éducateurs manitobains á la retraite (EMR)
2023-2024
s a partial solution to Succession/ Leadership Crisis (described in more detail in the President’s Message), RTAM has approved the attached proposal to establish a six-year rotation of responsibility for Chapters to recruit new committee members and Directors. Chapter Presidents felt that a Service Survey would facilitate their recruitment efforts. To that end, anyone who has served on the RTAM Board of Directors or on a Standing Committee is encouraged to send a 2 - 5 line email to the Office at info@ rtam.mb.ca sharing the positive attributes of your volunteer experience and how this experience was useful and relevant. Responses on or before March 18, 2021, would be greatly appreciated.
Swan Valley Retired Teachers, and/or The Pas Retired Teachers Association
Westman Retired Educators Association Thompson Association of Retired Educators
RTAM.MB.CA n 5
member every six years. It is understood the individual would serve for up to two years before being encouraged to become a Director. It is further understood that new Directors would not be required to chair a committee during their first year on the Board. Example: the three chapters listed for 2020 - 2021 would try to recruit one person who would volunteer to serve for up to two years on an RTAM committee at the May, 2021, AGM. It is hoped the individual would stand for election as a Director at the May 2023 AGM. This system should generate two to three new committee members each year and two to three new Directors every three years. This system does not prevent an individual from nominating themselves as a committee member or a director, nor does it prevent a Chapter or an individual from nominating a committee member or Director at any time. Twelve of the Thirteen Rural Chapters have been paired together to facilitate recruitment.
Northeastern Chapter of RTAM, and/or Southwest Assiniboine Chapter Retired Teachers
2021-2022
St. James-Assiniboia Chapter
Six Year Rotation of Chapters’ Nomination/ Recruitment Process
Succession/Leadership Crisis and Service Survey
In 2026 - 2027 the six year rotation cycle repeats itself.
Bill Cann, RTAM President
2024-2025
Louis Riel Retired Teachers' Association
A
Rural (6-year Rotation)
2022-2023
Boyne Chapter of Retired Teachers, and/or Dauphin Area Retired Teachers' Association
Portage la Prairie Retired Teachers' Association
Year Urban (6-year Rotation)
Retired Women Teachers' Association
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Benefits
§
To
§ All plans are available on an individual selection basis
CORE Option
§ 80% unless otherwise specified, R&C (individual limits apply)
§ 100% coverage, no maxi mum in
§ Annual max: Pharmacare family deductible up to $10,000.
Accidental Dental $1,000/year
Ambulance §
§ Must enroll according to true family status listing all eligible dependents
Manitoba § Non-emergency stretcher service transport $500 lifetime maximum § 100% coverage, no maximum in Manitoba § $250 maximum for non-emergency in province Hearing Aids § $2,000/5 calendar years § $2,000/5 consecutive year period § $2,000/5-year period Home Care § $50/day for up to 10 days after Hospital stay § $30/day for up to 14 days after Hospital stay § None Hospital § 100% semi-private or private room § Maximum $100/day § Not covered § R&C Hostel during diagnos tic testing or treatment § 100% semi-private room § No posted maximum Medical Aids § Internal limits apply § Internal limits apply § 80% coverage Foot OrthopedicOrthotics/Shoes § Orthotics, shoes: $500/year § Orthotics: $500/year § Custom orthotics: $400/2 years Limits/person)CoverageParamedical(Annual § 80% coverage § $300/practitioner/year § 100% coverage § $500/practitioner/year § $850/year for each of 10 different practitioners § Per visit maximums apply § $850/year for each of 11 different practi tioners § $1,000/year for Phys iotherapists, Prescribed gramsEducationalHealthPro § Lifetime maximum of $300/person for any prescribed health educa tion program – cardiac, COPD, diabetes, etc. § Cardiac Rehabilitation only to a lifetime maximum of $500 § Cardiac Rehabilitation only a lifetime maxi mum of $500
iblePharmacaremaximum:deduct
§ Travel coverage is mandato ry for those who retire after January 1, 2008
Manitoba Teachers’ Society Blue Cross (SeptemberPlan***2020) Winnipeg(MarchAssociationTeachers’Manulife***2020)
§ MEDOC is available to Full and Associate members
§ Can apply for MTS Plan with medical evidence
RTAM Summary Compared Blue Cross And Manulife Plans
COMMITTEE REPORTS 6 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
§ As of January 2021, all communication about health benefits will be provided by email only.
§ $7 dispensing fee cap
§ Proof of Pharmacare reg istration
§ Retirees who opt out of WTA Plan may apply to MTS Plan with medical evidence
Eligibility
§ 80% of eligible expenses per in sured, unless otherwise specified (individual limits apply)
§
§ Annual
RTAM
§ Extended Health Care (EHC): no medical evidence if applied for with in 60 days of losing group benefits (after 60 days, medical underwriting is on an accept or decline). Option to upgrade to Enhanced Plan at renewal without medical evidence.
§
§ Travel is included with EHC (mandatory)
ENHANCED Option**
§ Annual maximum $10,000 for drug plus $10,000 for other non-drug expenses
§ 8% mark-up limit $6 dispensing fee cap.
§ Apply within 90 days of retirement
§ Prestige Travel is available to Full Members only
Desjardins Financial Security/RSA (April 2020)
§ $600 max./insured/policy
EHC Benefit Reimbursement
§ Direct deposit reimburse ment
§ 80% unless otherwise specified, R&C (indi vidual limits apply)
year
§ Apply within 90 days of retirement. Cannot reapply to WTA Plan after opting out
§ Direct pay Drug Card $100 vaccines/ insured/policy year
§ 80%
§ Annual maximum $10,000
§ 100% of eligible expenses
Prescription Drug Coverage 80%
§ $2,000 annual max./insured, $1000 per covered person cap within $2000 for vac cines/insured/calendar
§ 80%
§ Single Coverage for member is allowed under all plans available
§ Direct pay drug card
§ 100%
§
§ R&C. No limit specified. None. $350/occurrence
§
§ Not provided
§ No Trip Cancellation/Inter ruption
The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or insurance advice. Rates are subject to change. For more information contact the Insurance Service Provider.
§ 100% coverage
§ Dental Single $58.00 per month $116.00 per month
RTAM Desjardins Financial Security (April 2020)
§ Not provided
§ Guaranteed Life: up to $25,000 for RTAM mem bers and/or spouses between ages of 50 and 85
§ 100%
Age
§ $1,500 per insured to a max of $3,000 per fami ly for Baggage & Personal Effect Benefit
§ Unlimited Travel within Canada
** Additional costs apply. For further information, contact the RTAM office – Email: info@rtam.mb.ca/Phone; 204-889-3660
§ 80% - Minor Restorative
§ No Trip Cancellation coverage
§ $3,000 / year.
§ Must apply within 90 days of retirement
§
§ $2,500 per person per year
Emergency Medical Travel & Trip Cancellation Insurance
§ Free Eye exams every 2 years
§ EHC Single $76.42 per monthFamily $158.90 per month
MEDOC Travel: Available to Full and Associate RTAM members
§ Within 12 mos. of hospital discharge
§ No Emergency Medical Assistance
***This document summarizes coverage types and coverage amounts for EHC plans to Extended Health, Travel and Dental benefits outlined under the current Manitoba Teachers’ Society plan, based on the Blue Cross booklet of September 2020, and the Winnipeg Teachers’ Association ManuLife booklet revised in March 2020. The information provided herein is for informational purposes only and should not be considered legal or insurance advice. Policy wordings prevail. Check Certificates of Insurance for details.
§ Term Life: up to $150,000
§ $250/2 glasses,yearsplus 1 eye exam/2 years
Premiums
EXTRA Stand-Alone Trip Cancellation-Available to All Members, Friends and Family
§ 85% - Basic & Preventative
§ 90-day stability clause
§ $100/24 consecutive months, eye exam only
§ Multiple trips of 17 or 35 days
§ $6,000/ 3 calendar years
§ Multiple 90-day trips outside of Canada, with no extension available, must purchase top up from another provider
§ EHC Single $71.00 per month $131.00 per month
§ 50% - Major Restorative (dentures & implants)
§ No stability period.
§ Up to 62 or 93 days of Travel outside of Canada
§ Not included – available separately
§ Prestige Travel Insurance: 62-day Base Plan
§ $350/2 years glasses, plus 1 eye exam/2 years
§ $8,000 Trip Cancellation/Interruption per insured
Family
COMMITTEE REPORTS RTAM.MB.CA n 7
Family
§ 65% - Major Restorative (crowns & bridges)
§ Within 12 months of dis charge from hospital
§ $10,000/year
Dental Care
§ Unlimited Travel in Canada
Private Duty Nursing
§ $1,200 maximum per insured/year
§ 100% of eligible out-of-country/province expens es that are sudden and unforeseen
§ 80% coverage
§ Not included – available separately
§ 90-day stability clause
§
Vision Care
§ Health Option Questionnaire
§ 100%
Manitoba Teachers’ Society Blue Cross (SeptemberPlan***2020) Winnipeg(MarchAssociationTeachers’Manulife***2020)
§ $3,000/3 years
§ Supplemental coverage available up to 212 days
RatesInsuranceforthose who retired before January 1, 2008: Single: $83.05 perFamily:month$166.10 per month
Age 55-64: Single = $423, Family = $848 annual 65-75: Single = $658, Family = $1,316 annual EHC Single $107.80 per monthFamily $215.60 per month Above rates include Travel
PRESTIGE TRAVEL PLAN – Full members only (Royal Sun Alliance)
§ $5,000,000 per insured/per policy year Emer gency Medical
The above rates apply to retired WTA Teachers
Life Insurance
The committee created a “Benefits at a Glance” chart which conveniently compares the coverages provided by: Johnson Inc. (through RTAM), Blue Cross (MTS) and Manulife (Winnipeg Teachers’ Association).RTAMprovides personal and competitively priced service through Trip Merchant. Individuals planning to travel are advised to check with Johnson as several government prescribed restrictions are still in place.
• Renewal date is April 1, 2021.
Bylaws and Policy Committee
Jack Fraser, Chair
Committee Highlights
8 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
à RTAM (a choice for all teacher retirees)
• 0% increase on Extended Health Care
• There is no increase in premiums for Extended Health or Dental.
Insurance Plans
Here are some crucial hints as you deal with the upcoming renewals of your insurance plans:
à ManuLife (Winnipeg retirees)
The Policies and By-laws Committee has completed the work to create the policy changes required to split two of the standing committees into four: Wellness Advocacy, Student Awards, Elections and AGM. These changes will be going to the 2021 AGM for consideration. The committee is continuing to work on succession planning to facilitate the implementation of Board Term Limits in 2023, and begun work on developing policy regarding receipt of gifts or perks by directors or staff.
• Due to the huge travel costs caused by COVID-19,
• 0% increase on Dental benefits
• Two members from the Johnson Team joined our zoom meeting, Jessica Simpson presented the crucial renewal information (above) and Bob Dowden presented a highly detailed and enlightening outline of Johnson activities which provide new vantage points. We will keep you posted.
RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA
• A 3.9% increase on Travel benefits
RTAM.MB.CA n 9
The Winter 2020 edition KIT was distributed digitally on November 27, 2020, and by mail through Canada Post beginning on December 3, 2020. For information on becoming a digital subscriber, see this edition of KIT, page 31.
Communications (Website Committee)
Joan Dawson, Chair
Some stories that were sent into the PR for inclusion in the anthology, that they are assembling, will be published in KIT. The PR Committee is looking for more submissions; please consider writing down some of your great stories from your teaching career and sending them in.
Communications – KIT (Editorial) Committee
The RTAM website is becoming more user-friendly and informative. Visit it to find out what RTAM is doing and to keep current on COVID-19 issues.
Committee members and Chapter Presidents was held via Zoom on December 18, 2020, was a huge success. The committee continues to promote its anthology “Book of Memories” in KIT and on the RTAM website. All retired teachers are encouraged to share their stories from years in the classroom with RTAM, so they can be published and shared with future generations. Tell us about your one-room school house or any stories you would like to share with fellow educators. Who knows, someone may have had similar experiences. Please submit your stories to info@rtam.mb.caAfteryearsofPR committee work, input from the whole board, and particularly Linda Scott, the electronic version of the “JOIN US” pamphlet is ready for Board approval.
Doreen Sage, Chair
for Letters to the Editor will be published in KIT at a later date. Doreen Sage, KIT editor, has begun the process of transferring much of the work involved in producing KIT, to the office staff.
The Website committee continues to meet monthly on Zoom to discuss how to make the RTAM website
Political Advocacy Committee
The Political Advocacy Committee discussed the impact of COVID-19 in Manitoba, in particular, on long-term care facilities and passed a motion that was presented at the December Board meeting, addressing the need for Long-Term Care facilities to be regulated by the federal Canada Health Act and that for profit companies, such as Revera, should be more closely examined. The committee also discussed Remote Learning Initiatives, the significance of Orange Shirt Day, school division amalgamations and Ageism, as a new issue highlighted by the pandemic.
A “Why Join RTAM?” ad has been placed on the RTAM website and is in the January/February edition of the MB Teacher (page 10).
The Restricted Surplus of TRAF Pensions will be presented on March 6 and March 20, 2021, at the Pre-retirement Seminars.
The Hon. Murray Sinclair has accepted an
Pension Committee
Alison Logan, Chair
In December, 2020, the committee received information from ACER-CART indicating that
Chapter Presidents have been offered Zoom meeting workshops in order to host their own member meetings.
for 9:30 a.m. on March 6 and 20, 2021, via Zoom. The program will include: RTAM Benefit Plans by Jessica Simpson, Group Benefits Consultant with Johnson Inc., a panel discussion “Life after Teaching” and a PowerPoint presentation on RTAM – Who We Are! Advertisements have been placed in KIT, on the RTAM website, and in the January/ February edition of the MB Teacher (page 17). To register for either of the seminars, email your name, address, and phone number to info@rtam.mb.ca or call 204-889-3660 or 1-888-393-8082 (toll free).
participated in a liaison meeting between RTAM and MTS on the topic of Pensions. The Pension Committee continues to meet monthly via Zoom.
John Sushelnitsky, Chair
Committee Highlights
RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA
10 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
• Frauds and Scams with Cst. Garnie McIntyre and Cst. Maria Buduhan from the Winnipeg Police Service on December 9, 2020. There were a total of 63 participants, both RTAM and non-RTAM members.
RTAM.MB.CA n 11
Linda Blair, Chair
The Wellness Advocacy Committee has hosted the following webinars via Zoom:
• Wills, Power of Attorney and Health Care Directive to prevent Elder Abuse with Sharon Tod from St. Mary’s Law LLP on January 26, 2021, with 78 participants.
Manitoba Seniors Coalition
New Horizons Seniors Grant in support of RTAM’s Success Portfolio Project. RTAM believes this project will provide long-term supportive strength in the relationship between the sponsoring RTAM member and their high school relative.
Peggy Prendergast and Linda Scott, Representatives
After a meeting in June with Len Isleifson, Legislative Assistant to the Minister of Health, Seniors, and Active Living, and other government representatives, the Manitoba Seniors Coalition sent a letter to Premier Brian Pallister offering collective expertise and knowledge to support Team Manitoba in getting information to older adults living in communities in Manitoba to meet the needs of older Manitobans using the “continuum of care” as a Followingguide.the cabinet shuffle on January 5, 2021, Josh Guenter (MLA - Altona) was appointed as the new Assistant to the Minister of Health, and is in charge of Seniors Issues. His telephone number is 204-324-8957 and email is info@joshguenter.ca §
Upcoming on February 24, 2021, “Creating Certainty for your future: the importance of a well-structured Estate Plan” by Candace Landry
Wellness Advocacy Committee
Founder
If you are just learning to use your camera, whether a DSLR or a tablet or phone, this workshop will help you take better
LEVEL 1: Thursday, June 17, 2021
LEVELpictures!2:
VENUE: Online via Zoom
RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA
COST: $50 per person, per seminar (limited to 20 participants per day) Pre-register by May 21, 2021, by leaving a message on (204) 889-3660 OR by sending an email to info@rtam.mb.ca. Visit rtam.mb.ca for more details.
Friday, June 18, 2021
Beyond the basics. If you have attended our workshop for beginners, this is your level. More techniques to be learned here!
PHOTOGRAPHY WORKSHOP
TIME: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Presented by GAYL PUNZALAN and Creative Director of Blue Ink Media
(include postal code)
RTAM.MB.CA n 13 RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF MANIT OBA
Email: Phone:
The Retired Teachers Association of Manitoba will be holding its AGM on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 9:00 am, Winnipeg time.
The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.
WEDNESDAY MAY 5, 2021
2021 Annual General Meeting Registration Form
The meeting will be held virtually over ZOOM. The Meeting room will open for participants at 8:00 am.
To register, you may email this application form to info@rtam.mb.ca by Thursday, April 15, 2021. Or mail to: RTAM AGM, 206-1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5. This form may be copied or downloaded from www.rtam.mb.ca
You must be able to log into ZOOM on a computer, tablet, smartphone or other electronic device to attend the meeting. To register for the AGM, complete the registration form in KIT and submit it to RTAM, or check the website for the registration form, or call the RTAM office. The deadline to register is Thursday, April 15, 2021. An AGM information package will be mailed out to registrants. Further details are available from the RTAM office.
The Meeting will be held virtually over ZOOM. The Meeting room will open for participants at 8:00 am.
ALL RTAM MEMBERS ARE INVITED AND ENCOURAGED TO ATTEND
NOTICE OF RTAM 2021 AGM
You must be able to log into Zoom to attend the meeting. Instructions for joining the meeting will be emailed to registrants closer to the meeting date.
Address:Name:
Nomination Process:
Please note: Only FULL RTAM members in good standing may hold office, vote, endorse or sign nomination papers. ASSOCIATE RTAM members may not hold office, vote, endorse or sign nomination papers.
DIRECTORS: up to 10 Directors may be elected
2021 Annual General Meeting
Questions? Contact RTAM at 204-889-3660; 1-888-393-8082 (toll-free) or info@rtam.mb.ca. This information may be copied or downloaded from www.rtam.mb.ca.
OFFICERS: President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer
WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021
Nominees and nominators must be full RTAM members in good standing. Nominees must have a working knowledge of email and virtual communications.
The term of office for a Board position is one year. In addition, most Board members also serve on one of the Standing Committees. Board meetings are held monthly from September to June.
Nominations will be received by the Elections Committee up to 3:00 p.m. on Thursday, April 8, 2021, via completed Nomination Forms. Nomination forms must be signed by the nominee, or accompanied by a signed statement from the nominee, to acknowledge their willingness to accept the nomination.
14 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
Nominations for the Officers and Board of Directors of RTAM will be accepted up to and including Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.
Call For Nominations
An individual can nominate themselves. Any RTAM member may be nominated for one Officer position and/or one Director position. An unsuccessful candidate for the Officer position has the right to stand for a Director position, if they have so indicated on the nomination form
2021 – 2022 RTAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS
CALL FOR NOMINATIONS
RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF MANIT OBA
A final “Nomination from the Floor” will be accepted at the AGM for those who missed the deadline. This will require the endorsement of ten (10) full RTAM members who are in attendance at the AGM. The procedure for the additional nominations will be explained by the Independent Chair near the beginning of the AGM.
The positions open to election on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 are:
Nominees who meet the nomination deadline are invited to submit a biography (no longer than a half page) and photo to be included in the AGM Elections booklet no later than Monday, April 12, 2021
2021 Annual General Meeting 2020-2021 RTAM Board Nomination Form MAY 5, 2021
RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF MANIT OBA RTAM.MB.CA n 15
Email: Phone: for the position of: (check one Officer position only (1. to 4.), then check Director for nomination as a Director, if unsuccessful in the Officer position, or check Director (5.) for nomination as a Director only):
Nominees are invited to submit a biography (no longer than half a page) and photo to be included in the AGM Elections Booklet no later than Monday, April 12, 2021 to office@rtam.mb.ca.
As a Full RTAM member, I, ______________________________________, nominate the following Full RTAM member:
Send the completed Nomination Form to RTAM-Nominations via mail, email or fax to: RTAM – Nominations
Name of Nominee:
Address: (include postal code)
ALL FULL RTAM MEMBERS ARE ENCOURAGED AND INVITED TO NOMINATE THEMSELVES OR BE NOMINATED FOR A BOARD POSITION. We always need new ideas and enthusiasm!
3. Secretary Or Director 4. Treasurer Or Director 5. Director
Email: email office@rtam.mb.ca / Fax 1-204-783-2011 Nomination forms must be received by 3:00 p.m., Thursday, April 8, 2021.
This form may be copied or downloaded from www.rtam.mb.ca.
206 – 1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5
Shortly after the AGM, there will be a meeting of the newly elected Board. The time and venue to be announced.
The signed permission of the nominee: ______________________________________________________ Or, attach a signed statement of permission from the nominee.
1. President Or Director 2. Vice President Or Director
2021 - 2022 RTAM BOARD NOMINATION FORM
DEADLINE: Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.
2021 Annual General Meeting Volunteer to Become an RTAM Committee Member
James Street,
form
The term of office for a Committee member is one year. Each Committee is chaired by a Board member. Most Committee meetings are held monthly from September to June, on the Thursday of the third week of the month with the exception of April, when meetings are held on the Thursday of the second week of the month. Meetings can be held in person or via teleconference, at the discretion of the Chair, in consultation with the committee member(s). Personal expenses incurred by committee members for attending committee meetings or distance participation are reimbursed at approved RTAM rates. Volunteers must be sufficiently conversant with current communication methods as to be capable of participating in, and assisting with, the work of the board including access to and working knowledge of email.
copied, downloaded
Please submit your name, tell us a little bit about yourself and indicate the committee you would be interested in joining. If you plan on standing for election, or have been elected, to the Board of Directors and are interested in chairing a committee, please indicate so. For more information about the Committees, visit our website at www.rtam.mb.ca. The Board tries to accommodate as many requests as reasonable and possible as we constitute balanced committees within the parameters of our bylaws and policies. – 1555 St. Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 LATER than Tuesday, June 1, 2021. This can be from www.rtam.mb.ca
VOLUNTEER TO BECOME AN RTAM COMMITTEE MEMBER
Address:Name: (include postal code) Email: Phone: Indicate below which of the Committee(s) you are interested in as a Member and/or Chair COMMITTEE Member ü Chair ü COMMITTEE Member ü Chair ü AGM Pension Benefits Political Advocacy Bylaws and Policy Public Relations Elections Student Awards Keep In Touch (KIT) Magazine Website Membership & Chapters Wellness Advocacy Provide a short reflection of your relevant skills orYouexperiences:maysubmit this form to: Email: office@rtam.mb.ca or Office: 206
RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF MANIT OBA
NO
16 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
All RTAM members are encouraged and invited to volunteer on a Committee. As with any organization, RTAM is always in need of volunteers with diverse skills, creativity and innovative thinking to keep the organization moving forward. Committee work gives everyone the opportunity to get to know more about RTAM and each other as we work toward making our organization better.
3. A comprehensive description of the nominee’s significant contribution to the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba.
• The Award shall consist of a framed certificate signed by the RTAM President
Province & Postal Code:
Selection criteria:
Full City/Town:MailingName:Address:
Phone Number: Cell Number: E-mail Address:
FORWARD NOMINATIONS TO: Attn: RetiredPresidentTeachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) 206-1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5
AWARD PRESENTATION:
• If possible, the Award shall be presented at the RTAM Annual General Meeting (AGM)
RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF MANIT OBA
RTAM.MB.CA n 17
Phone Number: Cell Number: E-mail Nominator’sAddress:Signature Date:
The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) Distinguished Service Award presented to an individual whose service to RTAM has been extraordinary.
2021 Annual General Meeting
NOMINATOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT)
Full City/Town:MailingName:Address:
SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2021.
DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD APPLICATION FORM
1. The nominator must be a full member of RTAM for at least five years; the nominee must have served on the RTAM Board for at least five years.
Distinguished Service Award
2. A written composition explaining why the nominee is deserving of the award.
Province & Postal Code:
NOMINEE'S CONTACT INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT)
Province & Postal Code:
APPLICATION FORM
NOMINEE'S CONTACT INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT)
Province & Postal Code: Phone Number: Cell Number: E-mail Address:
18 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
NOMINATOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT)
A Chapter Member Distinguished Service Award is an award presented to an RTAM Chapter member whose service to the Chapter has been extraordinary.
Selection criteria:
CHAPTER MEMBER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD
Phone Number: Cell Number: E-mail Nominator’sAddress:Signature Date:
Full City/Town:MailingName:Address:
Chapter Member Distinguished Service Award
SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS APRIL 2, 2021.
• The Chapter Member Distinguished Service Award shall be presented at the Chapter’s AGM (Annual General Meeting)
2021 Annual General Meeting
RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION OF MANIT OBA
2. A written composition explaining why the nominee is deserving of the award.
AWARD PRESENTATION:
1. The nominator and the nominee must each be full members of RTAM for at least five years.
3. A comprehensive description of the nominee’s significant contribution to the Chapter.
FORWARD NOMINATIONS TO: Attn: RetiredPresidentTeachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) 206-1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5
• The Award shall consist of a certificate signed by the RTAM President and the Chapter President
Full City/Town:MailingName:Address:
RTAM STUDENT AWARD APPLICATION FORM
APPLICANT’S INFORMATION PLEASE PRINT First name: Last PostalMailingname:Address:Code: City/Town: Phone Number: Cell Number: E-mail (GraduatedSchoolAddress:from Grade12): Year Graduated: School Address: (Street) (City) (Postal Code) Post Secondary Plans Program Location RTAM SPONSORING MEMBER INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT) Full MailingNameAddress City Province Postal Code Phone Cell Email TO BE COMPLETED BY SPONSORING RTAM MEMBER: I confirm that the applicant __________________________, has the following relationship to me ___________________________ RTAM Member’s Signature: Date: Applicant’s Signature Date: THE DEADLINE FOR 2021 APPLICATIONS IS JULY 31, 2021 SUBMISSIONS TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. Application Form 2. Applicant’s description of school and community activities (one page) 3. Letter of reference/support from a non-family member (one page) 4. Final Grade 12 official high school transcript of marks (copy only) If further information is required, please contact the office (see below). Email: office@rtam.mb.ca Website: www.rtam.mb.ca 206 - 1555 St. James St., Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) awards annually up to four (4) post secondary STUDENT AWARDS of $1,000 each for relatives of RTAM members. Criteria for selection: (The applicant must be) 1) A relative of a RTAM Member 2) Involved in school and community activities 3) A Grade 12 Graduate 4) Entering the first year of a post secondary education program. Office/Voicemail Phone: 1-204-889-3660 Manitoba Toll Free: 1-888-393-8082 Fax: 1-204-783-2011 RTAM.MB.CA n 19
• 2019 COLA was 1.23%.
Allison Logan, Pension Committee Chair
Restricted Surplus . . . A Refresher
COMMITTEE REPORTS
Y
Restricted surplus represents funds in the Pension Adjustment Account (PAA) that are held in reserve
ou all know that PR is attempting to put together an anthology of teacher-centered stories. We received a submission from Dennis Storozinski with a couple of notes about his early teaching around Gilbert Plain. He shared stories of schools with mice and stories of schools with fiddle music in the evenings. So I phoned Dennis to thank him for his contributions. It was a great conversation! He was just bursting with enthusiasm and we were to have coffee one day.
His story is in the KIT or in the website. Just go to Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba…Media… Book of Memories. Click on the golden boxes.
§
• The restricted surplus will be available to provide COLA in 2021 and 2022, after which it will be depleted, as planned.
Please submit your most interesting material to: office@rtam.mb.ca or phone 204-889-3660.
• Both the 2019 and 2020 COLA include the release of approximately $5.6 million of restricted surplus as required under the Teachers’ Pensions Restricted Surplus Regulation, 2017.
Guy Hansen, Public Relations Chair
The Teachers’ Pensions Restricted Surplus Regulation, 2017 was enacted on May 18, 2018. Under this regulation, the annual COLA will benefit from the release of the restricted surplus at a rate of 20% of the total restricted surplus for each year from 2018 to 2022 inclusive. Based on a restricted surplus amount of $27,987,000, this equates to $5,597,400 per year.
I phoned again, months later, to tell him that his stories would now be printed in our KIT magazine. Our KIT went out and shortly after we received the following letter from his daughter. that coffee with Dennis.
joint committee of RTAM (Rosalie Bornn, JoAnne Hoyak, Wayne Hughes) and MTS (Norman Gould, Roland Stankevicius, Bobbie Taillefer) representatives was established and was tasked with developing a plan to deal with the disbursal of the Restricted Surplus funds.
The following is a result of that Committee’s work and can be found on the TRAF website:
RESTRICTED SURPLUS
§
as a result of the legislative cap that existed on COLA granted on July 1 each year for the 10-year period from 2008 through 2017. COLA during this period was limited to a maximum of two-thirds of the increase in the Consumer Price Index (CPI).
To the extent that the PAA had capacity to support a COLA greater than two-thirds of CPI, the excess funds were set aside as restricted surplus to be used to support COLA granted in 2018 or later. Restricted surplus was generated in each year from 2012 to 2016 inclusive. As the two-thirds CPI maximum ended with the grant of the 2017 COLA, no further restricted surplus will accumulate.
A
&Hithere,MyDadwasateacher,VicePrincipaleventuallyPrincipalthroughouthiscareer.Hisgreatestwork-relatedachievementmayhavebeenagymnasiumfullofsupportivefacesathisretirementparty.NowIknowitwasyoupublishinghisstoriesof whatteachingwaslikeinhisearlycareer.MyDadpassedawaysuddenlylastnight,buthetookacopyofyourmagazinewithhimtotheBrandonHospitaltoreadandshoweveryone.IntheseCOVIDtimes,hecouldn’thavehisfamilywithhim,buthehadhisschoolfamilywithhim.Hewassoproudofbeingpublishedandthatgivesussomuchpeace. Isitpossibletohavethearticlehewrotemailedto me?Iwouldlovetoframeitinhismemory.-ShannonMcKenneyWehaveforwardedthatletter.Somewastyped,somewasinhishandscript.Isowouldhaveenjoyed
• 2020 COLA will be 1.35%.
PR Report
20 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
eraldine MacNamara was a Winnipeg girl. She attended U of M, BA ’59, BEd ’65. She was a teacher in St. Vital. She entered the Sisters of Holy Names. Another seven years in the classroom, then studied Law, getting her LLB in 1974.
RTAM.MB.CA n 21
Sister MacNamara and Rossbrook House
Today Rossbrook House has daycare for single Moms, teachers from Winnipeg One, an alternative classroom system, sports and recreations facilities, a certified kitchen, overnight beds for those with no homes. Some of its local families are now in their third generation. Many of the kids identify as First Nations, and yet have never seen the homeland of their fore folk. Now they get to camp out.
She now had roots with both the Manitoba court’s system, and also with the inner-city youth whose problems often found their way into those law courts.
March 8 is International Woman’s Day. Sister has already received The Order of Canada. On
About 1976 she joined a group of these local young folk as they approached City Council. Though they had no money, they certainly had moxie; they asked for help. They asked for more recreational facilities in their area. The city had an abandoned church in exactly the right place, the group was “gifted” that church for $1. The first staff was drawn from these youth. Rossbrook House was born, just North of Health Sciences Centre.
G
March 8 she will receive a Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazer Award .
To recognize the celebration of 45 years for Rossbrook House, the RTAM Board approved a financial donation. §
Guy Hansen, Public Relations Chair
Summing up her life, “No child who did not want to be alone, should ever have to be.”
Born smack in the middle of eleven children, I’m the only one left now. Two other long-livers in my family were older sisters, both having been teachers, lived beyond a century to the ages of 105 and 107. My siblings and I were born from1907 to 1922, children of “Tillie” McNaughton and Stephen Casselman, the first nine of us delivered
I don’t feel old and some say I don’t look this old. Although my body is frail (I don’t trust my legs to go too far without the walker), I have no diseases and take no prescription medications. Only daily Vitamin D with apple cider vinegar and honey, when I remember.
22 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
I don’t feel old and some say I don’t look this old. Although my body is frail (I don’t trust my legs to go too far without the walker), I have no diseases and take no prescription medications. Only daily Vitamin D with apple cider vinegar and honey, when I remember. Researchers at the New England Centenarian Study, a long-term research project at the Boston Medical Centre say that I, and others like me, are winners of the genetic lottery. Many centenarians have clusters of long-lived relatives. These scientists have been following me and some of my siblings for a dozen years or so. Apparently our healthy habits and positive attitudes have taken us only so far toward this longevity. What we have is a combination of protective genes that help us stay mentally intact, function independently, and sidestep the worst aspects of life-threatening diseases. We have fewer of the genes that contribute to major diseases - we generally don’t get sick.
A
This was at the time of the great prairie inmigration, an opportunity for folks who dreamt of freedom, autonomy, prosperity and a better life for their children. The McNaughton and Casselman families were part of these million plus settlers arriving in Western Canada from Central Europe, British Isles, America and Central Canada. As
110th Birthday, Manitoba Retired Teachers flower bouquet gift
O
110LooksSupercentenarian,BackatYears
young singles, both Tillie and Steve came west from english speaking Ontario to already established family in order to find a homestead and ultimately bring other relatives. Settlers brought their ideas, social customs, and prejudices with them. One
Rae Westcott, son of Mime
n January 10, I became a Supercentenarian, 110 years old. There are thirteen of us here in Canada claiming such a title. A saucy facebook post from a grandson read “Happy Birthday to a Two-Champagne Grandma.” For those of you like me who are unsophisticated in current social customs, a champagne birthday is when you turn the same age as the day you were born.
Mime Westcott
on the family farm at Lauder, once a thriving town northeast of Deloraine in southwestern Manitoba. Neighbours would ask Steve why he didn’t try for a dozen. With the history of multiple births in Mother’s family, “we wouldn’t want thirteen” came his response.
The teaching experience changed greatly from my first post until retirement in 1976. After Normal School in 1929, I’m sure I sent out two hundred applications, with no reply. Eventually, a family friend with a School Board connection in the far
my children, however, afraid these lessons may be forgotten by subsequent generations.
The COVID-19 pandemic has brought restrictions on household mixing and protocols. The personal care home where I live doesn’t allow me to travel out and restricts visitors, but the isolation has not impeded my looking back on life. My memory is of the lilac hedgerows in the fields, lilac shrubs in town yards blooming in every shade from deep purple to white, their unique scent filling the air, and seeing the first crocus, a sure sign that winter is almost gone. At the time of less restrictions last fall I did make a trip to the country. The drive through the countryside now tells of a land less and less charming. Lauder, the once thriving town on a railway branch line, has only a handful of houses. Nearby are a few dilapidated and empty farmsteads, most others having been bulldozed, burnt or buried. When I noticed skylines missing the wooden elevator, it reminded of the dwindling success of some small prairie towns. It was sad to see the new replacement bridge in Souris now more a sturdy suspension bridge rather than the swinging one I remember crossing daily to school.
of the older Casselman girls planned to marry a boy from an American family who had come to a Saskatchewan homestead by way of the 1872 Dominion Land Act. A newspaper executive uncle from Winnipeg on hearing of this blossoming relationship was heard to say “Why would she want to marry that foreigner.” The ancestors of his Casselman wife came to Canada from America as loyalists in 1789. We assumed that family history would make this choice acceptable.
Like many who lived and worked through the Great Depression, I was taught a never-to-beforgotten lesson of economic caution and frugality. I’m unable to throw anything away believing that I’d be darn glad to have it if hard times come again. I’m assured when I see this attitude has been passed to
My family stories are typical of those who migrated west, of hardship and failures, triumphs and loss, of a life on the land. The Casselman two and half sections, although well larger than the quarter section granted to the earliest settlers by the Land Act, was on the edge of the fertile prairie plain and was mostly bush and sand. Many loads of fire wood were sold to neighbouring farmers whose lands were on bald prairie. This source of income along with Dad’s skill at buying and breaking horses kept us in the provisions not grown or raised on our farm. Early memories are of returning WWI soldiers and the way we avoided the Spanish Flu virus by holding a eucalyptus soaked hanky over our nose and mouth as we passed by the house on the edge of town where an infected woman lived. I don’t remember many in our community becoming ill in that pandemic. School was not shut down. It’s likely our isolated town avoided the spread seen in towns and cities on the major rail lines.
On the steps of the boarding house in Winnipeg, at Normal School - 1929
I lived a rural farm life for my first 45 years leaving only to complete a grade twelve year in Souris, and then part of 1929 in Winnipeg for Normal School. Nurtured by life on the land, I remember the excitement of the return of the mallards, snow and Canada geese, wild tiger lilies, chokecherry branches bending under the weight of their fruit, searching for blueberry bushes and for the wild strawberries and raspberries hiding in the poplar bluffs.
Next page → RTAM.MB.CA n 23
W
. . §
away Derry School District near Douglas arranged for a position. I taught there one year until I was found out and the job then given to a young woman from that district. Fortunately, the Norman School District nine miles to the north had a position. I taught there until 1936, the year I married and consequently forced into early retirement - married women weren’t allowed to teach! In 1952, with the postwar baby boom and our five children in school, I returned to the classroom when an urgent call
came for a teacher at Derry. I finished my career at the Douglas school and then with the Department of National Defence at Shilo, getting in barely a total of twenty five years to qualify for a pension.
Dianne Casar (centre) draw the ballots for the RTAM Email Contest. The contest initiated the building of an electronic email membership list. New emails (no record of previous email on file) 1. Elizabeth Michalot 2. Lucien Loiselle 3. Holly F. Nahachewsky 4. Wayne Watson 5. Cecilia Braun 6. Pat Watson 7. Andrew Krashewski 8. Olivia Stadnyk 9. Victoria Adams 10. Lois (Bev) Dougall Existing or Updated Emails 1. Rene Wilfrid Perreault 2. Anne Williams 3. Barbara Reid 4. Joseph Combiadakis 5. Judy Kyliuk 6. Edward D. Toews 7. Raymond John Peters 8. Ron Dobrinsky 9. Bonnie Turner 10. John Kiddell
I am well cared for and mostly content but do admit to sometimes feeling unproductive. My eyes are working well and I have access to a good library, but I do want to do more than sit in my lift chair. I stopped curling at 90 for fear of falling but now that I’m managing a wheelchair I’m sure I would be safe on the ice with the chair and a curling stick. I think I’ll put together a team of other prairie centenarians. We’ll be ready for the next curling season, COVID-19 permitting.
§
24 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
ith the goal of building an electronic RTAM membership list by May of 2021, RTAM sponsored a contest to solicit email addresses from its members. Each member who submitted their current email address was placed in a draw for one of 20 gift cards worth $50 each. There
Izabella and Rozalia (left and right) daughters of RTAM Member Services Coordinator,
were two categories, New Emails and Existing or updated emails. The draw took place on January 20 facilitated by Dianne Casar, the RTAM Member Services Coordinator, with the assistance of her two daughters. The winners are listed below. Thank you, everyone who participated in this contest.
Norman School commemorative monument, RM of Elton - 2015
RTAM E-mail Contest Winners
My health has allowed me to travel - a year in Australia when a daughter was there on a teacher exchange, and many trips to the Air Canada Silver Broom in Europe and North America to satisfy my curling fan interest. Visits to family in the frontier state of Alaska fed an adventurous spirit. Despite these varied experiences of geography and people I’m a prairie person, at home here in small town Manitoba, at home in the wide-open landscape.
Mary M. Petrycia – Winnipeg, MB
Elizabeth J. McLachlan – Victoria, BC
Maurie Kohut – Winnipeg, MB
Clarence R. Koss – Beausejour, MB
Morley E. Rowe – Winnipeg, MB
David M. Watson – Ottawa, ON Pamela Watson – Winnipeg, MB Patricia Winram-Dunsford – Winnipeg, MB
Florence J. Richter – Ashern, MB
October 2020
John A. MacNab – Calgary, AB Hilda Maendel – Portage la Prairie, MB Dianne M. McGeachie – Toronto, ON
Roderick K. McEwen – Gibsons, BC Simon Nimchuk – Winnipeg, MB
Bernice Stebbing – Winnipeg, MB Randolph J. Tomchak – Winnipeg, MB
Ernest G. Lavalee – Cormorant, MB
Br. Marc Turcotte – Saint-Anselme, QC
December 2020
Leona Ozog – Winnipeg, MB
Irene A. Enns – La Salle, MB
A Muriel McHaffie – Ottawa, ON
Elsie J. Bradley – Winnipeg, MB
Lindbergh I. N. Kemkaran – Calgary, AB
E. Eileen Sokalski – Winnipeg, MB
Edward M. Powroznik – Gimli, MB
Lucille M. St. Amant – St. Jean Baptiste, MB
Gilbert P. Unger – Blumenort, MB
Waltraud Guether – Grunthal, MB
James P. Patrick – Winnipeg, MB
P. Doreen Bowers – Koostatak, MB
June 2020
Vera Shupenia – Komarno, MB
Linda Kautz – Killarney, MB
Br. Marc Turcotte – Saint-Anselme, QC
Peter I. Friesen – Winnipeg, MB
November 2020
December 2020
Life Members
Lorin Berard – Winnipeg, MB
(The above RTAM member who has passed, was regretfully missed from previous editions of KIT. We sincerely apologize to the family.)
Gail E. Johannesson – Winnipeg, MB
(Presented at age 90 to RTAM members)
Helen Himick – Vernon, BC
Marie P. MacDonald – Ottawa, ON Ethel A. D. Mair – Winnipeg, MB
Velma B. Clayton – Winnipeg, MB
Lillian R. Valentine – Winnipeg, MB Martha Wilson – Athabasca, AB
Marie A. L. Prud’homme – Winnipeg, MB
Jeanne E. Turner – St. Albert, AB
Eileen E. George – Winnipeg, MB
Robert J. Simmons – Nanaimo, BC George M. Takashima – Lethbridge, AB Annette M. Tencha-Hamel – Winnipeg, MB Dorothy C. White – Brandon, MB
Charles R. Wright – Brandon, MB
Lorraine Genaille – The Pas, MB
Arthur B. Funk – Winnipeg, MB
Dennis J. Storozinski – Dauphin, MB
M. Alice Howatt – Dauphin, MB
November 2020
Charles W. Shirriff – Portage la Prairie, MB
Abram W. Friesen – Winnipeg, MB
Tamara M. Kubrak – Winnipeg, MB
Emilie Ammazzini – Winnipeg, MB
William E. Kingsbury – Boulder, CO, USA
John J. Suszko – Petersfield, MB
RTAM.MB.CA n 25
Gary E. Smith – Winnipeg, MB
Priscille A. Poirier – Winnipeg, MB
Marjorie V. Reynolds – St. John’s, NL
Donald G. Tougas – Winnipeg, MB
Geoffrey H. Smith – Lac du Bonnet, MB
Carol C. Mathers – Nanaimo, BC
Richard L. Osika – Flin Flon, MB
In Memoriam
Sushila Nath – Regina, SK
LaVerne Fraser – Elizabeth Town, ON
By mid morning, the highway to Elphinstone having been plowed, Bill drove me back to Elphinstone to fulfill my teaching duties!
Sandra Senavitch
It must have been the coldest January night on record when, driving back to Oakburn after a late night curling game in Sandy Lake, my old Ford Falcon station wagon (a hand - me - down from my father), broke down on the highway, completely frozen from the frigid January temperature! Not a single car in sight at that late hour. What decision would I make?
John Sushelnitsky, Political Advocacy Chair
I will always remember this experience with fondness. Teaching in a rural area is not always without its drawbacks and adventures.
I
26 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
Fritz Zollner
the night through to my destination. With sheer determination and my survival instinct kicking in, I arrived in Oakburn the following morning. Olga and Bill greeted me at the door barely recognizing the stranger at their door. My face was covered in frost from warm exhaled air. A sight to see!!
On March 18, 2021 the Hon. Murray Sinclair, one of the authors of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Report, will address the RTAM Board on the progress being made with the Commission’s 94 calls to action. This very significant event will be recorded and made available on the RTAM Website and in KIT for our 10,000 members. We have asked Mr. Sinclair to underline the calls to action where RTAM can help our country move forward to achieve unity in the spirit of reconciliation.
n 1972, my first year of teaching grades 6 - 12 in Elphinstone, I was boarding with a retired farmer and his wife, Bill and Olga Yarish, in Oakburn, MB. The two towns are 20 km apart.
’m writing to you about my Mom, Marjorie Hadaller. Mom turned 100 on February 9,2021 and we had a small celebration for her. She received many cards and letters as well as notes thru Facebook. I have attached a photo of Mom on her big day. Mom still resides in a seniors suite in Anola, Manitoba. I was visiting Mom yesterday and she was telling me of her teaching in one room school houses throughout Manitoba.
The people in these areas are, without a doubt, the most hospitable and generous anywhere!! Teaching there is the most rewarding experience of all! §
My First Year Of Teaching
§
§
I
I decided to walk the remaining 15 kilometers to Oakburn. There was a full moon reflecting on the snow of the unplowed highway, which guided me
Marjorie Hadaller is 100
Hon. Murray Sinclair
RETIRED ASSOCIATIONTEACHERS’OFMANITOBA JUDGES : Chairman: Gayl Punzalan; John Mark Aquino, Shyrill Aquino, Marie Yasmin Concepcion, Elianna Grace Santos Details and Entry Form for the WINTER 2021 PHOTO CONTEST can be found in the Winter 2020 issue of KIT or https://rtam.mb.ca/rtam-media/photo-contestvisit PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST SUMMER 2020 / Category: Nature RTAM.MB.CA n 27
28 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
RTAM.MB.CA n 29
In 1904, the warehouse was purchased by local merchant John P. Lawrie and used for buying and selling grain. In 1919, Lawrie bought a hardware store from J. B. Davidson and used the warehouse to store farm and building supplies. It was subsequently owned by his son, Angus C. Lawrie (1952-1969), and later by Raymond W. “Bill” Jones (1969-1990s) and Dan Jardine (1990s-present). The building is presently unoccupied, open to the elements, and falling off its foundation. §
30 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021
Aerial
2250Inventory,GrainResourcesSource:1993)WarehouseGrain(JulyHistoricBranch,Elevatorslide
Submitted by B Joan Rink, Great Grand daughter of David McNaughton
Asmall unassuming building at Brookdale, on the CPR Varcoe Subdivision in the Municipality of North Cypress-Langford, is believed to be the last surviving example of a flat grain warehouse in Manitoba. Before the advent of tall elevators for the storage of grain on the prairies, warehouses such as these were used to store cloth sacks of grain.
The rectangular, two-storey building with gable roof was constructed in 1902 by local entrepreneur David McNaughton and its wooden walls were covered with overlapping tin panels. The main floor had a small office in the southeast corner. The rest of the building was a large room with a large south-facing door for unloading grain sacks from
Brookdale Grain Warehouse (Brookdale, Municipality of North Cypress-Langford)
Brookdale Grain Warehouse showing the decrepit wooden stairs leading into the office on its southeast corner (June 2016).
Historic Sites of Manitoba
With many thanks to the Manitoba Historical Society for permission of this submission. For further information, go to http://www.mhs.mb.ca/docs/sites/brookdalewarehouse.shtml
PennerSource:(SeptemberWarehouseGrain2020)George
horse-drawn farm wagons and a north-facing door for loading them into railway boxcars sitting on the tracks that run past the warehouse. A ladder near the south door led to a second floor used for longerterm storage.
Source: Gordon Goldsborough view of Brookdale Brookdale
Thank you to Blue Ink Media who has been preparing and sending out the digital copies of KIT.
Thank you to all Editorial Committee members who have worked with me and KIT over the years. You made it all possible. Thank you to Gayl Punzalan at Blue Ink Media for doing such a professional job publishing KIT. Every issue was well-done. Sage
NOTICE RTAM.MB.CA n 31
Doreen
Want to receive your copy of KIT digitally?
New Address: kit@rtam.mb.ca
As of February 17, 2021, all material regarding KIT will be processed for publication by the RTAM President and the RTAM office staff.
New address: kit@rtam.mb.ca
All material regarding digital copies is now processed by the RTAM President and RTAM staff.
To All RTAM members:
For more information please contact the plan administrator, Johnson Insurance. 1.877.989.2600 | www.johnson.ca/rtampbservicewest@johnson.ca #100, 17203 – 103 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB. T5S 1J4 RTAM sponsors pre-retirement seminars for teachers. A variety of voluntary insurance options are available to RTAM members and their eligible dependents including: • Extended Health Care • Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance • Dental Care • Term Life Insurance • Prestige Travel with Trip Cancellation • Home Insurance • Additional Stand Alone Trip Cancellation 0210_20
