KIT Magazine - Spring 2021

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

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

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.

KEEP IN TOUCH Vol. 32 No.4 • Spring, 2021

Published by

Photo by Donna Gemache RTAM Photo Contest Entry - Summer 2020

CONTENTS 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

22

20

Supercentenarian

Dennis Storozinski

I, and others like me, are winners of the genetic lottery. Many centenarians have clusters of long-lived relatives.

He shared stories of schools with mice and stories of schools with fiddle music in the evenings.

All materials for the next issue of KIT must be emailed with no formatting to kit@rtam.mb.ca and received by May 10, 5:00 p.m.

Materials published here do not necessarily represent the policies or views of RTAM. The Editorial Committee reserves the right to print, reject and/or edit for clarity, all materials received.

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RTAM KIT Spring 2021

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

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: kit@rtam.mb.ca Executive Director: Gordon Fardoe Email: gfardoe@rtam.mb.ca Office Administrator: Denise Bellesia Email: dbellesia@rtam.mb.ca Member Services Coordinator: 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 Hansen Alison Logan Ken Malcolm Brian Paterson Doreen Sage Linda Scott Beth Smith Design: Gayl Punzalan Creative Director, Blue Ink Media Email: gayl@blueinkmedia.ca Website: blueinkmedia.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

President's Message

T Bill Cann RTAM President 2020 - 2021

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Photo by Linda Boughton RTAM Photo Contest Entry Summer 2020

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.

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.

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.

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 Next page → RTAM.MB.CA n 3

PRESIDENT’S MESSAGE President's Message . . . continued from previous page Pre-Retirement seminars, posted on the website, shared with Chapter Presidents and published in KIT. 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.

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 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.

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RTAM KIT Spring 2021

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.

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.

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.

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.

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. §

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Succession/Leadership Crisis and Service Survey Bill Cann, RTAM President

A

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.

Six Year Rotation of Chapters’ Nomination/ Recruitment Process This rotation is meant to encourage each chapter to nominate a candidate as an RTAM committee

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. §

Year

Urban (6-year Rotation)

Rural (6-year Rotation)

2020-2021

Retired Women Teachers' Association

Boyne Chapter of Retired Teachers, and/or Dauphin Area Retired Teachers' Association

2021-2022

Éducatrices et Éducateurs manitobains á la retraite (EMR)

Hanover Association of Retired Teachers and/or Interlake Retired Teachers' Association

2022-2023

Louis Riel Retired Teachers' Association

Intermountain Retired Teachers' Association, and/or Neepawa Area Retired Teachers' Association

2023-2024

Portage la Prairie Retired Teachers' Association

Northeastern Chapter of RTAM, and/or Southwest Assiniboine Chapter Retired Teachers

2024-2025

St. James-Assiniboia Chapter

Swan Valley Retired Teachers, and/or The Pas Retired Teachers Association

2025-2026

Westman Retired Educators Association

Thompson Association of Retired Educators

In 2026 - 2027 the six year rotation cycle repeats itself.

RTAM.MB.CA n 5

COMMITTEE REPORTS

RTAM Benefits Summary Compared To Blue Cross And Manulife Plans RTAM Desjardins Financial Security/RSA (April 2020) CORE Option Eligibility

ENHANCED Option**

§

All plans are available on an individual selection basis

§

Prestige Travel is available to Full Members only

§

MEDOC is available to Full and Associate members

§

Extended Health Care (EHC): no medical evidence if applied for within 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.

§

Single Coverage for member is allowed under all plans available

§

Apply within 90 days of retirement Travel coverage is mandatory for those who retire after January 1, 2008 Retirees who opt out of WTA Plan may apply to MTS Plan with medical evidence Must enroll according to true family status listing all eligible dependents As of January 2021, all communication about health benefits will be provided by email only.

§

Apply within 90 days of retirement. Cannot reapply to WTA Plan after opting out

§

Can apply for MTS Plan with medical evidence

§

Travel is included with EHC (mandatory)

§

80% unless otherwise specified, R&C (individual limits apply)

§

80% unless otherwise specified, R&C (individual limits apply)

§

Direct deposit reimbursement

§ § § §

EHC Benefit Reimbursement

§ 100% of eligible expenses

§ Annual maximum $10,000

§ Annual maximum $10,000 for drug plus $10,000 for other non-drug expenses

§

80%

§

100%

§

80%

§

80%

§

$600 max./insured/policy year

§

§

8% mark-up limit

$2,000 annual max./insured, $1000 per covered person cap within $2000 for vaccines/insured/calendar

§

§

Annual max: Pharmacare family deductible up to $10,000.

Annual maximum: Pharmacare deductible

§

$6 dispensing fee cap.

§

$7 dispensing fee cap

§

Direct pay drug card

§

Direct pay Drug Card

§

§

$100 vaccines/ insured/policy year

Proof of Pharmacare registration

Accidental Dental

§

$1,000/year

§

R&C. No limit specified.

§

None.

Ambulance

§

$350/occurrence

§

100% coverage, no maximum in Manitoba

§

100% coverage, no maximum in Manitoba

§

Non-emergency stretcher service transport $500 lifetime maximum

§

$250 maximum for non-emergency in province

Prescription Drug Coverage

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

§

Not covered

§

100% semi-private room

§

Maximum $100/day

§

R&C Hostel during diagnostic testing or treatment

§

No posted maximum

Medical Aids

§

Internal limits apply

§

Internal limits apply

§

80% coverage

Foot Orthotics/ Orthopedic Shoes

§

Orthotics, shoes: $500/year

§

Orthotics: $500/year

§

Custom orthotics: $400/2 years

Paramedical Coverage (Annual Limits/person)

§

80% coverage

§

100% coverage

§

$850/year for each of 10 different practitioners

§

§

$300/practitioner/year

§

$500/practitioner/year

$850/year for each of 11 different practitioners

§

Per visit maximums apply

§

$1,000/year for Physiotherapists,

§

Cardiac Rehabilitation only to a lifetime maximum of $500

§

Cardiac Rehabilitation only a lifetime maximum of $500

Prescribed Health Educational Programs

6 n

§ 80% of eligible expenses per insured, unless otherwise specified (individual limits apply)

Winnipeg Teachers’ Association Manulife*** (March 2020)

Manitoba Teachers’ Society Blue Cross Plan*** (September 2020)

§

Lifetime maximum of $300/person for any prescribed health education program – cardiac, COPD, diabetes, etc.

RTAM KIT Spring 2021

COMMITTEE REPORTS

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.

RTAM Desjardins Financial Security (April 2020)

Winnipeg Teachers’ Association Manulife*** (March 2020)

Manitoba Teachers’ Society Blue Cross Plan*** (September 2020)

Private Duty Nursing

§ §

80% coverage $3,000/3 years

§ §

100% coverage $6,000/ 3 calendar years

§ §

$3,000 / year.

Within 12 mos. of hospital discharge

§ §

$10,000/year Within 12 months of discharge from hospital

Vision Care

§

$250/2 years glasses, plus 1 eye exam/2 years

§ $350/2 years glasses,

§

$100/24 consecutive months, eye exam only

§

Free Eye exams every 2 years

Dental Care

§ § § § §

85% - Basic & Preventative 80% - Minor Restorative 65% - Major Restorative (crowns & bridges) 50% - Major Restorative (dentures & implants) $1,200 maximum per insured/year

§

Not provided

§

Not provided

Emergency Medical Travel & Trip Cancellation Insurance

PRESTIGE TRAVEL PLAN – Full members only (Royal Sun Alliance)

§ §

100% Multiple 90-day trips outside of Canada, with no extension available, must purchase top up from another provider Unlimited Travel within Canada No Trip Cancellation coverage

§ §

100% Must apply within 90 days of retirement No Trip Cancellation/Interruption No Emergency Medical Assistance 90-day stability clause $2,500 per person per year

plus 1 eye exam/2 years

§

100% of eligible out-of-country/province expenses that are sudden and unforeseen

§ § §

Unlimited Travel in Canada

§

$5,000,000 per insured/per policy year Emergency Medical

§ §

$8,000 Trip Cancellation/Interruption per insured

§

No stability period.

Up to 62 or 93 days of Travel outside of Canada Supplemental coverage available up to 212 days

§ §

§ § § §

$1,500 per insured to a max of $3,000 per family for Baggage & Personal Effect Benefit

MEDOC Travel: Available to Full and Associate RTAM members

§ § §

Multiple trips of 17 or 35 days 90-day stability clause

Health Option Questionnaire EXTRA Stand-Alone Trip Cancellation-Available to All Members, Friends and Family

Life Insurance

§ §

Term Life: up to $150,000 Guaranteed Life: up to $25,000 for RTAM members and/or spouses between ages of 50 and 85

§

Premiums

§

EHC Single $71.00 per month Family $131.00 per month Dental Single $58.00 per month Family $116.00 per month Prestige Travel Insurance: 62-day Base Plan Age 55-64: Single = $423, Family = $848 annual Age 65-75: Single = $658, Family = $1,316 annual

§

§ §

Not included – available separately

EHC Single $107.80 per month Family $215.60 per month § Above rates include Travel Insurance Rates for those who retired before January 1, 2008: Single: $83.05 per month Family: $166.10 per month

§

Not included – available separately

§

EHC Single $76.42 per month Family $158.90 per month The above rates apply to retired WTA Teachers

** Additional costs apply. For further information, contact the RTAM office – Email: info@rtam.mb.ca/Phone; 204-889-3660 ***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.

RTAM.MB.CA n 7

RETIRED TEACHERS’

Committee Highlights

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Benefits Committee Pat Bowslaugh, Chair Travel Insurance participants had a four-month premium holiday from September 1 to December 31, 2020, due to COVID’s travel restrictions. In January, premiums that were normally deducted from your TRAF pension will return to the amount prior to last September.

The Benefits Committee continues to work hard on behalf of RTAM members. A continued goal is to increase membership as a larger enrolment helps to stabilize premiums. The committee has confirmed the following premiums with Johnson Inc. that become effective April 1, 2021: • 0% increase on Dental benefits • 0% increase on Extended Health Care • A 3.9% increase on Travel benefits 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).

RTAM provides 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.

Insurance Plans Here are some crucial hints as you deal with the upcoming renewals of your insurance plans: • Renewal date is April 1, 2021.

• There is no increase in premiums for Extended Health or Dental.

• Due to the huge travel costs caused by COVID-19,

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RTAM KIT Spring 2021

the premium increase for Prestige Travel is 3.9% • You will receive a renewal letter from Johnson Inc. that starts with “READ ME FIRST”. Please do that!

• If you have cancelled your Prestige Travel insurance you may rejoin WITHOUT health stability proof.

Additional information • Visit our updated web page!

• Look for a new chart the depicts and compares the coverages of the three providers of insurance plans: à Blue Cross (former MTS) à ManuLife (Winnipeg retirees) à RTAM (a choice for all teacher retirees) • 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.

Bylaws and Policy Committee Jack Fraser, Chair 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.

For those of you interested in following RTAM’s bylaws and policies for the next AGM, we will be posting on our website a draft “live” version of our 2020-21 policy handbook. It will show all the changes and how the policies would read were the changes to pass.

The KIT deadline for the Spring edition was February 17, 2021. A motion will be brought to the February Board meeting regarding transitioning the publication of KIT and the emailing of digital copies to the RTAM office staff.

Communications Committee

Guy Hansen, Chair

Joan Dawson, Chair The Communications Committee continues to meet monthly via Zoom and has discussed pursuing a social media presence, starting with Facebook.

Letters to the Editor are welcomed. The policy 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.

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.

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.

Communications – KIT (Editorial) Committee Doreen Sage, Chair 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 – PR Committee In December, 2020, the PR Committee placed an appreciation notice in the Winnipeg Free Press and the MB Teacher, Thanking Current Teachers. The committee would like to acknowledge the co-operation of Lindsey Enns from MTS during this venture.

The RTAM Christmas Party, which included the Board, 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.ca After years of PR committee work, input from the whole board, and particularly Linda Scott, the electronic version of the “JOIN US” pamphlet is ready for Board approval.

Communications (Website Committee) Joan Dawson, Chair The Website committee continues to meet monthly on Zoom to discuss how to make the RTAM website

RTAM.MB.CA n 9

RETIRED TEACHERS’

Committee Highlights

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

more user-friendly. Information on upcoming webinars and the most up-to-date information on COVID-19 has been made available to our members.

Current updates to the website have been: • Current Photo Contest entries will remain under the Photo contest heading. Previous contest entries will be available through a new link.

• An In Memoriam site is now current and easy to access.

• Better use of the website calendar helps to keep the membership aware of upcoming events and scheduled meetings.

Membership and Chapters Committee Beth Smith, Chair The RTAM Pre-Retirement Seminars are scheduled 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).

Chapter Presidents have been offered Zoom meeting workshops in order to host their own member meetings.

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).

Pension Committee Alison Logan, Chair In December, 2020, the committee received information from ACER-CART indicating that 10 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021

Federal Bill C27 is no longer on the parliamentary docket and therefore, effectively dead. The committee also discussed and reviewed - feedback on the use of Zoom meetings which appeared to be very positive and the Restricted Surplus disbursement process, which has been uploaded to the RTAM website and is included in this edition of KIT. Also in December, TRAF made a presentation to the RTAM Board which included: COVID-19 trends on pensions and an initiative to centralize the investment management of TRAF with four other pension plans. The TRAF Annual Briefing Document was presented at the same meeting. Monitoring and updates from other relevant groups are ongoing.

In January, the chair of the committee participated in a liaison meeting between RTAM and MTS on the topic of Pensions. The Pension Committee continues to meet monthly via Zoom.

The Restricted Surplus of TRAF Pensions will be presented on March 6 and March 20, 2021, at the Pre-retirement Seminars.

Political Advocacy Committee John Sushelnitsky, Chair 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.

The Hon. Murray Sinclair has accepted an

invitation to speak virtually to the RTAM Board on March 18, 2021, regarding, the areas of progress in implementing the 94 “calls to action” from the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report, specifically how could RTAM help to move the process forward?

Student Awards Committee Peggy Prendergast, Chair The Student Awards committee met with Michelle Porter, Director - Centre on Aging, University of Manitoba, who shared information, possible direction and support with the evaluation of the Success Portfolio Project. In the fall of 2020, Joan Zaretsky, Student Awards Committee member, submitted an application for a federally funded 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.

Wellness Advocacy Committee Linda Blair, Chair The Wellness Advocacy Committee has hosted the following webinars via Zoom: • 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.

• 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.

Upcoming on February 24, 2021, “Creating Certainty for your future: the importance of a well-structured Estate Plan” by Candace Landry

and Madison Kinzel from IG Private Wealth Management. All participants will receive an “Estate Planning Personal Records Organizer.”

Photography Workshops with Gayl Punzalan, Creative Director of Blue Ink Media, will be held online on Thursday, June 17 and Friday, June 18, 2021, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. each day. Cost is $50.00 per day for each participant with a limit of 20 participants per day.

The committee is working on a joint event with Royal Manitoba Theatre Centre. As this event will occur in March, please check the RTAM website for further details once they become available.

External Organizations represented by RTAM Manitoba Seniors Coalition 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 guide.

Following 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 §

RTAM.MB.CA n 11

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

LEVEL 1: Thursday, June 17, 2021 If you are just learning to use your camera, whether a DSLR or a tablet or phone, this workshop will help you take better pictures!

LEVEL 2: 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!

TIME: 10:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

PHOTOGRAPHY W O R K S H O P Presented by

GAYL PUNZALAN Founder and Creative Director of Blue Ink Media

VENUE: Online via Zoom 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.

2021 Annual General Meeting RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Registration Form

NOTICE OF RTAM 2021 AGM The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba will be holding its Annual General Meeting on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 9:00 a.m.

The meeting will be held virtually over ZOOM. The Meeting room will open for participants at 8:00 am.

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.

WEDNESDAY MAY 5, 2021 The Retired Teachers Association of Manitoba will be holding its AGM on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 at 9:00 am, Winnipeg time.

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 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.

Name: Address: (include postal code) Email:

Phone:

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 RTAM.MB.CA n 13

2021 Annual General Meeting RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Call For Nominations

WEDNESDAY, MAY 5, 2021

CALL FOR NOMINATIONS 2021 – 2022 RTAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS 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.

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.

Nominees and nominators must be full RTAM members in good standing. Nominees must have a working knowledge of email and virtual communications.

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.

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.

The positions open to election on Wednesday, May 5, 2021 are: OFFICERS:

President, Vice President, Secretary and Treasurer

DIRECTORS: up to 10 Directors may be elected Nomination Process: 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.

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. 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.

____________________________________________________________________________________________ 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.

14 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021

2021 Annual General Meeting RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

2020-2021 RTAM Board Nomination Form MAY 5, 2021

2021 - 2022 RTAM BOARD NOMINATION FORM 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!

DEADLINE: Thursday, April 8, 2021 at 3:00 p.m.

As a Full RTAM member, I, ______________________________________, nominate the following Full RTAM member: Name of Nominee: Address: (include postal code) 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): 1. President

Or Director

2. Vice President

Or Director

3. Secretary

Or Director

4. Treasurer

Or Director

5. Director The signed permission of the nominee: ______________________________________________________ Or, attach a signed statement of permission from the nominee.

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.

Send the completed Nomination Form to RTAM-Nominations via mail, email or fax to: RTAM – Nominations 206 – 1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 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.

Shortly after the AGM, there will be a meeting of the newly elected Board.

The time and venue to be announced. _____________________________________________________________________________________________ This form may be copied or downloaded from www.rtam.mb.ca.

RTAM.MB.CA n 15

2021 Annual General Meeting RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Volunteer to Become an RTAM Committee Member

VOLUNTEER TO BECOME AN RTAM COMMITTEE MEMBER 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.

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.

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.

Name: Address: (include postal code) Email:

Phone:

Indicate below which of the Committee(s) you are interested in as a Member and/or Chair Member Chair COMMITTEE COMMITTEE ü ü AGM

Pension

Benefits

Political Advocacy

Bylaws and Policy

Public Relations

Elections

Student Awards

Keep In Touch (KIT) Magazine

Website

Membership & Chapters

Wellness Advocacy

Member ü

Provide a short reflection of your relevant skills or experiences:

You may submit this form to: Email: office@rtam.mb.ca or Office: 206 – 1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 NO LATER than Tuesday, June 1, 2021. This form can be copied, downloaded from www.rtam.mb.ca 16 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021

Chair ü

2021 Annual General Meeting RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Distinguished Service Award

DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD APPLICATION FORM The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) Distinguished Service Award presented to an individual whose service to RTAM has been extraordinary.

Selection criteria: 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.

2. A written composition explaining why the nominee is deserving of the award.

3. A comprehensive description of the nominee’s significant contribution to the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba.

NOMINATOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT) Full Name: Mailing Address: City/Town:

Province & Postal Code:

Phone Number:

Cell Number:

E-mail Address: Nominator’s Signature

Date:

NOMINEE'S CONTACT INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT) Full Name: Mailing Address: City/Town:

Province & Postal Code:

Phone Number:

Cell Number:

E-mail Address: SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS MARCH 31, 2021.

FORWARD NOMINATIONS TO: Attn: President Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) 206-1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 AWARD PRESENTATION: • The Award shall consist of a framed certificate signed by the RTAM President • If possible, the Award shall be presented at the RTAM Annual General Meeting (AGM)

RTAM.MB.CA n 17

2021 Annual General Meeting RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Chapter Member Distinguished Service Award

CHAPTER MEMBER DISTINGUISHED SERVICE AWARD APPLICATION FORM 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: 1. The nominator and the nominee must each be full members of RTAM for at least five years.

2. A written composition explaining why the nominee is deserving of the award.

3. A comprehensive description of the nominee’s significant contribution to the Chapter.

NOMINATOR'S CONTACT INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT) Full Name: Mailing Address: City/Town:

Province & Postal Code:

Phone Number:

Cell Number:

E-mail Address: Nominator’s Signature

Date:

NOMINEE'S CONTACT INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT) Full Name: Mailing Address: City/Town:

Province & Postal Code:

Phone Number:

Cell Number:

E-mail Address: SUBMISSION DEADLINE IS APRIL 2, 2021.

FORWARD NOMINATIONS TO: Attn: President Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) 206-1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5 AWARD PRESENTATION: • The Award shall consist of a certificate signed by the RTAM President and the Chapter President • The Chapter Member Distinguished Service Award shall be presented at the Chapter’s AGM (Annual General Meeting)

18 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021

RETIRED TEACHERS’

RTAM STUDENT AWARD APPLICATION FORM

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

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.

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

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.

APPLICANT’S INFORMATION PLEASE PRINT

First name: Last name: Mailing Address: Postal Code:

City/Town:

Phone Number:

Cell Number:

E-mail Address: School (Graduated from Grade12):

Year Graduated:

School Address: (Street)

(City)

(Postal Code)

Post Secondary Plans Program

Location

RTAM SPONSORING MEMBER INFORMATION (PLEASE PRINT) Full Name

Mailing Address

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 If further information is required, please contact the office (see below).

SUBMISSIONS TO INCLUDE THE FOLLOWING: 1. Application Form 2. Applicant’s description of school and community activities (one page)

Office/Voicemail Phone: 1-204-889-3660 Manitoba Toll Free: 1-888-393-8082 Fax: 1-204-783-2011

3.

4.

Letter of reference/support from a non-family member (one page) Final Grade 12 official high school transcript of marks (copy only)

Email: office@rtam.mb.ca Website: www.rtam.mb.ca

206 - 1555 St. James St., Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5

RTAM.MB.CA n 19

COMMITTEE REPORTS

Restricted Surplus . . . A Refresher Allison Logan, Pension Committee Chair

A

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: • 2019 COLA was 1.23%.

• 2020 COLA will be 1.35%.

• 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.

• The restricted surplus will be available to provide COLA in 2021 and 2022, after which it will be depleted, as planned.

RESTRICTED SURPLUS Restricted surplus represents funds in the Pension Adjustment Account (PAA) that are held in reserve

PR Report

Y

Guy Hansen, Public Relations Chair

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.

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.

Hi there, My Dad was a teacher, Vice Principal & eventually Principal throughout his career. His greatest work-related achievement may have been a gymnasium full of supportive faces at his retirement party. Now I know it was you publishing his stories of

20 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021

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.

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. §

what teaching was like in his early career.

My Dad passed away suddenly last night, but he took a copy of your magazine with him to the Brandon Hospital to read and show everyone. In these COVID times, he couldn’t have his family with him, but he had his school family with him. He was so proud of being published and that gives us so much peace.

Is it possible to have the article he wrote mailed to me? I would love to frame it in his memory.

- Shannon McKenney We have forwarded that letter. Some was typed, some was in his hand script. I so would have enjoyed that coffee with Dennis.

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.

Please submit your most interesting material to: office@rtam.mb.ca or phone 204-889-3660. §

Sister MacNamara and Rossbrook House Guy Hansen, Public Relations Chair

G

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.

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.

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.

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.

March 8 is International Woman’s Day. Sister has already received The Order of Canada. On

March 8 she will receive a Manitoba 150 Women Trailblazer Award .

Summing up her life, “No child who did not want to be alone, should ever have to be.”

To recognize the celebration of 45 years for Rossbrook House, the RTAM Board approved a financial donation. §

RTAM.MB.CA n 21

Mime Westcott A Supercentenarian, Looks Back at 110 Years Rae Westcott, son of Mime

O

110th Birthday, Manitoba Retired Teachers flower bouquet gift

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.

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.

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

22 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021

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.

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

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. 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

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.

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.

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.

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

On the steps of the boarding house in Winnipeg, at Normal School - 1929

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.

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 Next page → RTAM.MB.CA n 23

Norman School commemorative monument, RM of Elton - 2015

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.

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.

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. . . §

RTAM E-mail Contest Winners

W

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

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

24 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021

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

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. §

Izabella and Rozalia (left and right) daughters of RTAM Member Services Coordinator, Dianne Casar (centre) draw the ballots for the RTAM Email Contest.

The contest initiated the building of an electronic email membership list.

In Memoriam June 2020 P. Doreen Bowers – Koostatak, MB (The above RTAM member who has passed, was regretfully missed from previous editions of KIT. We sincerely apologize to the family.)

October 2020 Peter I. Friesen – Winnipeg, MB Lorraine Genaille – The Pas, MB M. Alice Howatt – Dauphin, MB Gail E. Johannesson – Winnipeg, MB Elizabeth J. McLachlan – Victoria, BC Roderick K. McEwen – Gibsons, BC Simon Nimchuk – Winnipeg, MB Priscille A. Poirier – Winnipeg, MB Marie A. L. Prud’homme – Winnipeg, MB Robert J. Simmons – Nanaimo, BC George M. Takashima – Lethbridge, AB Annette M.Tencha-Hamel – Winnipeg, MB Dorothy C. White – Brandon, MB

Life Members November 2020 Clarence R. Koss – Beausejour, MB Br. Marc Turcotte – Saint-Anselme, QC Jeanne E. Turner – St. Albert, AB

November 2020 Emilie Ammazzini – Winnipeg, MB Lorin Berard – Winnipeg, MB Irene A. Enns – La Salle, MB William E. Kingsbury – Boulder, CO, USA John A. MacNab – Calgary, AB Hilda Maendel – Portage la Prairie, MB Dianne M. McGeachie – Toronto, ON James P. Patrick – Winnipeg, MB Mary M. Petrycia – Winnipeg, MB Morley E. Rowe – Winnipeg, MB Charles W. Shirriff – Portage la Prairie, MB E. Eileen Sokalski – Winnipeg, MB Gary E. Smith – Winnipeg, MB Geoffrey H. Smith – Lac du Bonnet, MB Bernice Stebbing – Winnipeg, MB Randolph J. Tomchak – Winnipeg, MB Gilbert P. Unger – Blumenort, MB David M. Watson – Ottawa, ON Pamela Watson – Winnipeg, MB Patricia Winram-Dunsford – Winnipeg, MB

December 2020 Elsie J. Bradley – Winnipeg, MB LaVerne Fraser – Elizabeth Town, ON Abram W. Friesen – Winnipeg, MB Arthur B. Funk – Winnipeg, MB Eileen E. George – Winnipeg, MB Waltraud Guether – Grunthal, MB Linda Kautz – Killarney, MB Maurie Kohut – Winnipeg, MB Tamara M. Kubrak – Winnipeg, MB Ernest G. Lavalee – Cormorant, MB Marie P. MacDonald – Ottawa, ON Ethel A. D. Mair – Winnipeg, MB Carol C. Mathers – Nanaimo, BC Richard L. Osika – Flin Flon, MB Leona Ozog – Winnipeg, MB Edward M. Powroznik – Gimli, MB Florence J. Richter – Ashern, MB Vera Shupenia – Komarno, MB Dennis J. Storozinski – Dauphin, MB John J. Suszko – Petersfield, MB Donald G. Tougas – Winnipeg, MB Br. Marc Turcotte – Saint-Anselme, QC Lillian R. Valentine – Winnipeg, MB Martha Wilson – Athabasca, AB Charles R. Wright – Brandon, MB

(Presented at age 90 to RTAM members)

December 2020 Velma B. Clayton – Winnipeg, MB Helen Himick – Vernon, BC Lindbergh I. N. Kemkaran – Calgary, AB A Muriel McHaffie – Ottawa, ON

Sushila Nath – Regina, SK Marjorie V. Reynolds – St. John’s, NL Lucille M. St. Amant – St. Jean Baptiste, MB

RTAM.MB.CA n 25

My First Year Of Teaching Fritz Zollner

I

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.

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?

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 Sandra Senavitch

I

’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. §

26 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021

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!!

By mid morning, the highway to Elphinstone having been plowed, Bill drove me back to Elphinstone to fulfill my teaching duties!

I will always remember this experience with fondness. Teaching in a rural area is not always without its drawbacks and adventures.

The people in these areas are, without a doubt, the most hospitable and generous anywhere!! Teaching there is the most rewarding experience of all! §

Hon. Murray Sinclair John Sushelnitsky, Political Advocacy Chair

O

n 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. §

PHOTOGR A PH Y CON T EST RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

SUMMER 2020 / Category: Nature

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 visit https://rtam.mb.ca/rtam-media/photo-contest RTAM.MB.CA n 27

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RTAM.MB.CA n 29

Historic Sites of Manitoba

Brookdale Grain Warehouse (Brookdale, Municipality of North Cypress-Langford) Submitted by B Joan Rink, Great Grand daughter of David McNaughton 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

Brookdale Grain Warehouse showing the decrepit wooden stairs leading into the office on its southeast corner ( June 2016).

Source: Gordon Goldsborough

Aerial view of Brookdale Grain Warehouse (September 2020) Source: George Penner

A

small 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

30 n RTAM KIT Spring 2021

Brookdale Grain Warehouse ( July 1993) Source: Historic Resources Branch, Grain Elevator Inventory, slide 2250

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.

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. §

NOTICE To All RTAM members: 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 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.

Doreen Sage

Want to receive your copy of KIT digitally?

All material regarding digital copies is now processed by the RTAM President and RTAM staff.

New Address: kit@rtam.mb.ca Thank you to Blue Ink Media who has been preparing and sending out the digital copies of KIT.

RTAM.MB.CA n 31

Voluntary Benefits for RTAM Members. the insurance needs of the majority of retired teachers. Since 1998, we achieved this through RTAM’s sponsorship of an increasing range of voluntary insurance A variety of voluntary insurance options are available to RTAM members and their eligible dependents including: • • • •

Extended Health Care Dental Care Prestige Travel with Trip Cancellation Additional Stand Alone Trip Cancellation

• Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance • Term Life Insurance • Home Insurance

For more information please contact the plan administrator, Johnson Insurance.

1.877.989.2600 | pbservicewest@johnson.ca www.johnson.ca/rtam #100, 17203 – 103 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB. T5S 1J4

RTAM sponsors pre-retirement seminars for teachers.

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