KIT Magazine - Summer 2019

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

Vol. 31 | No. 1 | Summer 2019 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

PHOTOGRAPHY CONTEST WINNERS 1st Place - Vehicle "Waiting For Spring"

by Marion Yamada RUNNER U P

1st Place - Food "Les delices, Marchee des enfants rouge, Paris"

by Sidney Shapira 2nd Place - Vehicle "Cuba Car 1"

by Bernard Boland 2nd Place - Food "Standing Proud"

by Ronal Morissette

RUNNER U P

KEEP IN TOUCH Vol. 31 No.1 • Summer, 2019

Published by

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

The 2019-2020 RTAM Board of Directors

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

CONTENTS

Editor-in-Chief: Doreen Sage Box 252, Neepawa, MB R0J 1H0 Email: dsage@mymts.net

President’s Message.......................................................................... 3 In Memoriam / Life Members............................................................ 8 Carol Pelton...................................................................................... 8 Committee And Chapter Reports...................................................... 9 Head here....................................................................................... 27 Pre-Retirement Seminars................................................................ 29 “THE BIG PAYOFF” For Reading...................................................... 30 A conversation with Niigaan Sinclair.............................................. 31 Denise Bellesia................................................................................ 32 Notices & Coming Events................................................................ 39

06

Brandon Chapter Members The RTAM Brandon Chapter Members attending the 2019 RTAM Annual General Meeting at the Clarion Hotel, Brandon MB.

07

Thompson Retired Teachers Former Thompson teachers attending RTAM AGM in Brandon

All materials for the next issue of KIT must be emailed with no formatting to dsage@mymts.net and received by May 9, 2018, 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.

2 n

RTAM KIT Summer 2019

Office Administrator: Dennise Bellesia Member Services Coordinator: Nicole Welwood Board of Directors 2019-2020 President: Peggy Prendergast Vice -President: Peggy Prendergast Secretary: John Sushelnitsky Treasurer: Pat Bowslaugh Past President: Joan Dawson Directors-at-Large Raymond Bisson Pat Bowslaugh Ralph Cibula Jack Fraser Guy Hansen JoAnne Hoyak Alison Logan Ken Malcolm Vel McAdam Doreen Sage Linda Scott Ray Sitter Beth Smith Design: Gayl Punzalan Creative Director, Blue Ink Media Email: gayl@blueinkmedia.ca Website: blueinkmedia.ca Images : freepik.com and pixabay.com, except the ones provided by the contributors.

Copyright © 2019 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

President’s Message Peggy Prendergast RTAM President 2019-2020

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

A

week ago I was acclaimed President of RTAM. Thank you for the honour and the opportunity to help move this corporation further into the new world of the “older adult”. We are in a world that has never had this number of older adults over 65 actually outnumbering the number of children under 15. We, as retired educators, have the opportunity to lead people, by example, in the “good” life. We are healthier and more active as a group than those generations who lived before us.

RTAM has established the framework of a Strategic Plan and is enacting steps to fulfill the five pillars of that plan on the RTAM Board and within out Chapter network. In the area of Advocacy for example we visit the official representative of all the government parties annually as a Board and encourage you as members of RTAM to build and strengthen your relationships with your local MLAs and Municipal Councils. We are building and strengthening our relationship with MTS. This past three years two RTAM representatives have significantly participated in the 100th Anniversary Celebrations of MTS planning, thus bringing our two organizations closer together. RTAM supported the MTS rally held at the legislature last spring and we come to hear their present concerns at the regional meetings held throughout the province in case we can be of some assistance. RTAM has added the goal of building and strengthening better community relations to our advocacy

efforts. Two of our Board members are heavily involved in the Manitoba Seniors Coalition. Some Chapters are getting involved in the October 1st World Health Organizations Day of the Older Adult celebrations or Elders Day as it is sometimes called.

This year we will continue to improve the governance and meeting effectiveness of RTAM and further establish area representation reflecting the proportion of rural and urban members. We are essentially 10,000 in number, of which slightly more than half live in the Winnipeg area. We have 22 Chapters, many in smaller areas of the province , but more and more larger developing chapters in Brandon and Dauphin and in a couple located in British Columbia and Alberta. It is my personal goal to meet with as many chapters as possible this year so I can bring news of your RTAM Board to your area and hear about your concerns and successes Wellness is an overriding objective to improve communication and advocate in the areas of health and well-being.

The latest communication from the Canadian Medical Association and the University of Manitoba has as its logo “IT’S A FACT: Better Income can lead to Better Health.” GET YOUR BENEFITS is the name of the booklet and you can get your copy by visiting www.getyourbenefits.ca. I would say that is what RTAM is all about.

The RTAM Board uses the Strategic Plan as its focus. Chapter grants and the new Wellness Initiative grants require chapters to identify Next page RTAM.MB.CA n 3

President's Message . . . continued from previous page a goal in the Strategic Plan as their goal for requesting financial support. Seminars, events and workshops must do the same. As a Board we are striving to improve communication within the whole organization. We are very fortunate to have so many ways to communicate with one another, but we all don’t do it in the same way and with the same ease. As a teacher, in my working world, I lived day to day in school communicating mostly face to face with the students I saw every day, with staff and sometimes with parents. Today is different. We as a Board are striving to bring you news of our successes and when we need your help and often advice for us to move the RTAM Strategic Plan to success. As we move forward we need to use all the communication tools at our disposal to achieve these goals. That means we need people spanning over fifty years of “aging” to work together to make this happen. I implore those of you who are younger retirees to reach out and help those of us who are definitely older adults, to learn and use the new methods of communication with some of the skill you have and we as the “older” generation, who may appear less agile and even walk with some assistance like a cane, stick or walker, have experiences with coping with living that we can share with you to help you to live the “good” life for much longer than you ever imagined. Life is living the best life possible with what you’ve got and not always lamenting the physical changes that develop along the way as we live. That tiny flame of creativity to be the best we can be with what we’ve got needs to be fed and supported with novel ideas and small daily activities, often with significant others in our lives involved, before it grows to be a large noticeable effort. An example, is the idea one person in RWTA (the women’s chapter) had to help people in third world countries improve their ability to see by obtaining glasses. She suggested the chapter members look through their drawers for old eye glasses and bring them to the lunches that are held four times a year. A bag was always available and as we dropped them in one by one, 4 n

RTAM KIT Summer 2019

she distributed them, over 1000 pairs, 100 just yesterday, in four years. A person needing sight somewhere across the world has benefited from something that is no longer useful here. Here is an example of one person making a difference to many.

RTAM is doing a similar thing for our young relatives with the RTAM Student Award Endowment Fund at the Winnipeg Foundation.

The significant young people in our lives that we influence with our ‘love of learning’ are also being supported financially now and into the future.

RTAM is “Leaving a Legacy of Learning ”with this Student Endowment Award Fund administered by the Winnipeg Foundation that is growing exponentially to provide awards to these students we care about so much. These students will be our leaders of the future. What better way to guarantee a better world than to have educated adults who have a sense of community and helping others as their core values? Our legacy to the next generation can come from our creative thinking. Our bodies may not work perfectly as we age but if we use our minds creatively we will have a passion for living and enjoying life for as long as we live.

That brings me to the topic of Ageism. RTAM needs to demonstrate to the world the value of education in our everyday life. The volunteer study we did five years ago is still valid. RTAM can help change the stereotypes that abound around aging. Through the act of volunteering, RTAM is a living sign of the value of ‘time in service for others.” The beliefs that give rise to ageism are deeply embedded in our society.

Ongoing efforts to address sexism and racism have shown that it is possible to change social norms.

It is time to STOP defining people based solely on their age. Life is good. Life is worth living.

Building cooperative relationships works miracles.

RTAM can offer a positive image of ‘Aging Well’.

A&O has a saying for those younger than me that resonates with me: as you are now so once was I as I am now so shall you be

RETIRED TEACHERS’

ASSOCIATION OF MANITOBA

WELLNESS SEMINAR Creativity In Retirement

PHOTO GRAPHY WORKSHOP Discover the creativity lurking within you.

Please consider attending.

Date: Place: Time:

FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 20, 2019 Assiniboine Conservancy Tamarack Room in the Qualico Centre– Winnipeg 10:00 a.m. – 3:30 p.m.

PROGRAM 9:30 - 10:00 10:00

Registration Opening remarks

10:10 - 11:45 PRESENTER: Gayl Punzalan from BLUE INK MEDIA Bring your camera – DSLR, SmartPhone, Tablet, PowerShot – any digital camera works for this workshop. Whether you are experienced or a beginner, we will take you through the whole process of successful photography. We will be working both inside and outside in the lovely fall colours found in the park and the English Garden that is close by.

NOON - 1:00 p.m. Gourmet Lunch from the Restaurant 1:00 - 2:30 Photography Exercise 2:30 - 3:30 Critique and Closing Please register early – limit of 50 registrants

REGISTER FOR THIS WORKSHOP NAME

ADDRESS

PHONE EMAIL DIETARY CONCERNS

SELF-ASSESSMENT Please check the items that apply to you

I will bring a  DSLR  SmartPhone  PowerShot  Tablet I have attended a photography workshop before  Yes  No I am familiar with  Exposure Triangle  Composition Please send a cheque for $35.00 made out to “RTAM” together with this registration form to the RTAM Office at 206-1555 St. James Street, Winnipeg MB R3H 1B5 by September 13, 2019.

RTAM.MB.CA n 5

2019

Annual General Meeting Photos by Judy Olmstead

Registration table at AGM with Denise (from RTAM office), assisted by Ruth Bilowus and Bill Taylor

Chapter presidents, delegates and board directors at Chapter Presidents' meeting

More attendees at RTAM Chapter Presidents' meeting on Tuesday, May 7

Chapter Presidents' meeting

Chapter presidents, delegates and board directors at Chapter Presidents' meeting

Lillian and Dennis Kozak (Calgary chapter) and Garry Finlay (Van Isles chapter) attend Chapter Presidents' meeting

Mel Montgomery, Lana Rinn, and Lillian Kozak at Chapter Presidents' meeting

Distinguished Service award presented to Rosalie Bornn by Joan Dawson, (president) and Beth Smith, (director)

Rosalie Bornn, RTAM AGM Committee Chair

Linda Scott, chaired Chapter Presidents' meeting

Johnson Inc. presenters: Jessica Simpson and Jeff Bennett

Winners of one of Johnson Inc door prizes of $150 gas gift card

Mayor of Brandon, Rick Chrest addresses the RTAM AGM in Brandon

The Mayor of Brandon, Rick Chrest with his former teacher, Leota Nelson of Brandon.

Doreen Sage and Garry Finlay enjoying RTAM AGM in Brandon

John Sushelnitsky accompanies delegates for the singing of O Canada

President of RTAM, Joan Dawson, and Chair of AGM, Dorothy Young

Vice-President of MTS, James Bedford brings greetings to RTAM AGM

Dorothy Young, independent chair of AGM

Brad Prokop presents TRAF information to delegates

Chapter Presidents/delegates attending AGM

Rosalie Bornn, Past President, presents Joan Dawson with flowers for her work as President of RTAM

Incoming Board of Directors

Former Thompson teachers attending RTAM AGM in Brandon

David Harkness, Riel Teachers' chapter delegate renews acquaintance with Lorraine Scott at AGM

Brandon RTAM members attending AGM

Vel McAdam

Helene Beauchemin, former student, and now retired teacher, meets her former teacher, Raymond Bisson at RTAM AGM

Brandon Teachers' Association display through the decades for MTS 100th anniversary

In Memoriam DECEMBER 2018 Clive Richard Taylor, Brandon, MB JANUARY 2019 Denyse Lucille Asselin, Winnipeg, MB Garth C. Bradley, Winnipeg, MB Shirley A. Cipryk, Winnipeg, MB Charles Stewart Farnell, Onanole, MB Katherine Hamm, Winnipeg, MB Richard A. Hanke, Neepawa, MB W. Terrence Holbrow, Winnipeg, MB Dorothy Wendy-Mae Jenkins, Winnipeg, MB Jacqueline Linda Liberta, Winnipeg, MB Marlene J. Little, Brandon, MB Dorothy E. Mawby, Treherne, MB L. Janey McDonald, North Saanich, BC James P. Ryan, Winnipeg, MB Jacob P. Siemens, Steinbach, MB Karen Elizabeth Wark, Minnedosa, MB Tina Wiebe, Abbotsford, BC

Life Members FEBRUARY 2019 Jocelyn Davis, Winnipeg, MB William Glitnak, Winnipeg, MB Odette Jobin, Cumming, Georgia Harry Tutiah, Parksville BC MARCH 2019 Edith Irene Cooper, Chilliwack, BC William C. Klassen, Winnipeg, MB Ethel I. Perchaluk, Winnipeg, MB APRIL 2019 Jack Kaplan, Winnipeg, MB Katherine M. Klassen, Winnipeg, MB Laurena M.E. Leskiw, Calgary, AB Geraldine F. Mayes, Winnipeg, MB

8 n

RTAM KIT Summer 2019

FEBRUARY 2019 Victoria Baker, Calgary, AB Leon Joseph Albert Beauchamp, Winnipeg, MB Archie D. Cameron, Stonewall, MB Arthur A. De Alwis, Sri Lanka, LKA Neta Agnes Dyck, Langley, BC Robert J. Hibbert, Winnipeg, MB Lorne L. Karlowsky, Winnipeg, MB Joan Alexa MacDonald, Winnipeg, MB Mary Oliver, Winnipeg, MB Albert E. Parnetta, Winnipeg, MB Abram Peters, Steinbach, MB Ronald E. Phillips, Winnipeg, MB Albin J. Polz, Winnipeg, MB Louis Emil Radakovits, Winnipeg, MB Nora Reid, Winnipeg, MB John Joseph Stairs, Matlock, MB Eva M. Tetzlaff, Binscarth, MB Catherine M. Thexton, Winnipeg, MB Sheila E. Wiseman, Winnipeg, MB

MARCH 2019 Fannye Andrews, Winnipeg, MB Esther Bornn, Winnipeg, MB Gary Raymond Einarson, Gimli, MB Claudia Eisbrenner, Winnipeg, MB Constance Honor Flanagan, Winnipeg, MB Larry George Genyk, Winnipeg, MB Eva A. Gooden, Brandon, MB Cecile L. Granger, Winnipeg, MB J. John Grenon, Winnipeg, MB James Grose, Winnipeg, MB Laura M. Hanna, Winnipeg, MB Vera E. Hanneson, Vancouver, BC Hendrika Hartman, Winnipeg, MB Bessie Marie Hill, Winnipeg, MB Lillian I. Hirst, Headingley, MB Raymond Edgar Kennedy, Winnipeg, MB Leslie M. Meadows, Winnipeg, MB Bernard Michael Semotok, Killarney, MB Sara Thiessen, Winkler, MB Mary Wasylenko, Winnipeg, MB Bernard Peter Zakaluk, Winnipeg, MB

Carol Pelton On April 30, in Australia, our RTAM Treasurer, Carol Pelton, passed away, suddenly, at the age of 70 years. She was just completing a three month stay in Australia and was about to return to Canada in time for the 2019 AGM. Carol retired from teaching in 2003. Her teaching career saw her working in varied locales with diverse cultures and teaching assignments Her extensive travel and teaching experiences had given her a very global perspective. Her last teaching assignment was in Thompson, Manitoba where she lived from 1987 to 2015 when she moved to Winnipeg.

Carol continued to be a member of several other organizations, including Business and Professional Women and Rotary. Her involvement had provided many opportunities to develop leadership skills and to work in a collaborative setting.

She has served both as a Director and Treasurer of RTAM since 2008, as well as, working on various committees that included Website, Public Relations, Political Advocacy, Strategic Planning, Bylaws and Technology.

Carol was deeply committed to serving RTAM and spent a great deal of time and energy towards moving RTAM forward in implementing its Strategic Plan. She will be missed by all of the Board.

Committee And Chapter Reports Reprinted from AGM Material President’s Report

RTAM members as observers at the MTS Regional Meetings. Several Directors attended the meeting in their area.

Respectfully submitted by Joan Dawson (Thompson) It has been a very eventful year with several initiatives to keep us busy. Our progress this year has been very positive. The RTAM Board of Directors has worked diligently to move forward with the goals set out in the Strategic Plan 2017. I would like to thank the Directors and their Committee Members for their invaluable contributions to the success of RTAM. Cooperative effort on the part of everyone brings success.

The business of RTAM is increasing every year and staff is an integral part of our team. They do a wonderful job of ensuring the office runs smoothly and the work of the Board goes forward. This year we had some unforeseen operational challenges due to the resignation of the Executive Director (ED) and the extended leave of the Member Services Coordinator (MSC).

A part-time ED was hired in 2016 with the rationale that the work of the organization was too much for a volunteer board to manage.

Three years later, the ED resignation, provided an opportunity to once again review the administrative supports required to support the work of RTAM. It became clear that in order to ensure that the ED could fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the position, additional administrative support was required.

Various staffing models were considered. The option seen as the best fit, which also respected human and financial resources, was to supplement the existing staffing compliment with an Office Administrator (OA). The OA position provides office management, supervisory functions, accounting services for office operations and administrative support to the ED. Such support is expected to allow the ED to fulfill the duties and responsibilities of the position. An OA has been hired and the MSC temporary vacancy is filled through the services of a temporary staffing agency. In view of the re-structuring, the recruitment of an ED is expected to take place over the summer with a target start date of September.

1.3

Advocacy

1.1

Goal: To build/strengthen better government relations.

Goal: To build/strengthen better MTS relations.

•

Pat Bowslaugh, RTAM Director represented RTAM at the 99th AGM banquet of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society.

•

Guy Hansen and JoAnne Hoyak, RTAM Directors, represented RTAM and flew the RTAM flag at the MTS rally in Winnipeg and members of the Thompson Association of Retired Teachers carried the RTAM flag at the MTS Rally in Thompson.

•

Norm Gould, President, MTS approved the attendance of

•

At the invitation of MTS, RTAM Officers, Joan Dawson, Peggy Prendergast, and Rosalie Bornn attended a luncheon meeting with MTS representatives, Norm Gould, President, James Bedford, Vice President and Roland Stankevicius, General Secretary. The meeting was indicative of the success in maintaining and building RTAM’s positive relationship with MTS.

•

MTS supplied the AGM committee with copies of the reproduction of the first edition of The Bulletin Of the Manitoba Teachers’ Federation and a special edition of the Manitoba Teacher to look back on our past 100 years and look forward to the next 100 years for delegates at the RTAM AGM.

Goal: To build/strengthen better community relations.

2.

Communication

2.1

Goal: To improve the website.

The 2018-2019-Membership List and Website Project approved in the 2018-2019 budget has been delayed due to the time needed to resolve the motion passed at the AGM to explore the feasibility of MTS hosting the RTAM website combined with unanticipated staffing challenges discussed previously in this report. For the first half of the year, day to day website requests had been managed by the Executive Director (ED) within existing resources. As we moved into the second half of the year and the corresponding increased workload demands (e.g.

Budget, AGM) it was determined that additional human and financial resources would be necessary to keep up with demand.

Additionally, there were requests on hold because they required technical/design expertise beyond that expected of staff or volunteers. To ensure the update of content and maintenance of the present RTAM website, the Board approved the allocation of funding to support the outsourcing of complex web service requests to Blue Ink Media for start to finish processing. The RTAM approvals protocol remains in place.

RTAM once again participated in annual meetings with members of all three political parties to bring forward items of concern for discussion.

1.2

At the November Board Meeting, James Bedford, MTS Vice-President joined us for lunch. Following which, he gave a detailed account of the preparations and events being planned for the 100th Anniversary of the creation of MTS. He stated “In its planning for the MTS 100th Anniversary, the Committee is mindful of the fact that events are intended to be accessible for all active and retired members.” He noted that the ability to work with RTAM to achieve this has been indispensable and very much appreciated. RTAM has two members who serve on this committee.

This goal was added in March 2019

I am happy to report that the implementation of the Strategic Plan has gone forward and is serving to guide the actions of the Board and Committees. We have continued to implement more of its goals and strategies and that is reflected in the Bylaws and Policy motions that are being considered at this AGM. Here are some of the further actions and activities initiated this year.

1.

•

3.

Governance

3.1

Goal: To improve governance and meeting effectiveness.

•

The Board participated in a workshop on Roles and Responsibilities of a Non-Profit Board facilitated by Volunteer Manitoba.

•

Updated Committee Member and Board Member Handbooks assist Directors and committee members to participate effectively.

RTAM.MB.CA n 9

•

3.2

In the second year of the Strategic Plan implementation the structure to link committee project budget and expenditures to the short and long term direction of the plan has proved to be very effective in moving us forward to accomplish the goals of RTAM and improve accountability.

Goal: To revitalize the Board by encouraging and recruiting new Directors from across the province.

New Bylaws addressing term limits and Board makeup are being put forward at this AGM.

4.

Member Services

4.1

Goal: To build, maintain and serve the RTAM membership. ·

Pre-Retirement seminars have taken place in Winnipeg and Brandon and one is planned for Thompson.

·

The Pension Committee has reviewed and revised the RTAM NOMINATION PROCESS for TRAF BOARD APPOINTMENT and continues to advocate for input into the nomination of an RTAM representative on the TRAF Board.

·

·

4.2

In response to a request from ACER-CART an email was circulated to Chapter Presidents, Board and Committee members encouraging RTAM members to participate in the Government of Canada consultation on enhancing retirement security.

An RTAM submission was made in response to the Manitoba Government’s Pre-Budget 2019 Consultation initiative.

Goal: To improve overall membership support.

At AGM 2018 in Winnipeg last year, an important budget project connected to our Strategic Plan was brought forward after considerable research. The intent of the approved project was a) to proceed with the development of a Membership Database for RTAM and b) to significantly improve the RTAM website.

Unfortunately, the delay in getting the project started due to the resolution of the AGM motion referenced previously (see also 2.1) and unforeseen staffing challenges, the project could not be successfully undertaken this year As a result, the approved budget allocation for the 2018-2019-Membership List and Website Project has been carried over to the 2019-20 RTAM Budget. It is the recommendation of the current board that the Project receive top priority from the incoming RTAM Board. It is recognized that moving forward with the Project will require that the Executor Director position be filled by September as planned.

5.

and perhaps find an area of interest where you could assist either at the Board or the Chapter levels. The RTAM directors and committee members and our office staff have worked diligently to grow the membership and to provide services that will positively affect the well-being of our members, and thereby meet the needs of our growing organization. Please consider assisting RTAM by signing up for a committee or letting your name stand for a Director or an Officer position on the RTAM Board in the future.

I would like to thank the membership for this opportunity to serve as President of RTAM and to really learn what a Board is all about. It has been a very interesting year with a steep learning curve. I recommend the experience to anyone. Have a wonderful summer, enjoy the sun and take time to smell the flowers.

RTAM BYLAW AND POLICY CHANGES The following recommendations are from the Bylaws and Policy Committee October 18, 2018 and January 17, 2019, meetings.

A. BYLAW CHANGES: Bylaw Amendment Motion #1 (Smith/McAdam) Under ARTICLE 1 – DEFINITIONS In 1.01 k), add the word “immediate” in front of “Past President” to read as follows: 1.01 k) “officers” means those directors of the Corporation who are its President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and immediate Past President.

Rationale: Addition of the word “immediate” gives consistency and transparency in relationship to existing RTAM Bylaws subsection 7.03 b) and the past practice of the RTAM Board with regards to the Past President position. This change also aligns the Bylaws with Policy Clause 9.07(6) a) which sets out the makeup of the Officers’ Committee.

Add the following definitions: 1.01 m) “member” means someone who qualifies under membership; 1.01 n) “educator” is a person who provides instruction or education, a certified teacher.

Rationale: For transparency purposes, for the way decisions to grant Full Memberships are being made and clarification of intent of the Bylaw in place.

Wellness

Bylaw Amendment Motion #2 (Smith/McAdam)

Goal: To improve communication and advocacy on health, wellness and economic security issues for the RTAM membership.

Under ARTICLE 2 – OBJECTS

•

•

The Wellness Advocacy and Student Awards Committee developed and posted a survey to the RTAM website asking for information on the types of seminars that members would like to attend and other feedback. The information gathered will be used in planning future events.

A Wellness Seminar on the topics of health care directives, wills and power of attorney was offered to the membership.

These are some, but by no means all of the initiatives undertaken

by RTAM this year. Please take the time to read all of the Committee Reports to familiarize yourselves with the activities of the Board

10 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

In 2.03 Vision Statement - Delete the word “economic” in front of “well-being” to read as follows: The vision of The Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) is the well-being of retired teachers through appropriate member services and strong partner relationships.

Rationale: The Vision Statement was revisited in Bylaws review.

Removal of economic only emphasizes that all forms of well-being (physical, mental, emotional, social, etc.), including economic wellness are important to RTAM members.

Bylaw Amendment Motion #3 (Smith/McAdam)

Under ARTICLE 3 - MEMBERSHIP

c)

The term of office for a Board shall be immediately following the AGM at which the Board was elected to the end of the next AGM.

d)

An incumbent director, if qualified, is eligible for re-election to the Board.

ARTICLE 3 be revised as follows (changes are in bold): 3.01 Full Members The following may be considered a full member (herein after defined as member) of RTAM: a)

a certified teacher with five years of teaching experience in Manitoba in receipt of a pension from TRAF, or

b)

a retired Manitoba-certified teacher with five years of teaching experience in Manitoba who is not eligible to receive a pension from TRAF.

Any person qualified for such membership shall become a Full Member upon payment of the set membership fee.

3.03 Life Member and Honourary Member a) A current RTAM member who reaches the age of ninety (90) shall be granted Life Membership in RTAM. b) The Board may, from time to time, confer Honourary Membership on a person who is not an RTAM member. c) Fees shall be waived for Life and Honourary members.

Rationale: This amendment is an effort to tighten up full membership criteria to keep it more in line with what is required by retired teacher organizations in other provinces. It cleans up the language and makes the membership criteria more transparent in how membership has been considered in the past.

Bylaw Amendment Motion #4 (Smith/McAdam) Under ARTICLE 6 – BOARD OF DIRECTORS Subsections 6.01 Number of Directors and Quorum and 6.04 Election and Term of Office be revised as follows (changes are in bold): 6.01 Number of Directors and Quorum The Board shall consist of not fewer than twelve (12) and not more than fifteen (15) directors. The quorum for the transaction of business, at any meeting of the Board of Directors, shall consist of a majority of the directors.

Rationale: This amendment aligns with the Strategic Plan which was implemented in 2017. The third pillar, Governance Goal 3.3, to revitalize the Board by encouraging and recruiting new Directors from across the province.

B. Policy Changes: Policy Motion # 1 (Smith/McAdam) Under SECTION – DEFINITIONS (p.1) In n) “officers”, add the word “immediate” in front of “Past President” to read as follows: n) “officers” means those Directors of RTAM who are its President, Vice President, Secretary, Treasurer and immediate Past President.

Rationale: To synchronize with the definitions of Officers between the Bylaws and Policy Manuals and Policy Clause 9.07(6) a) which sets out the makeup of the Officers’ Committee.

Policy Motion # 2 (Smith/McAdam) Under SECTION 7 – BOARD OF DIRECTORS Subsection 7.05 Removal of a Board Member (p.8), add the following clause as a) and renumber the remaining clauses b) to f): a) If a director/officer misses three (3) consecutive Board meetings other than for unforeseen circumstances, (as determined by the officers), that director/officer is deemed to have immediately resigned from the Board and that director’s/officer’s responsibilities shall be reassigned for the balance of that operating year.

Rationale: Attending Board meetings regularly and doing the work of the Board consistently, as required, are considered vital fiduciary responsibilities of not-for-profit Board members. Other boards have similar policies.

Policy Motion # 3 (Smith/McAdam) Rationale: Research has been done into the benefits and detriments of large versus small Board sizes. For many years, when facilitators were engaged by RTAM for guidance on governance matters, cautions were always given as to the fact that the RTAM Board is very large for a not-for-profit organization.

6.04 Election and Term of Office a)

b)

The directors shall hold office for a term of one (1) year.

Term Limits for Board Members be five (5) consecutive years on the Board commencing with members who were on the Board since 2017.

Under SECTION 8 – DUTIES OF THE OFFICERS (p. 9) Clause 8.01 President e) KIT, add the following clause as i. and renumber the existing duty as ii. e)

KIT: i.

Submit a President’s Report for each issue of KIT.

ii.

Approve each issue of KIT prior to its printing.

Rationale: Statements are in keeping with the overall responsibility of the President for oversight of communication coming from the RTAM organization.

RTAM.MB.CA n 11

Policy Motion # 4 (Smith/McAdam)

President, MTS Local Association Presidents, TRAF, school divisions, funded independent schools and other organizations as directed or approved by the Board.

Under SECTION 9 – COMMITTEES (p.11) 9.04 Removal of Committee Chairs or Members d) (p.13) be revised as below in bold with the balance of subsection 9.04 unchanged.

9.07 (4) (iii) Website Sub-Committee a)

9.04 Removal of Committee Chairs or Members The Board may remove a Committee Chair or Member, who has: a)

violated the Code of Conduct in subsection 2.10, and/or

b)

behaved in a disorderly, disruptive, or unprofessional/unethical manner and/or

c)

not fulfilled the duties of his/her position, and/or

d)

missed, without adequate cause (as determined by the Officers), three meetings, and/or

e)

requested that he/she be removed.

Due process is to be followed in establishing that violations referenced in clauses a) to d) have occurred.

The Committee Chair or Member must be informed of the pending motion for removal at least one month before the board meeting, at which the motion will be tabled, and informed that he/she may respond to the motion, at that meeting, by written submission beforehand or by appearing in person. A two-thirds majority vote of the Directors, in attendance at the meeting at which the motion is tabled, shall be required for removal of the Committee Chair or Member from the Committee.

Rationale: “as determined by the Officers” gives the decision-making in such cases a smaller, less public and more confidential venue to recommend to the full Board what is best for the RTAM organization, as a whole. It also eliminates unilateral power of a President alone, having to make such decisions.

Policy Motion #5 (Smith/McAdam) Under SECTION 9 – COMMITTEES (p.11) 9.07 (4) Communications Committee (p.16) be revised as below with changes in bold (except for headings) and strike through for deletions.

9.07 (4) Communications Committee The Communications Committee shall: a)

Be the chairs of the KIT, Public Relations and Website Sub-Committees, or their representatives as appointed by the Board, as members and they will agree on which sub-committee chair will chair this Committee.

9.07 (4) (i) KIT Sub-Committee a)

Once the issue of KIT has been approved by the President, the KIT Sub-Committee shall direct the printing and distribution of the magazine to members and to others including: ACER-CART President, retired teachers’ organizations in other provinces, MTS

12 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

The Website Sub-Committee shall annually, be responsible for recommending to the Board by the April Board meeting, the guidelines, in writing, for the design, content standards, and development of the Website.

Rationale: All of the changes in this section are in keeping with the Communication pillar of the Strategic Plan 2017. As well, the changes reflect a serious effort by RTAM to improve its communication networks with its current members, future and potential members, partners and stakeholders, as well as the public, in general.

C. Housekeeping Motions: (Smith/McAdam) That the present Bylaws and Policy Committee be authorized to update the RTAM Bylaws Manual by incorporating the AGM 2019 approved Bylaw changes.

(Smith/McAdam) That the present Bylaws and Policy Committee be authorized to update the RTAM Policy Manual 2018 by incorporating the AGM 2019 approved Policy changes.

Note: Typos, punctuation, capitalization, eliminating pronouns and updating page numbers will be reviewed once Bylaw and Policy changes have been approved at the AGM and prior to printing.

REPORTS OF THE RTAM STANDING & AD HOC COMMITTEES AGM and Elections Respectfully submitted by Rosalie Bornn, Chair (Dauphin) Member: Pat Bowslaugh (Brandon) In keeping with past practice, the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of RTAM alternates year-to-year between a Winnipeg location and a non-Winnipeg location. Subsequently, with the assistance of the local RTAM Chapter, the Westman Retired Educators’ Association (WREA), Brandon, Manitoba became the host community for AGM 2019. The Clarion Hotel and Suites was chosen as the location for the event.

Usually, much of the AGM preparations are managed by the RTAM Office Staff, in close communication with the Committee and the President. This year, RTAM is most fortunate for and appreciative of the support of a dedicated and enthusiastic group of WREA volunteers for their assistance with the planning and facilitation of components of AGM 2019.

The Election process for AGM 2019 is under the oversight of Committee members, Rosalie Bornn and Pat Bowslaugh.

We look forward to some great Westman-style hospitality at this year’s event in Brandon.

As is past practice, AGM for the following year will revert to a Winnipeg location.

Benefits Respectfully submitted by Pat Bowslaugh, Chair (Brandon) Members: Raymond Bisson (Winnipeg), Wayne Hughes (Winnipeg),

Vel McAdam (The Pas), Judy Olmstead (Brandon), Doreen Sage (Neepawa) This has been a busy year for the Committee tasked with working in conjunction with Johnson Inc. as we attempt to provide the best coverages for our RTAM members.

The biggest change, effective April 1, 2019, is with the Travel Plan.

Facing a situation in which our previous provider requested a premium increase of over 36%, Johnson searched for new carriers which ended with Prestige Travel through Royal and Sun Alliance. All of the previous travel benefits continue but with enhancements including:

of Directors for their valuable input and their support of the Committee. Sincere appreciation is extended to the Bylaws and Policy Committee members for their hard work and efforts throughout the year. Their mentorship has been extremely helpful in my first year as Chair of this Committee.

Communications Carol Pelton, Chair (Winnipeg) Members: Ralph Cibula, Website Chair (Gladstone), Vel McAdam, Public Relations Chair (The Pas), Doreen Sage, KIT Chair (Neepawa)

•

Up to a $5.0 Million maximum.

•

Multiple trips may be taken within Canada and multiple trips of 62 days may be taken outside of Canada.

Keep In Touch (KIT)

•

The Trip Cancellation Coverage has increased from $7,000 to $8,000 per insured person.

•

Baggage and Personal Effects Coverage is now $3,000 per family.

Respectfully submitted by Doreen Sage, Chair and Editor (Neepawa)

Please read the Certificate of Insurance carefully for all details. The great news is the premiums for the upcoming term remain the same as last year’s policy costs.

The second travel coverage option is MEDOC. These coverages of 17 or 35 days are sensitive to health changes which must always be reported. There are two Extended Health Care plans: the Core Plan and Enhanced Plan. Based on numerous costs, the premium rates increased by 1.6%.The Dental Care Plan premium increase of 1.3% reflects the increased costs of dental care. Our plan will now cover both metal and coloured amalgam fillings as opposed to previously when only the least expensive were covered. RTAM Members also have access to Home Insurance and Life Insurance coverages. For information on these plans please contact Johnson at 1-877-9892600.

Your Benefits Committee met formally a total of six times. Our Johnson Team of Jessica Simpson and Jeff Bennett met personally for our first meeting and then with each of the next five meetings through teleconference contact. We feel especially blessed for this relationship for if we had anything arise between our regular meetings a text message, email or phone call provided us with immediate support.

We also were recipients of phone calls and letters from members.

These are appreciated and are used to negotiate new details for our plans. Most of these ongoing tips have been reported in KIT for your support.

Members: Rosalie Bornn (Dauphin), Joan Goble (Thompson), Joan Rink (Brookdale), Beth Smith (Dauphin), William Taylor (Brandon) KIT, the newsletter/magazine of the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM), is published four times a year, in full colour.

All material is emailed to the editor from RTAM Committee Chairs, RTAM Chapters, by individual RTAM members and outside sources. This material is then forwarded to KIT committee members and the President for editing. Final copy is sent to the publisher by the editor. The editor then meets with the publisher for a final edit before copy is sent to the printer. The printer addresses each issue, sorts and delivers product to Canada Post.

KIT is also available on the website. Readers can sign up to have their copy delivered digitally, which happens as soon as the print copy is ready. See ad in the most recent issue to request your digital copy.

The photo contest is becoming increasingly popular and we have received some great photos. Thank you to Joan Dawson for organizing this contest. Check out the new categories. With this issue, we are trying a new contest, with Beth Smith doing all the work. Do give it a try.

Thank you to all Committee Chairs, Chapters and individuals for submitting material and photos. These are what make up KIT and make KIT what it is.

Public Relations (PR)

Bylaws and Policy Respectfully submitted by Beth Smith, Chair (Dauphin)

Respectfully submitted by Vel McAdam, Chair (The Pas)

Members: Charles Clifford (Portage la Prairie), Vel McAdam (The Pas), Dorothy Young (Winnipeg)

Members: Bill Cann (Winnipeg), Guy Hansen (Winnipeg), Ken Malcom (Dauphin), John Sushelnitsky (Portage la Prairie)

Committee communication and collaboration throughout the year consisted of two committee meetings, with e-mail and phone communication between meetings and amongst members.

The Public Relations Committee met several times this year with the focal point of our agendas being the update of our “Join Us” brochure. A special thank you to committee member, Bill Cann, for all his work on the computer layout he did for the committee when all of our changes had been completed. Thanks to all of his efforts, the pamphlet has gone to print and will be ready for AGM.

The main task of the Committee for 2018-2019 was the complete review and revision of the RTAM Bylaws Manual. In addition, the Committee dealt with recommendations, additions and updates of bylaws and policies that were referred for consideration by the Board of Directors, through the RTAM committee channels and by Staff. As a result, at the February 2019 Board meeting, four Bylaw motions were affirmed and will be brought to AGM 2019 for approval by the required 2/3 majority vote. As well, five interim policy statements are being brought to AGM 2019 for disposition.

Thank you to President Dawson, Past President Bornn and the Board

We addressed the issue of promotional items for AGM and were consulted with regards to a flag stand for our flag. The topic of “branding” and the Dooley Report were discussed.

The idea of generating a “media list” was discussed and we are in the process of looking to other organizations that may already have such a list which they might share with us.

RTAM.MB.CA n 13

Ideas were discussed as to how to increase membership and how to promote interest in “Board” and “Committee” representation from among that membership. A joint meeting between Public Relations and Political Advocacy, with Peggy Prendergast also in attendance was held to discuss a broader array of topics of interest to all.

Finally, our committee will be responsible for assisting with the Hospitality Room at the AGM - looking forward to seeing everyone there.

Website Respectfully submitted by Ralph Cibula, Chair (Gladstone) Members: Jack Fraser (Winnipeg), Wayne Hughes (Winnipeg), Doreen Sage (Neepawa) The 2018 AGM left the 2018-19 Board with the task of dealing with the motion “that the Website Committee explore the feasibility of the Manitoba Teachers Society hosting the RTAM website on or beside MBTeach.org.” The Committee involved the mover of the motion in discussions surrounding areas of cost savings to RTAM.

ters Initiative Grant, a copy of the RTAM Strategic Plan and updated “Meeting Ideas”.

The total number of RTAM members as of March 31, 2018 is 9,921.

Eleven Chapter Initiative Grants were approved as of April 15, 2019.

An advertisement was placed in the Manitoba Teacher, January/ February edition to inform active teachers of Pre-Retirement Seminars in Winnipeg and Brandon. Ads were also placed on the RTAM website and in our KIT magazine, as it is distributed to every school in Manitoba. Letters and posters about the seminars were sent to superintendents, principals of the funded independent schools and presidents of the Local Teachers’ Associations.

The Brandon and Thompson Pre-Retirement Seminars were held in April 2019. The Winnipeg Pre-Retirement Seminar was held in February 2019. There were 91 people in attendance (82 teachers/ guests and 9 RTAM volunteers). These seminars have three common themes: An overview of RTAM’s Voluntary Group Benefit Plans, “Life After Teaching” with a panel of three retired teachers and RTAM - Who We Are, a Power Point Presentation.

“Did You Know”, an information article about MTS 100th Anniversary events and local opportunities for Chapter participation, compiled by Beth Smith, was published in the Spring 2018 KIT Magazine.

After deliberations at the Committee and Board levels, it was decided that the independence and self-administration of the website was the overriding concern. In the end, the process pointed clearly for RTAM to proceed as an independent entity on the matter of the website. We are looking forward to the start of the 2018-2019 Membership List and Website Project in 2019-2020.

An RTAM bookmark was designed, on the suggestion of Allen Havard, and was distributed at RTAM’s Pre-Retirement Seminar and the 2019 AGM.

Continued effort took place during the course of this year to edit, update and post new materials as per usual. We had been moving forward with minimal expenditures, below the cost of what would normally be needed to do the work at the webmaster level. Additional resources, human and financial, were needed to meet the demand for website service requests. To allow for the update and maintenance of the current website, the Board approved the allocation of $3,000 in funding, transferred from the Committee Projects and Seminar Budget Pool to the Website Development Budget.

Respectfully submitted by Joan Dawson (Thompson) President

I want to express my appreciation to the committee members for their work on the committee: Jack Fraser, Wayne Hughes, and Doreen Sage during this year and the inputs from Carol Pelton and Joan Dawson. Also the technical work of the webmaster Gayl Punzalan of Blue Ink Media.

The Officers Committee met as necessary in coordination with the monthly RTAM

Maximizing our membership numbers with online communications will maximize our common purpose and minimize the cost of doing so. Getting the best value online set-up and running it well should be an immediate priority.

Thank you to all the committee members for all their hard work and dedication throughout the year.

Officers

Members: Rosalie Bornn, Past President (Dauphin), Carol Pelton, Treasurer (Winnipeg), Peggy Prendergast, Vice President (Winnipeg), John Sushelnitsky, Secretary (Portage la Prairie) As our treasurer, Carol Pelton, requested a leave of absence extending from the end of January to May 2, 2019, it was decided to ask Raymond Bisson (Winnipeg) to become acting treasurer for the duration of her leave.

Board Meetings. Committee consultation and collaboration also often occurred by email or telephone. When deemed necessary, the Executive Director Mary-Anne Slegers was asked to attend meetings with ex officio status.

The committee met to: •

Review items related to administration, including staff hiring and staff contract negotiation, and finance matters, or any other matters, referred to it by the Board for study and report and/or to bring recommendations to the Board for consideration.

•

Regularly review the financial reports with the Treasurer.

•

Review the Auditor’s Report with the Auditor together with one Director appointed by the Board.

•

Recommend to the Board, for approval, Human Resource Management policies consistent with Section 15.0 of the Policy Manual.

•

Assist the Board in defining issues of importance to the membership and initiate consideration of other pertinent issues.

Membership and Chapters Respectfully submitted by Linda Scott, Chair (Winnipeg) Members: Rosalie Bornn (Dauphin), Charles Clifford (Portage la Prairie), Audrey Greenhill (Winnipeg), Allen Havard (Winnipeg), Esmeralda Havard (Winnipeg), Beth Smith (Dauphin) Most of the Membership and Chapters Committee correspondence occurs through e-mail and telephone conversations, but as need arises, our meetings are held on the morning the day after the board meeting.

Each RTAM Chapter President was sent a welcome letter in the fall of 2018 along with the Guidelines and Application form for the Chap-

14 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

No action was taken by the Officers’ Committee without prior approval by the Board unless an emergent issue situation existed.

Thank you to the members of this committee and Mary-Anne for their hard work and support throughout the year. Their combined wisdom and experience were what made this committee so effective.

Pension Respectfully submitted by Alison Logan, Chair (Winnipeg) Members: Raymond Bisson (Winnipeg), Bill Cann (Winnipeg), JoAnne Hoyak (MacGregor), Julian Hoyak (MacGregor), Rudy Peters (Winnipeg) Six committee meetings were held during the 2018 - 2019 year.

Issues on the pension agenda included: 1.

Continued vigilance and opposition to the Federal government’s Bill C-27 which may set precedence and impact existing pensions and the defined benefit security they offer now.

2.

Monitoring the status of the joint agreement with MTS and accepted by the TRAF Board as to the dispersal of the restricted surplus. The dispersal has been in place since July 1, 2018 and will continue over 5 years.

3.

As of July 1, 2019 COLA will be 1.23%

4.

Appointment of an RTAM member to the TRAF Board. The protocol for the selection process has been reviewed and revised by the committee.

5.

Continued communication with ACER-CART, and in particular supporting their petition opposing Bill C-27.

6.

Continuation of the tradition of meeting with our provincial representatives. Our meeting with the Honourable Kelvin Goertzen, Minister of Education and Training included a discussion addressing an RTAM representative being named to the TRAF Board, the government’s unfunded liability to the teacher’s pension plan and RTAM’s opposition to Bill C-27.

Political Advocacy Respectfully submitted by John Sushelnitsky, Chair (Portage la Prairie) Members: Linda Blair (Winnipeg), Ralph Cibula (Gladstone), Guy Hansen (Winnipeg), JoAnne Hoyak (MacGregor), Julian Hoyak (MacGregor) In the spring of 2018, the Political Advocacy (PA) Committee took the lead in organizing a very successful Meet and Greet with Members of the Legislative Assembly (MLA). It was later decided that the next such event would be in 2020, the year of the scheduled provincial election.

On October 1st, the PA Committee promoted the United Nations’ Day of the Older Persons by encouraging Chapters to organize a local event emphasizing the contributions of seniors to their communities.

Updates were brought to the Board on the progress of selecting a candidate for the RTAM Indigenous Bursary. The selection was made by the University College of the North, centred in The Pas. Prior to the last federal election, candidate Justin Trudeau said that this would be the last “first by the post” and that a form of proportional representation (PR) would be used in the future. However, Prime Minister Trudeau had second thoughts. Nevertheless, the PA Committee closely followed the PR referendum held in British Columbia and reported the results to the Board.

The disparity of economic wealth that occurs in Canada and the rest of the world was studied and submitted to RTAM readership in KIT

by Julian Hoyak. The second disparity based on gender income and promotion opportunities continues to be a serious issue.

The topic of “ageism” was also examined in a detailed report by Linda Blair. RTAM’s connection to the Manitoba Seniors’ Coalition is a fundamental building block in our outreach to the wider Manitoba community.

The Board assigned two issues to the Committee which will be ongoing into the next term. Firstly, the Committee was to establish what might be the ramifications of the amalgamation of school divisions, and secondly, the committee is to track the progress of The Manitoba Commission on Kindergarten to Grade 12 Education K-12, due to report in February 2020.

The topic of the Education Review was discussed with the Minister of Education and Training at a meeting of RTAM representatives in February. The Honourable Kelvin Goertzen made it clear that the review would welcome submissions from RTAM as an organization and from retired teachers individually. He also said that defined benefit pension plans, teachers’ salaries and the raising of finances were not in the parameters of the review.

Wellness Advocacy and Student Awards Committee Respectfully submitted by Peggy Prendergast, Chair (Winnipeg) Members: Hélène Beauchemin (Winnipeg) (June-November 2018), Brian Paterson (Brandon) (February-June 2019), Maureen Recksiedler (Stonewall), Joan Rink (Brookdale) The Wellness Advocacy and Student Awards Committee held six meetings this year. Much of the ongoing communication and work was shared and carried on by electronic means.

Student Awards In collaboration with The Winnipeg Foundation, a $50,000 endowment fund was established in October 2013 to fund an ongoing award program. As part of its mandate, the committee will continue to have responsibility for the annual administration of the RTAM Endowment Award Program with The Winnipeg Foundation.

At the beginning of September, using the RTAM Student Awards Operations Manual, the Student Awards selection committee recommended to the RTAM Board that four awards of $700 each be made available to the four students selected who are relatives of RTAM members. Forty nine students submitted applications.

The Winnipeg Foundation has informed RTAM there will be enough funds for the 2019 Award year to offer four awards of $850 to four students who are relatives of RTAM members.

Any RTAM member may sponsor a student who is a relative and a Grade 12 graduate. Application forms are available at the RTAM Office, in the Spring 2019 edition of KIT and on the RTAM Website.

Wellness Advocacy and Seminars The committee presented an afternoon Wellness Seminar entitled: “Your Health Directive – ERIK Kit – Power of Attorney – Wills – HELP” at the Holiday Inn South Hotel on October 31, 2018: seventy nine people attended. In the evaluations received, Sharon Tod, a lawyer who specializes in this topic, led the seminar and was once again appreciated for the information, time and expertise she voluntarily gives to RTAM members on this important topic.

RTAM.MB.CA n 15

Links to articles of national interest and pertinent local information have been added to the Wellness Advocacy section of the RTAM Website for member information.

A survey on the RTAM Website in December and January, solicited seminar and workshop suggestions from RTAM members. Ninety five respondents gave interesting comments and suggestions. Whereas the number of responses was not significant, it did give some helpful suggestions to the committee that appears in the recommendations for next year’s committee.

Recommendations: 1.

Wellness Seminars be presented in the rural areas of the province as well as in Winnipeg.

2.

Wellness Seminars could be planned with a host RTAM Chapter for RTAM member involvement and/or partnering.

3.

KIT delivery dates be available by the end of June for pre planning dates and locations of Wellness Seminars for advertising in KIT.

4.

RTAM Project Allocation Forms be prepared in June once dates and locations are established.

5.

The committee to provide RTAM members with current information on healthy aging/wealth management in KIT and on the website.

6.

The recommended budget to include funds for incentive grants.

Thank you to the committee involved for the intense work required in both the Award Program and the Wellness Seminar program.

REPORTS ON RTAM REPRESENTATION ON OUTSIDE GROUPS/COMMITTEES ACER-CART Respectfully submitted by Peggy Prendergast, Director Observer: Joan Dawson (Thompson) To quote from the Summer 2018 edition of OPTIONS, The Newsletter of ACER-CART and President Bill Berryman, “our number one priority for 2018/2019 was “to participate in the 2019 Federal election by co-operating with other like-minded groups to protect pensions, to advocate for a single payer national pharmacare program and a Federal Minister of Seniors”.”

In support of the priorities, ACER-CART will continue to: •

“Monitor the 10-year bilateral health funding agreements with the provinces,

•

Oppose the surrender of the accrued benefits inherent in defined benefit plans,

•

Support the enhancement of the CPP, and

•

Oppose the privatization of health care.”

Actions taken: 1.

On July 18, 2018, Filomena Tassi was introduced as the Federal Minister for Seniors.

2.

Dr. Eric Hoskins Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare anticipates reporting to the Federal government in the spring of 2019. Check www.letstalkhealth.ca and click National Pharmacare Online Consultation for information.

Members: Pat Bowslaugh, Chair, Benefits Committee (Brandon), Alison Logan, Chair, Pension Committee (Winnipeg), Peggy Prendergast, Vice President, Chair, Wellness Advocacy and Student Awards (Winnipeg), John Sushelnitsky, Secretary, Chair, Political Advocacy (Portage la Prairie)

3.

A Town Hall was held at the St. James Civic Centre on March 21, 2019 where feedback from attendees and discussions were held on Fraud, Elder Abuse and other Bad Things happening to older adults. RTAM and the Manitoba Seniors Coalition were represented as were other interested older adult organizations.

In November 2018, an adhoc committee was established to prepare a submission to Government’s Pre-Budget 2019 Consultation initiative. The work of the Adhoc Committee culminated with a written submission to the Honourable Scott Fielding, Minister of Finance on December 12, 2018.

4.

ACER-CART initiated Petition e-2039 that was held in February and March. It was supported by the Canadian Coalition for Retirement Security (CCRS). The petition asked “government to affirm the principle that pension promises cannot be broken for any service that has already been earned. It also asks government to protect the pensions of retirees by providing an insurance plan, paid for by pension plans, that would guarantee the benefits of retirees if their plan closes.”

Ad hoc-Provincial Pre-Budget 2019 Consultation Brief Submission Respectfully submitted on behalf of the Committee by Joan Dawson, President

The submission included comments on the effects of inflation on older persons on fixed incomes, support for defined benefits pensions, economic impact of volunteer work by RTAM members, recognition of the increase in funding for various initiatives that help improve citizens cope with life changes and encouragement for continued investment in areas such as limb replacement, cataract surgeries, seniors housing, transportation and Pharmacare. Concern was also expressed that with the repeal of The Manitoba Council on Aging Act, Government has eliminated the advisory body on matters related to the aging process and the needs and interests of older Manitobans, leading to the conclusion that seniors are becoming invisible to Government.

In January, 2019, a letter of acknowledgement was received from the Minister of Finance, thanking RTAM for identifying our priorities for government’s future budget as well as suggestions for improving quality public services. In April, a further more detailed follow up letter was received from the Minister of Finance regarding Budget 2019.

16 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

At close, the total number of signatures was 13,740, with 492 from Manitoba. Thank you to all the RTAM members that supported this endeavour. This is part of ACER-CART Protocol 7 – Advocacy and Promotion Guidelines for Retired Teachers and Seniors in Canada, “Members agree to work cooperatively to highlight any emerging issues that may have direct impact on the pensions or healthy, active and dignified living of all retired teacher members or seniors in Canada.” Thus ACER-CART members are part of CCRS. 5.

Reports from RTAM were submitted to the Western representative for the quarterly ACER-CART Director’s teleconferences.

6.

Registrations for the ACER-CART AGM June 6 to June 8 for delegates Joan Dawson and Peggy Prendergast have been sent.

MTS 100th Anniversary Committee

Manitoba Seniors Coalition

Respectfully submitted by Beth Smith (Dauphin)

Respectfully submitted by Peggy Prendergast (Winnipeg)

RTAM Representatives: Pat Lewicki (Winnipeg), Beth Smith (Dauphin)

RTAM Representatives: Peggy Prendergast, RTAM Vice President and Chair of the Wellness Advocacy and Student Awards Committee (Winnipeg), John Sushelnitsky, Secretary of the RTAM Board and Chair of the Political Advocacy Committee (Portage la Prairie).

The 75th Anniversary Time Capsule Opening was October 20, 2018 at the Presidents’ Council Meeting. The 75th Anniversary Committee Members and 100th Anniversary Committee Members were invited as special guests. The Time Capsule is a student desk which has a glass lid to showcase the contents and has a permanent spot in the foyer of the Arnett Auditorium at McMaster House. Mireille Theriault, MTS Staff, will rotate items in view from time to time.

There will be a 100th Anniversary Time Capsule. Information has been sent to Local Presidents as to their contribution(s) to the Time Capsule. It has been stressed that all Locals are to have item(s) to be included in the Time Capsule, as well as a copy of their Logo.

Kevin Rebeck, Manitoba Federation of Labour, President, offered a short PowerPoint showing an historical snapshot leading into the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike Celebration.

•

Two monuments – weathered steel billboard style monument (currently up), tipped streetcar (July 2019 projected, but hopeful for May).

•

Strike! The Musical – By Danny Schur, at Rainbow Stage June 18 to 28, 2019 and July 2 to 5, 2019. www.rainbowstage.ca

•

Stand! The Movie – By Danny Schur, premiering in 2019. Shot entirely in Winnipeg from August – September 2018. www. stand-movie.com

•

•

•

The Manitoba Seniors Coalition (Coalition) is made up of representatives from A&O: Support Services for Older Adults (www.aosupportservices.ca), Active Aging in Manitoba (www.activeagingmb. ca), Transportation Options Network for Seniors, (www.tonsmb.ca), Manitoba Association of Senior Centres, (www.manitobaseniorscentres.com), la Fédération des aînés franco-manitobains (FAFM) (www. fafm.mb.ca), Long Term & Continuing Care Association of Manitoba (LTCAM) (www.roadtocare.ca), Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (www.rtam.mb.ca), the National Association of Federal Retirees (www.federalretirees.ca) and the Centre on Aging (www.umanitoba. ca/centres/aging).

The Coalition was established from the Seniors Vote 2016 that focused on issues relevant to older adults common to seven different senior organizations during the last provincial election. The pillars of concern were: Healthy Aging, Social Participation, Income Security, Housing, Transportation and Health Care.

Six meetings were held during the 2018/2019 year. Government mailings and information that pertains to older adults was forwarded to the organizations involved for information and response, if appropriate.

Topics of general interest to the Coalition: •

Monitoring of Bill C-27 by attending the monthly meetings of Canadian Coalition for Retirement Security regarding the status of Bill C-27 by telephone.

•

Strike Tours – people being trained for small and large group tours.

An ACER-CART initiative - an e-petition regarding the elimination of Bill C-27 was held and supported by RTAM online in February and March.

•

May 25, 2019, a parade to commemorate the 1919 Winnipeg General Strike in which MTS and other interested groups are participants.

A fundraiser was held in March by A&O at the Human Rights Museum discussing issues surrounding ageism and was attended by some Coalition members.

•

Representatives of the committee attended a workshop on January 23 titled “Reframing Ageism” presented by the Centre on Aging from the University of Manitoba.

•

A Town Hall meeting was held March 21, focusing on Fraud and Bad Things happening to older adults organized by the National Seniors Council, and

•

A webinar discussing the High Dose Flu vaccine for older adults aged 65 and older was produced in January by Active Aging in Manitoba and the Wellness Institute.

Canadian Museum for Human Rights and Manitoba Museum (Overhaul of street scene area) will have displays related to 1919 Strike.

May 24, 2019, Gala Evening at the Fairmont Winnipeg, is ongoing under the direction of the Committee and the Event Manager from Strauss Event and Association Management. A short formal component is planned in order to honour our many founders and builders of the Society along with our many expected guests. Musical entertainment and food are expected to entertain guests for the majority of the evening. Displays to highlight our history will be available.

100th Anniversary banner is on the outside of McMaster House; you can’t miss it.

An MTS Warming Hut was placed at the Forks on the River Trail. It was designed and built by Tec Voc High School students. It is a replica of a one-room schoolhouse and has benches inside with a little free library, stocked with various books.

Reproduction of the first edition of the Bulletin Of the Manitoba Teachers’ Federation and a special edition of the Manitoba Teacher to look back on our past 100 years and look forward to the next 100 years will be ready for delegates at MTS and RTAM AGMs.

RTAM CHAPTER REPORTS

Boyne Chapter of Retired Teachers Respectfully submitted by Bob Kowalchuk, Secretary-Treasurer Members: 22 The Boyne chapter has 22 members. We have no designated President, but someone volunteers to chair each meeting. The Secretary-Treasurer is Bob Kowalchuk. The breakfast meetings are held the last Friday of each month (September to May) at a local Carman restaurant.

RTAM.MB.CA n 17

For our May meeting, we alternate travelling to Elm Creek or Miami and have our breakfast in their community. The fee is $10 per year to provide a scholarship to a Prairie Rose graduate entering a program of learning. The meeting opens with the singing of O Canada.

The first part of the meeting involves the business portion and the sharing of information. This includes an update on the AGM and what our COLA (Cost of Living Allowance) will be. Each meeting also provides an updated RTAM report.

Following the business portion we have the sharing of information regarding upcoming activities in Carman and surrounding communities. This could range from a newly formed ukulele group at our Active Living Centre to a Christmas cheer board concert fundraiser.

The members took a trip to Manitou and a tour of the Nellie McClung museum, followed by lunch at a local restaurant.

Whatever the topic, there will be a lively discussion followed by a round of laughter. One member received a burnt piece of toast and this lead to a discussion about healthy food. Another member was involved in a car accident when his gas pedal was stuck; this lead to an investigation from General Motors. Another discussion on the pros and cons of eating Cheesies.

Someone usually shares an accomplishment regarding their grandchildren. Health updates are given on past members who are unable to attend. But, we always remember to adjourn with a smile on our face.

Nikka Yuko Garden was designated a Provincial Historical Resource in 2017.

The afternoon was spent at the Galt Museum. The museum is named after Sir Alexander Galt, who founded the City of Lethbridge after discovering coal along the banks of the Oldman River. The museum overlooks the site of historic Fort Whoop-Up in the gorge below. Participants in the tour to Lethbridge enjoyed the opportunity to explore new sights, while enjoying the company of fellow Chapter members.

At the Chapter’s November 2018 luncheon, Brenda Marra, BSc, ACSM Certified Clinical Physiologist®, Exercise is Medicine Credential Level III, delivered a motivating presentation on the topic “Taking Charge of Your Heart Health - Major Risk Factors of Heart Disease and Ways to Stay Motivated to Be Active”. The presentation was well received by all in attendance.

All members are notified through email regarding upcoming Chapter events. As well, information following each event is emailed, in the hope that individuals who may not yet have attended a get-together may feel welcome to join the group at a future event. In May 2019, the Calgary Chapter looks forward to the fifth anniversary of our first meeting in Calgary.

Dauphin Area Retired Teachers’ Association (DARTA) Respectfully submitted by Rosalie Bornn, President Members: 85+

This wraps up the Boyne Chapter Report.

Meetings Calgary & Area Chapter Respectfully submitted by Penny Hogan On behalf of the Chapter Committee: Dennis Kozak; Jan Campbell; Penny Hogan; Lillian Kozak and George Takashima.

Members: 57 Of 57 RTAM members on our ‘Chapter Contact List’, 25 members, some accompanied by a spouse, attended at least one meeting in 2018. A second indicator of continued interest in the Calgary Chapter is the number of members who take time to send regrets if unable to attend a meeting. We continue to alternate four yearly meetings between locations in South and North Calgary. While the majority of members are Calgarians, some individuals travel from High River, Lethbridge, Cochrane and Canmore to attend our luncheons. Attendance remains consistent from year to year.

Date 2018

Attendance 2018

Regrets 2018

Total RSVP

Date 2017

Attendance 2017

Currently, almost all of our members have email access for maintaining regular contact. A small group of volunteer “phoners” assist to keep regular contact with those who do not have email to relay meeting information, agendas, minutes and other important RTAM and Chapter information.

A snapshot of the DARTA annual activities and events for the past year includes: •

Supporting the Terry Fox Fundraiser BBQ and school run.

•

Hosting an October Alzheimer Coffee Break Fundraiser at the Marketplace Mall.

•

Sponsoring and laying a wreath of remembrance at the November 11 Legion Remembrance Day Service.

•

Decorating the Watson Arts Centre for the Holiday Season.

•

Organizing the annual December Cheer and Chat come and go afternoon event.

•

Monitoring of arena exit doors for the Dauphin Kings MJHL home hockey games.

•

Providing volunteers for the Atom Parkland Cup Hockey Tournament.

Regrets 2017

March 8

19

11

30

March 2

14

13

May 3

22

12

34

May 4

21

13

September 13

14

14

28

September 14

17

16

November 29

19

18

37

November 23

19

12

The Calgary and Area Chapter received a Chapter Initiative Grant in February 2018. On Thursday, June 7, 2018, 13 members of the Chapter travelled to Lethbridge, Alberta. The morning was spent at the Nikka Yuko Japanese Garden. The garden was established in 1967 as a “Canadian Garden in the Japanese Style” and recognizes contributions made by citizens of Japanese ancestry to the multi-cultural community of Lethbridge. A highlight of the visit was ‘storytelling’

by Dr. George Takashima, who was interned with his family by the Canadian government in British Columbia’s interior during WWII. The

18 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

Our DARTA group has a list of 85+ active and inactive members. This year, DARTA has reverted back to well attended monthly catered breakfast meetings in one location. DARTA is both fortunate and grateful to have secured breakfast meeting space at the Mountain View School Division Administration Office for the past year. Our October and April (AGM) meetings were scheduled as supper meetings to facilitate the attendance of those members who choose to substitute teach or work during the day.

•

In February, DARTA received a stakeholder invitation from the Mountain View School Division and sent representation to participate in the local Provincial Educational Review Meeting.

•

DARTA continues to apply for the annual RTAM Chapter Initiative Grant and is most appreciative of the RTAM monetary support for its annual planned member engagement activity.

Je les remercie très sincèrement pour leur collaboration et leur engagement. Nous formons bonne équipe. Je tiens aussi à remercier très sincèrement pour son engagement comme trésorière madame Evelyne Beaudoin. Evelyne a été élue présidente nationale de l’organisme Développement et Paix et devra concentrer ses énergies à son nouveau poste. Merci à madame Mimi Iafolla qui a bien voulu accepter de prendre les responsabilités comme trésorière des ÉMR.

•

The AGM of DARTA will be held in April and the Officers for the 2019-20 operational year will be elected at that time.

Les activités des ÉMR planifiées en 2018 - 2019 ont compris et vont comprendre les suivantes: Moyenne de partcipants.es pour les 7 activités en 2018 : 32

Éducatrices et Éducateurs manitobains à la retraite (ÉMR) Soumis par Guy Gagnon, président Membres : 200 (environ) Le conseil exécutif des Éducatrices & Éducateurs manitobains à la retraite (ÉMR) a comme objectifs principaux d’organiser des activités qu’on espère vont plaire à tous les goûts; vont susciter intérêt d’y participer; mettre l’accent sur l’aspect social et francophone. Nous avons pris l’occasion lors de l’AGA des ÉMR du 18 avril 2019 de demander à nos membres de nous partager rétroactions sur les activités passées ainsi que prendre note d’idées et suggestions pour l’année à venir.

Nos membres sont aussi très actifs comme bénévoles dans divers secteurs de la communauté francophone ainsi qu’à divers organismes provinciaux et nationaux.

Les membres siégeant au Conseil exécutif des ÉMR sont demandés d’organiser un minimum d’une activité prévue durant l’année. Par la suite le membre du Conseil doit afficher & annoncer l’activité prévue par le biais de notre site web www.lesemr.org.

La liste de membres des ÉMR se chiffre à tout près de 200. Ces membres ont œuvré soit comme enseignant /enseignante ou administrateur /administratrice, dans des Conseils scolaires francophone, immersion et anglophone Je tiens à remercier La Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba (RTAM) d’avoir octroyé aux ÉMR des fonds par le biais du Chapter Initiative Grant pour fin de recrutement. Cette contribution financière nous a été très utile car nous avons réussi à recruter de nouveaux membres.

Les membres du Conseil exécutif des ÉMR pour 2019-2020 sont: - Guy Gagnon, président - Raymond Bisson, vice-président & membre du C. A. de RTAM

19 avril 2018: AGA des ÉMR au Canad Inns Parc Windsor @ 11h00 suivi du repas du midi. Nombre de participants / es: 35. Guy Gagnon, responsable 17 mai 2018: Dîner et Visite du Centre Fort White à Winnipeg. 16 participants. Alma Vincent responsable 21 juin 2018: À la recherche des Bois des Esprits sur la Seine, chemin John Bruce suivi du dîner au resto Maxime’s. 29 participants.

Denis Gautron responsable 20 septembre 2018: Vin et Fromage en l’honneur des nouveaux retraités au 400 rue DesMeurons. 27 participants. Raymond Bisson, responsable. Merci à RTAM pour leur contribution financière par le biais du Chapter Initiative Grant.

18 octobre 2018: Visite colonie huttérienne Crystal Springs & dîner au Providence College à Otterburne. 32 participants. Evelyne Beaudoin et Denis Clément, responsables.

15 novembre 2018: Atelier sur la généalogie au Centre du Patrimoine à Saint-Boniface suivi d›un dîner au Resto Gare. 35 participants. Raymond Bisson, responsable 13 décembre 2018: Souper traditionnel de Noël au Canad Inns Parc Windsor. Animation musicale Guy & Agathe Lacroix. Marc Beaudry & Denis Gautron, responsables. 53 participants 18 avril 2019: AGA des ÉMR au Canad Inns Parc Windsor @ 10h00 suivi du repas du midi. Responsable, Guy Gagnon. ...participants 16 mai 2019: Randonnée au Parc Gaboury-Lagimodière @ St. Boniface; dîner au resto Bistro Inferno rue DesMeurons. Denis Gautron, responsable. ....participants 20 juin 2019: Visite de la microbrasserie Nonsuch, propriétaire Mathieu Sabourin; dîner au resto Prairie’s Edge au Parc Kildonan.

Patricia Thibodeau, responsable....participants.

- Denis Clément, président sortant - Rose-Marie (Mimi) Iafolla, trésorière - Patricia Thibodeau, secrétaire - Marc Beaudry, conseiller - Denis Gautron, conseiller - Guy Lacroix, conseiller - Gérard Massé, responsable du site web (non élu) - Norma Lacroix, responsable de la communication aux membres (non élue)

Éducatrices et Éducateurs manitobains à la retraite (ÉMR) Respectfully submitted by Guy Gagnon, President Members: 200 (approx.)

Members of the ÉMR Executive Council plan their yearly activities with the following mandate in mind. It’s our intention that planned activities focus on the social as well as the cultural dimensions of our gatherings. We ask our members at the ÉMR April AGM to provide feedback and suggestions for the upcoming year as to interesting and informative activities they wish to attend.

It’s important to note that many of our members are also actively involved as volunteers in various organizations either in the francophone community as well as in provincial and national organizations and associations

RTAM.MB.CA n 19

Members of the executive council are asked to organize one or more of the yearly activities by: publicizing it on our web site: www.lesemr. org informing of the date, time and location. During the get together, a member is assigned to take pictures which are later downloaded on our website including a short summary and number of participants.

This is part of our marketing and recruitment strategy to get members involved and has proven successful.

November 15, 2018: Genealogy-Family history workshop at the St. Boniface Heritage Centre followed by lunch at the Resto-Gare. 35 members attended. Raymond Bisson, organizer

Thanks to an RTAM Chapter Initiative Grant in 2018, we have continued with our efforts in recruiting new members.

April 18, 2019: ÉMR AGM at Canad Inns Windsor Park followed by lunch...members attended. Guy Gagnon, organizer

The ÉMR member list is over 200. These members have taught or been school administrators in the Francophone, Anglophone and Immersion systems. Many members continue to be actively involved in political, social and educational issues either though our organization or various others within the francophone community.

May 16, 2019: Nature walk at Gaboury-Lagimodière Park in St. Boniface. Lunch at Bistro Inferno on rue DesMeurons St.

The 2019-2020 ÉMR chapter’s Executive council members elected for a one year term are: - Guy Gagnon, President - Raymond Bisson, Vice President and member of the RTAM Board of Directors - Denis Clément, Past President - Rose-Marie (Mimi) Iafolla, treasurer - Patricia Thibodeau, secretary - Marc Beaudry, council member - Denis Gautron, council member - Guy Lacroix, council member - Gérard Massé, web site (appointed member) - Norma Lacroix-Gagné, communications to membership (appointed member) On behalf of the ÉMR membership, I wish to thank the executive committee members for their initiative and cooperation. I would also like to thank Evelyne Beaudoin our treasurer. She has been elected national president of Development and Peace. Thank you to Mimi Iafolla for having accepted to take over the responsibilities as the ÉMR treasurer.

2018 -2019 ÉMR activity calendar. An average of 32 ÉMR members attended the first 7 activities of 2018.

April 19, 2018: ÉMR Annual General Meeting, Canad Inns, Windsor Park with lunch on site. 35 members attended. Guy Gagnon, organizer May 17, 2018: Spring visit of the Fort Whyte Nature Centre with lunch on site. 16 members attended. Alma Vincent, organizer June 21, 2018: Guided tour Le Bois des Esprits (Where the Spirits Live) by the Seine River on John Bruce Road. Lunch at Maxime’s Restaturant. 29 members attended. Denis Gautron, organizer September 20, 2018: Wine & Cheese for newly retired members at 400 DesMeurons in St. Boniface. 27 members attended. Raymond Bisson, organizer. Special thanks to RTAM for their special contribution through the Chapter Initiative Grant October 18, 2018: Crystal Springs Hutterite tour with lunch at Providence College in Otterburne, MB. 32 members attended. Evelyne Beaudoin & Denis Clément, organizers

20 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

December 13, 2018: Annual Christmas Dinner at Canad Inns, Windsor Park. Music by Guy & Agathe Lacroix. 53 members attended. Marc Beaudry & Denis Gautron, organizer

June 20, 2019: Tour of the Nonsuch microbrewery owned by Mathieu Sabourin. Lunch at Prairie’s Edge Restaurant, Kildonan Park. Patricia Thibodeau, organizer

Hanover Association of Retired Teachers No report submitted.

Interlake Retired Teachers’ Association (IRTA) Respectfully Submitted by Gail Peterkin Members: 46 (2018) President – Gail Peterkin Vice President – Darlene Dufily Past President – Nancy Phillips Secretary – Joie VanDongen Treasurer – Cathy Yurick Directors – Joan Main, Barbara Lindquist, Nancy Drad, Cindy Grabowecky The membership of the Interlake Retired Teachers’ Association seems to be maintaining its numbers. The long standing executive remains relatively steady as well. We work hard at trying to provide meaningful and socially engaging activities for our members. Luncheons, guest speakers, a Christmas party and a field trip provide several opportunities for members to get together throughout the year.

In September 2018, we held our annual luncheon at Bel Acres Golf Course. In anticipation of our guest speaker from Siloam Mission, members brought socks to donate to the mission. We also use our September meeting to welcome newly retired teachers to our group, presenting them with IRTA pins, pens and a free lunch.

Our Christmas luncheon in December was well attended, as always.

Shopping at vendors’ tables and “catching up” with old friends set the mood for enjoying a turkey dinner, with all the trimmings.

Our April AGM was informative for members and set the slate for the election of Board of Directors for the following year.

In June, our “Night out at the Races” rounded out our year. This activity provided the opportunity for supper, socialization and even a little “winning” for those so inclined.

Our executive continues to meet four times throughout the year.

Thanks to the RTAM Chapter Initiative Grant in 2018, we were able to offset the costs of several of our activities.

Intermountain Retired Teachers’ Association

Okanagan Chapter of RTAM

No report submitted.

Respectfully submitted by Co-Presidents: Lorna Rothwell and Lorne Lisik

Neepawa Area Retired Teachers’ Association (NARTA)

Members: 58

Respectfully submitted by Joan Rink, President and Pat Cibula, Secretary

July 19, 2018: Annual Barbecue-Pot Luck and Games Event at the Sun Village Clubhouse, West Kelowna. Fourteen members attended, after several others cancelled due to health and travel concerns about the smoky conditions from the forest fires.

NARTA Officers: President - Joan Rink Vice-President - Vacant Past President - Ralph Cibula Treasurer - Richard Kulbacki Secretary - Pat Cibula Program Director - Wendy Denbow Communications - Judy Roe This is our second year trying four meetings a year as members wanted fewer meetings and more fun type meetings.

•

•

April 2018 - Our meeting was held at Boston Pizza, Neepawa with Rosalie Bornn, RTAM President, as the guest speaker.

She gave an informative talk on pension concerns and relations between RTAM and MTS. June 2018 - President Joan Rink and Treasurer Richard Kulbacki made an informational presentation on behalf of NARTA at the Beautiful Plains School Division Retirement Dinner in Carberry. An invitation was extended to all the retirees to join NARTA.

A NARTA Student Bursary of $200.00 was presented to a Grade 12 student at the Neepawa Collegiate Graduation ceremonies. This bursary is presented every year to a Grade 12 student continuing his/ her education to one of the following schools: Carberry Collegiate, William Morton Collegiate or Neepawa Area Collegiate.

A meeting and barbecue were held at the Old School House in Neepawa attended by 21 people, followed by a draw for RTAM items.

•

September 6, 2018 Outing - We visited the Neepawa Rotary Park Bird and Animal Sanctuary, followed by lunch at the Brews Brothers’ Bistro in Neepawa. Our next stop was an excellent tour of the Parkland Hutterite Colony. Our trip concluded with a stop at the Glenella Cafe for dessert and coffee.

•

December 3, 2018 Christmas Dinner - NARTA held a meeting and a catered Christmas dinner attended by 25 people, followed by a woodworking display by Fred Quist. We were entertained by a variety of songs and a Christmas carol singa-long with three local musicians. Draws were held for some poinsettias.

•

We received a $250.00 Chapters Initiative Grant which was used to enhance NARTA activities for members.

Northeastman Chapter No report submitted.

December 4, 2018: Christmas Luncheon at the Sunset Ranch Golf Club Dining Room, Kelowna. We had a lively gift exchange with the 18 members and friends. Members donated $120 for the local food bank.

March 20, 2019: RTAM – Okanagan Chapter Annual General Meeting at Moxie’s Grill. Twenty-two members and friends attended for the election of the executive and the planning of future activities.

Thank you to RTAM for the Chapter Initiative Grant that enables our outreach throughout the Okanagan Valley, from the southern Shuswap to Oliver. Current membership is 58.

RTAM – Okanagan Chapter Executive 2019-20: Co-Presidents:

Lorna Rothwell, Lorne Lisik

Vice-President:

Ken Ferg

Treasurer:

Roy Lycar

Secretary:

Nancy Kostiuk

Members-at-large: Susan Forsyth, Glenda Waugh Portage la Prairie Retired Teachers’ Association Respectfully submitted by Charlie Clifford, President Members: 160 (approx.)

The officers of the Chapter are: President, Charlie Clifford, Secretary, Brenda McConnell, Treasurer, Les Porteous, Historian, Morris Boychuk The 2018 – 19 year has been a busy one for our chapter. We held ten meetings this past year; seven breakfast meetings and three luncheons. Meetings are held the last Friday of the month with our Annual General Meeting held in April. The attendance ranges from 12 to 47. We have a membership list of about 160. For each of the three luncheons all members were contacted by phone, email and notice of meetings are posted on “Portage online”. Our members range in age from 62 to 96.

We try to keep our business meeting portion to a minimum, making sure that our members are up-to-date with what is going on at the local, provincial and national level. We find that KIT is a great vehicle for keeping people informed and is often discussed at our meetings.

We also find that having members on the RTAM Board of Directors and Committees is an asset to our chapter. We make an effort to encourage members to run for election for the Board of Directors and/ or let their names stand for membership on Committees.

We have a strong senior’s organization in Portage that plans outings and bus tours, so we have no need to organize outings. Some of our service clubs also plan group outings. Many of our members are involved with a lot of volunteering through other organizations but we have not volunteered as an organization.

RTAM.MB.CA n 21

For our luncheons, we try to have a speaker, door prizes and some kind of interactive activity. We continue to look at ways of encouraging more participation by our membership. We still need to look at more ways of involving more recent retirees. We will continue to be as creative as possible in exciting our membership to play a more active role in RTAM.

Retired Teachers of Winnipeg (RTW) No report submitted.

Retired Women Teachers’ Association Respectfully submitted: Cécile Alarie-Skene, President Members: 279 Now in our 67th year the Retired Women Teachers’ Association (RWTA) membership currently stands at 265 regular and 14 Life Members who are aged 90 years or over. This is the first time in ten years that our numbers have increased and we hope that they will continue to do so. In the 2018 - 2019 season, the executive met five times to plan activities and the four luncheons for the year. We regretted that our planned bus excursion to the Steinbach Heritage Museum in June had to be cancelled due to insufficient numbers.

Name Cécile Alarie-Skene Ruth Hartnell Pat Opalko Phyllis Arnold-Luedtke Cécile Alarie-Skene Pat Opalko Ethel Mair Brenda Zebrynski Lynda Tunny Louise Burton

Role President Past President Vice-President Treasurer Membership Convener Recording Secretary Corresponding Secretary Club Notices Luncheon Coordinator Social Committee Chair

Kathy Deyman

Social Committee

Sultana Hussain Birdielyn Gray

Social Committee Tickets

Kathleen Parums Peggy Prendergast Emily Williamson

Tickets RTAM / Pensions Visiting Committee

Lenore Butler Helen Norrie Jacquie Field Charlotte Stech

Visiting Committee Publicity Archivist Pianist

Riel Retired Teachers Association

The September luncheon was highlighted by our annual Fashion Show. Northern Reflections provided fashions for our members to model and afterwards many of us planned a new wardrobe.

Respectfully submitted by Jack Fraser and Lynda Baxter

At our Christmas luncheon we were entertained by RING OUT, a handbell quartet, who regaled us with Christmas music. We were delighted by the Christmas menu of turkey and all the fixings, prepared by the caterer at the Masonic Centre. Mrs. Claus rewarded everyone with a Christmas orange at her annual visit.

The Louis Riel Chapter includes the retired staff from the legacy divisions of St. Boniface, Norwood and St. Vital.

Our February luncheon invited speaker was Mary LeMaitre from the University of Winnipeg. She shared many facts from Canadian History that helped us to understand why stereotyping is so prevalent these days. After her informative session, many of our members asked questions to further enlighten us. At this luncheon, members were invited to provide food items and money for Winnipeg Harvest.

Our AGM will be held at our April luncheon. RWTA members will be entertained by Grant Simpson, with his vaudeville act comprised of music, singing and much laughter. It promises to be a lot of fun!

We continue to hold our luncheons at the Masonic Centre at Corydon and Osborne where our delicious and varied meals are prepared by WOW Catering. Guests are always welcome.

Donations of toiletries for women’s shelters and used eyeglasses for the Eye Bank continue to be collected at each luncheon. We also have an annual project of collecting food and reusable bags for Winnipeg Harvest. Donations to our Angel Baskets allow us to recognize our shut in members with small gifts at Christmas and Easter and cards on other occasions.

We invite all former and newly retired women teachers to join RWTA in 2019 - 2020. Annual membership fees will be $10 and our luncheons with entertainment are $20 for members and $25 for non-members.

As RWTA president, I wish to thank our RWTA executive and all its members for their support and help. We all thank RTAM for its support and dedication. We would love to have more retired women teachers join us to keep our membership numbers increasing.

22 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

Members: 900+

All our Chapter’s major activities have a fundraising component and are run and organized by our Activities Cochairs, Jerry Ilchyna and Ron Koskie, and their subcommittee of executive members: Edith Alexiuk, Lydia Lewko, Francis Lemieux, Marilyn Surbey, Gerry Ilchyna and Frank Prouten (BC Rep).

Our principal activities include our annual spring and fall luncheons and our annual September golf tournament. This year marks 27 years for the luncheons and 23 for the golf tournament. Local business owners, former students and former staff donate the prizes for our silent auctions and draws. Funds raised support our bursary fund.

The connections made to our external donors have been forged and maintained over the years and generate an ongoing positive contribution of community support to public education. The team’s work is invaluable in that respect. The donors’ willingness to give and their testimonials about how teachers have positively influenced lives are indeed heart-warming. In light of RTAM’s focus on ‘volunteering’, this kind of volunteerism also needs to be recognized and acknowledged for the contribution that it is.

Carol Pelton, RTAM Treasurer, brought greetings to the October 2018 luncheon on behalf of Joan Dawson, the 2018-19 RTAM president.

Our luncheons are a great contributor to our Chapter’s social and communication needs. These events are a great time to get together, renew acquaintances, get caught up on travel and family news and win a few prizes. Through the much-appreciated support of the Louis Riel School Division, tickets are sold on our behalf at the reception desk in the Board Offices. Both luncheons are held in the space provided in the Division’s Legacy Centre. Doors open at 10:15 for visiting to begin, lunch is at noon and visiting and activities go well into the late afternoon.

Our newsletter is biannual, so that leaves us with a communication time gap with our members. The Chapter established an electronic mailing list to provide timely information to 230+ of our over 900 members between newsletters. The e-List is growing.

Our chapter membership is open to all retiring staff of the Division.

We value this diversity in our group and the Division is also proud to be in touch with all their retired staff. The retired teacher membership component of our chapter is a ‘subgroup’ with respect to activities that are of specific interest to teachers. We have an excellent working relationship with the superintendent, and the Division supports our luncheons, our bursary and our communication in a number of ways.

The Chapter appreciates the support it receives.

The success of our tournaments is in no small part due to the tireless work of our activities cochairs and their team, but is also because of the everincreasing support from our donors. The upcoming ninehole, shotgunstart fall tournament will again be held at the Lorette Golf Course in September. For the past 13 years the tournament has been sold out in two weeks.

Because of our fundraising, this past year we were able to provide a total of $4,000 in bursary monies to be distributed among students from all eight of our high schools. This will be the 19th anniversary of our bursary fund. It is wonderful to be able to use the funds we generate to contribute to young people in our amalgamated division. As of June 2018 we will have awarded 92 bursaries in the total amount of $45,100. The following is a quote from one of our activities cochairs: “Education is ongoing and we know that retired teachers and support staff still wish to be involved in its future”.

The Louis Riel School Division has recently incorporated a charitable foundation called RIEL-EVATE. Representatives of our chapter sit on the board, and members have volunteered to support activities such as their clothing and school supplies drives.

We did apply for the RTAM $250 Chapter Initiative Grant this year to support our Golf Tournament; unfortunately it had to be postponed to the Spring because of weather.

St. James – Assiniboine Chapter Respectfully submitted, Lynn Land, Chairperson Members: 325

Officers 2018 – 2019 Chairperson:

Lynn Land

Past Chair:

Connie Newman

Vice Chair:

Shelley Herbert

Treasurer:

Emily Williamson

Secretary:

Rudy Peters

Membership/Communications: Dorothy Young Members at Large:

Marj Bilous, Will Peters, Linda Scott, Carol Szuminsky, George Zacharias

The main objective of the St. James Assiniboia Chapter of RTAM is to promote the economic interests of its members and other retired educators and to support the Provincial RTAM Board in its endeavours to

that end. The Chapter shares information with its members all across Canada. In turn, members share the information with friends, family and colleagues still actively teaching in Manitoba. Membership is 325!

The Chapter held a very successful Goodbye Summer/Hello Fall Coffee House and AGM on September 12, 2018. We were honoured to have James Bedford, Vice President of The Manitoba Teachers’ Society (MTS) as our invited guest. He reported on some of the activities of the MTS particularly the preparations underway to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the founding of the Manitoba Teachers Society in 1919. The major celebration will take place the weekend of May 24, 2019 in Winnipeg. He thanked members for their support of education and reminded them to vote in support of public education.

The presentation and AGM was followed by singing, led by guest guitarist Armando. The crowd sang along with all of the tunes. Coffee, tea, water and homemade apple crisp with ice cream were enjoyed by all those in attendance. We thank Marj Bilous, Emily Williamson and Shelley Herbert for making the delicious crisp. Members also participated in a door prize game. Twenty members went home with a prize!!!! Thanks were extended to Rudy Peters, Lynn Land, Linda Scott and Marj Bilous for donating the prizes. We thank Provincial RTAM for the financial support for this event. It was really appreciated.

In the last year we have shared information on the following colleagues who have departed this life: Rod Allen Esther Bornn Cliff Charlesworth Brenda Hooper Sandra Kushnir Evelyn Kwasnitza Linda Liberta Dan (Dyanand) Maharaj Dave Negrych Jean Peden Ron Phillips Rod Richmond Bernie Semotok John Stairs Annette Turko Constance Worms Southwest Assiniboine Chapter of Retired Teachers Respectfully submitted by Lorraine Scott, President Members: 40 Our chapter held three luncheon meetings with an average of 30 40 members in attendance. A guest speaker or entertainment was followed by a business meeting. At each meeting members donated prizes and winners were selected. At each meeting donations were brought for the Food Cupboard.

On April 17, 2018 our meeting focused on concerns for residents’ safety in rural areas. There has been an increase in crimes regarding trespassing on private property. An entertaining and unique skit was created by Ed Arndt who was assisted by Virden RCMP Staff Sergeant J. Frizzley and by Constable S. Sadler. An interesting question/ answer session followed.

The Provincial “Ye Olde Rusty Golf Tournament” was held Sept 4, 2018 at Oak Island Golf Course.

September 11, 2018: Mike Anderson, local Super Thrifty pharmacist spoke of the many services available to seniors. A lengthy discussion was followed by questions posed by those who attended. Members were given a written report about our successful trip to the Dauphin Ukrainian Festival. An article was written in KIT by Ed James.

November 13, 2018: A delicious pre-Christmas dinner with all of the trimmings was served by the Catholic Women’s League. Members enjoyed Father Matt Koovisk, an accomplished pianist and singer, who led us in the spirited singing of Christmas Carols. Other festive selections were given by local members. Kathy Welsh recited “Laughter Removes the Sting”… A Greeting Card Verse which portrayed the forgetfulness of seniors. Ed Arndt wrote his humorous version of “Twas the Night Before Christmas” which depicted life in a senior’s home.

RTAM.MB.CA n 23

Our chapter donated $500.00 to the Virden and Arts Festival, The Birdtail Festival, the Border Festival at Deloraine and the Westman Youth Choir.

Swan Valley Retired Teachers Respectfully submitted by Darlene McKibben Members: 23 Executive Officers for 2018-2019 President – Barb Plumb Vice President – Aldrich Novotny Secretary – Sheila Kelbert - March: Darlene McKibben - starting in May Treasurer – Henry Barkowski Past President – Ed Richenhaller The chapter held three regular luncheon meetings (May, September and December) following the annual AGM. Henry reported that as of December there are 23 members (one new member). Around 15-20 members usually attend. Our annual fee is $5.00.

Activities: May: Ed (Past President) and Pat Richenhaller (Past Treasurer) attended the RTAM AGM in Winnipeg on May 8 and 9, 2018.

June: Several members attended The School Division Service Awards Retirement Banquet in June. Retiring teachers are presented with a “Welcome to Retirement” bag and are encouraged to join the local chapter of retired teachers.

November: Members of the group volunteered to judge Remembrance Day Contest entries for the local legion. On behalf of the local chapter a wreath was presented at the community Remembrance Day service.

January: Members met to socialize for an “After Christmas” luncheon at the Timberland Inn. A collection of food items was donated to the local Food Bank.

February: Our chapter delivered Meals on Wheels for two weeks.

Throughout the past term, chapter members and their families were acknowledged with get well/thinking of you cards.

The Pas Retired Teachers’ Association

No report submitted.

Thompson Association of Retired Educators (TARE) Respectfully submitted by Joan Goble, President Members: 27 (2018) This past year we have followed our usual format. Our AGM was held at Paint Lake Marina where we dined looking out over the still frozen Paint Lake and held our meeting.

24 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

In May, we again held a session at the Thompson Public Library helping children learn about plants and how they grow. This is always a hands-on project and requires several retired teachers and some parents. We again filled and maintained four large planters at the front of the Library and weeded out two neglected gardens. This project lasts all summer and ends when the gardens are pulled out and put to rest for the winter usually sometime in early September. We also planted and maintained five large planters at a local restaurant. This latter project will not occur this year as the business has closed.

We always meet in July for a pot luck picnic at the cottage of one of our members. This year, our Secretary Kate Roth and husband Greg hosted the event on a rather dull, rainy day. We had a wonderful time chatting and eating even if the weather did not cooperate.

In August, we were stunned by the sudden death of our past Vice President Barb McIntyre, who loved to work on the plant projects and was still actively subbing.

The first day of school is always celebrated with a ‘To Hell with the Bell’ breakfast at a local restaurant. When the Anne Frank Exhibit came to Thompson in the fall, a group of retired teachers took the informative tour and sent an article to KIT about our visit.

In December we had a pot luck supper at the home of President Joan Goble.

Our next big event was a tour of the local YWCA which has been undergoing major renovations and updates over the past two years. We were invited to lunch with ‘Y’ staff and then given an extensive tour of the building and detailed explanations of the programming offered. It was a real eye-opener.

We had hoped to have our AGM in late March but with so many snowbirds and travelers, we could not get a critical mass and have postponed our meeting until late April. We will need to revisit our Constitution and perhaps change our AGM date again as moving it to March has not worked.

Our Chapter Initiative Grant for this year was approved. The money received has been used to purchase paper, printer cartridges, and binders. We had noticed that there is no history of teaching in Thompson. Our project is to rectify that situation and start collecting those stories this year as MTS celebrates 100 years in Manitoba. We have put the word out through our members and are trying to find folks who have taught here over the past 50 plus years. We want their stories about teaching in Thompson and even about being a student here before being an educator.

This history has not yet been recorded and is being lost as our members die. So, the word is out. Please send us your memories of teaching in Thompson. We will print them in triplicate and place them in binders. One copy will go to the School District of Mystery Lake, one to the Museum and one to the Public Library. The information is starting to trickle in and the binders are slowly taking shape. The project will continue throughout 2019 and even beyond if material continues to come in.

TARE continues to have a good working relationship with the Thompson Teachers’ Association (TTA). They regularly invite the RTAM and TARE presidents to MTS presentations in Thompson concerning critical educational issues. They also invited TARE members to join in the MTS 100th Anniversary celebrations held in Thompson in the spring. TARE members walked in solidarity with TTA in a march held locally. Each year TARE members present Rice Krispie cakes to at least two retiring teachers and their classes. As well, when requested to do so, we present to interested TTA members an evening seminar on Retirement.

We are a small group, but we enjoy meeting to chat, eat, share our adventures, learn about our community and give back to our city.

VanIsles Chapter

Our 2019 AGM will be held on April 11th at the same venue as last year’s AGM.

Respectfully submitted by Irene Hilchey, President Members: 100 (approx.)

Westman Retired Educators’ Association (WREA)

VanIsles Chapter Executive Members: Irene Hilchey

President

Jim Reid

Treasurer

Patti Dobroski

Secretary

Respectfully submitted by Ron McPhail, President Members: 44 (2018) WREA held four general meetings this year. All were luncheon meetings and were held at the Shriners’ Hall. At each of the meetings there was either an entertainer or a speaker as well as a donation box where items were collected and then delivered to a local charity. As well, there were four executive meetings.

WREA has also been busy planning the hosting of this year’s RTAM AGM in May 2019. In preparation for this, a banner displaying information and some history about WREA is being prepared.

The Vancouver Island Chapter has about 100 members located in various cities and towns throughout our island.

Our Annual General Meeting was held on April 12th in the Satellite Bar and Grill at the Arbutus Ridge Golf Club in the community of Cobble Hill with breathtaking views of the Gulf Islands.

Our guest speaker for the event was John Hilchey, who spoke about computing in ‘the cloud’ and related security concerns when using the internet. We had a very interactive question and answer session during the talk.

Our fall meeting was held on September 6th at the residence of Gerry and Rosalene Saleski in Victoria. They hosted a lovely barbeque in their backyard. We had 16 people in attendance and lovely weather for the event. We enjoyed great food and had some entertaining games to play. Thank you to everyone who assisted during the BBQ.

In the summer, several of our members took part in a trip to the Neepawa brewery and Beautiful Plains Museum which was partially sponsored by our Chapter Initiative grant. A number of our members helped at the local LIFT Conference in October by directing people to where their sessions were taking place and taking attendance at the sessions.

In November, I was honoured to place a wreath on behalf of WREA at the local Remembrance Day Service at the Keystone Centre. Our Sick and Visiting committee is also busy visiting and sending out cards to members who happen to be ill. WREA arranges a monthly breakfast; a get-together for members who are wanting to meet and socialize.

RTAM WELLNESS ADVOCACY Half Day Mini Seminar

EXTREME WINTER DRIVING CONDITIONS FRIDAY October 18, 2019 Location: RTAM Office - 206 – 1555 St. James Street Winnipeg Time: 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm Coffee and registration at 1.00 pm.

$10.00 paid at the door

Maximum registration of 25 people.

Only first 25 will be registered

Presenters: Samantha Rodeck: Coordinator (TONS) Transportation Options Network for Seniors Chris Bohemier: Community Relations Specialist, MPI (Manitoba Public Insurance) WELLNESS SEMINAR REGISTRATION FORM Email RTAM at: office@rtam.mb.ca Please type in the Subject Line: Participant’s Name, Address, Email and Phone Number.

RTAM.MB.CA n 25

26 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

Head here

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his spring a delegation of RTAM Directors met with the Minister of Education, the Leader of the Opposition and the leader of the Liberal Party. The purpose of these annual meetings is to convey the current goals of retired teachers. The important goals this year were: 1) to have a RTAM nominated retired teacher named to the TRAF Pension Board.

2) to have RTAM named as the official representative of retired teachers 3) to have the government continue to match teacher contributions to the Pension Fund on a monthly basis 4) to underline RTAM’s strong support for the defined benefits plan design 5) to acknowledge the contribution of retired teachers to the Education Review Committee 6) to inform the political parties of RTAM’s Student Award Program held in the Winnipeg Foundation and the bursary given to an Indigenous student from the University College of the North at The Pas. While membership in RTAM is voluntary, any advances in benefits put forward by RTAM are extended to all retired teachers. On that basis, RTAM would like to be acknowledged as the legal official representative of retired teachers.

Active teachers, as did retired teachers when they were working, make a monthly contribution to their pension plan. The government began, in 2001, making the same monthly contribution, and this has been very beneficial to the growth of the investment pool of monies upon which approximately 80% of pensions are derived.

Defined benefit plans give certainty to retired teachers, and others, as to what their income will be. The alternative plans do not.

Retired teachers have a wealth of experience as to what works and what does not when it comes

Dougald Lamont is running once again for the leadership of the Manitoba Liberal Party. (CBC)

Caption needed

to motivating young people to learn. They can and should convey that experience by contributing to the K-12 Education Review.

RTAM does “give back” to students by offering Awards and a bursary to both Indigenous and non- Indigenous students. This is part of RTAM’s efforts to strengthen the communities in which we live.

The meetings with all three parties were cordial and informative.

The RTAM delegation included Joan Dawson (President), Peggy Prendergast(Vice Presidemt), John Sushelnitsky (Political Advocacy), Alison Logan (Pensions), JoAnne Hoyak (Director).

RTAM.MB.CA n 27

28 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

Pre-Retirement Seminars Brandon

T

Ray Sitter

he Brandon Pre-retirement seminar was held in Brandon on April 6, 2019, at the Central Community Centre. There were 23 teachers from Brandon and the surrounding area in attendance. The program was presented by Judy Olmstead, Pat Bowslaugh and Ray Sitter.

The topics talked about were “RTAM Who Are We and What Do We do” presented by Judy Olmstead; “Johnson‘s Programs Offered to RTAM Members” presented by Pat Bowslaugh; and “What to Consider When Contemplating a Successful Retirement” presented by Ray Sitter.

Success is always a difficult characteristic to assess in such presentations. The observations of the class as observed by myself were as follows: 1. The individuals present were engaged in the presentations. Topic questions were being asked of the presenters. Questions seeking additional information were being asked.

Notes were being taken.

Winnipeg

Cancellations

Teachers/Guests

115

RTAM Volunteers

9

Totals

124

The “tells” of the students would appear to tell us that the presentations were successful.

The assembled group was engaged and a very good group to work with. Our thanks go out to all who attended.

Linda Scott

RTAM (Retired Teachers' Association of Manitoba) offers Pre-Retirement Seminars to teachers in Manitoba. These seminars were held in Winnipeg in February and Brandon and Thompson in April.

A successful Winnipeg Pre-Retirement Seminar was held on February 23 at The Holiday Inn, 2520 Portage Avenue.

Pre-Retirement Seminar Registration and Attendance Statistics: Registrations

2. The teachers present were offered the opportunity to take a break if they wanted at any time. No such opportunity was used by the audience. The individuals appeared to be engrossed by the information being given.

3. The evaluations done by those in attendance were all positive.

15

No Shows 18

Net Attendance 82 9

15

18

91

The 91 attendees were from public and private schools from Winnipeg and surrounding areas.

Seminar letters had been sent out to superintendents and principals, as well as private

schools, providing them with the Pre-Retirement Seminar information.

The Winnipeg Pre-Retirement Seminar had three themes: An Overview of RTAM's Voluntary Group Benefits Plan presented by Jessica Simpson from Johnson Insurance, What You Need to Know for Retirement presented by Alex Boyes, Joan Dawson and Beth Smith and Why Join RTAM presented by Rosalie Bornn.

Anyone who requires information on RTAM's Voluntary Group Benefits plan please contact the plan administrator, Johnson insurance pbserviceweat@johnson.ca or 1-877-989-2600 Please contact RTAM if you would like more information about these Pre-Retirement Seminars or if you would like help to plan one for your area. Voicemail Phone: 1-204-889-3660 | Manitoba Toll Free: 1-888-393-8082 Fax: 1-204-783-2011 | Email: info@rtam.mb.ca RTAM.MB.CA n 29

“THE BIG PAYOFF” For Reading

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ind the answers to the following questions and submit your entry by; a) email to bxssmith@mymts.net, with KIT Reading Contest in the subject line, or b) by mail to Beth Smith, RTAM KIT Reading Contest, 206-1555 St. James St., Winnipeg, MB R3H 1B5.

Submissions must be received by Friday, October 31, 2019. A random draw among those entries with all answers correct will determine the winner. Be sure to include your name, mailing address, and phone number. The prize is your choice of a $15.00 gift card; Tim Horton’s, Superstore, McDonald’s, Subway. Please identify which gift card you prefer. The winner will be announced in the next edition of KIT. Good Luck!

1. Who is the RTAM President for 2019/20?

2. Who received the 2019 Distinguished Service Award?

3. Who can apply for an RTAM Student Award?

4. Which RTAM Chapter has the highest number of members?

5. How many RTAM Chapters are there across Manitoba and other provinces, in total?

6. Who is the Federal Minister of Seniors and when were they named as such? (See ACERCART).

7. How do you become a Life Member of RTAM? 8. Niigaan Sinclair explains what the First Nations gift of tobacco means. Explain.

9. What was the rationale for revisiting the RTAM Vision Statement in the Bylaws Review?

10. How many times a year is the KIT magazine published?

RTAM

Photography CONTEST KIT Editorial Committee SUMMER 2019 PHOTO CONTEST The two categories are: • Gardens: This can be any kind of garden: indoor or outdoor; container or in ground; personal or professional, etc. and anywhere in the world.

• Eggs: Use your imagination: birds’ eggs, cooked or in the shell, decorative such as porcelain, chocolate, Ukrainian, glass, wax, etc.

30 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

Judging by Gayl Punzalan, Creative Director of Blue Ink Media Full contest rules and entry forms available at www.rtam.mb.ca.

All entries to be sent by mail, email, fax or delivered to RTAM no later than 3 pm October 1, 2019.

Full contest rules and entry forms are available in KIT, on the Website or at the RTAM office.

A conversation with Niigaan Sinclair

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he modern definition of a “warrior” is an “educated person” explained an Indigenous high school student to me recently. He said that a modern Indigenous person must be able to understand treaties, contracts and the business world. His comments were a perfect addition to the conversation that the RTAM Political Advocacy Committee had in February with Mr. Niigaan Sinclair, columnist for the Winnipeg Free Press and Associate Professor at the University of Manitoba.

The PA Committee has asked Mr. Sinclair to share his views on the current status of Indigenous People and what followed was a very interesting and enlightening conversation.

It continued into the lunch hour as he stayed to hear the experiences of retired teachers who had taught Indigenous students.

What follows is a synopsis by three of the teachers.

Guy Hansen

Someone had asked Niigaan “What does Manitoba, this Manitoba, mean to you?” Niigaan was quite excited in his reply. “I’m the most Manitoban of Manitobans,” he said. “My father comes from the Anishinaabe (Ojibway) and Cree peoples. My mother comes from British and French origins.”

Niigaan then told us about his grandmother Janine Gamache, who had lived the last few years with dementia and had lost communication with her family. One day, quite miraculously, her speech returned, but it was in French only. Niigaan and family spoke only Ojibwa and English...except for Niigaan’s Ojibway/Cree daughter , age 12. She spoke fluent French and became the link between her great- grandmother and the rest of the family.

“This is Manitoba,” he told us.

Niigaan was raised in Selkirk, Manitoba. His father, Murray Sinclair, (a lawyer who was later appointed to be in charge of Canada’s Truth and Reconciliation Commission) was born there. Niigaan grew up watching his father in court and later the TRC, speaking on behalf

of reconciliation and how to build healthy relationships between Indigenous and nonIndigenous peoples.

Niigaan also explained what the First Nations gift of tobacco means. Tobacco was always exchanged at ceremonies and treaty signings, and represented the time and effort a person invests in a relationship. This is symbolized by the time it takes to plant, nurture and grow tobacco. To the recipient the message is:”You are of value to me.

This is a gift from me, and of our earth”. Tobaccowhich means Asemaa in the Anishinaabe languageis therefore the hope to begin a long-lasting, widespread relationship. It is the gift of opportunity.

Niigaan also shared with us stories of his students, his family and his culture. We showed him how his work as a columnist with Winnipeg Free Press had influenced many of us and we then shared stories and laughter over lunch.

JoAnne Hoyak

Indigenous People are the fastest growing population in Canada. 42% of first Nations people live on the Reserve where the average age is 40-45 years; 58% live off the reserve where the average is 20-25 years of age. Manitoba and Saskatchewan have two of the largest concentrations of Indigenous people and 17.8% of the Canadian total live in Manitoba, with the largest segment in Winnipeg. Often the conflicts between Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples in these communities is called “racism”, and there are certainly examples that can illustrate this.

The news media focus on negative aspects of this concentration i.e. Brian Sinclair, Tina Fontaine, 1200 missing Aboriginal women, 4,000 murdered men, but often ignore the many positive facets in this relationship, like the facts that Winnipeg has an Indigenous mayor, 2500 Indigenous students at the University of Manitoba, and the hundreds of thousands of individuals in Manitoba who work, share families with and live effectively together. A large part of this change in RTAM.MB.CA n 31

Denise Bellesia RTAM's New Office Administrator Peggy Prendergast

I

would like to introduce you to Denise Bellesia, RTAM’s new Office Administrator who, as some of you know was at RTAM’s Annual AGM in Brandon on May 8. She offered the help we needed by supporting the chapter in Brandon with the necessary paperwork from the office. She began work just two weeks prior so has had a very busy time learning the ways of RTAM and its people ever since. As many of you know, MaryAnne Slegers, Executive Director, has

resigned and Nicole Welwood is still on leave. Denise is very excited to be with RTAM and looks forward to her time serving RTAM. In her own words, “Denise was born in Brazil and immigrated to Canada in 2009. She has a degree in Business Administration and has 18 years of office experience working for multinationals and government agencies. She became a Canadian citizen in October 2014. She really appreciates her life in Canada and we who work with her really appreciate her enthusiasm and pleasant welcoming manner.

A Conversation With . . . continued from previous page However, the Free Press still has a faith page and relationships, according to Niigaan, is due to the is the only major newspaper that does. brave engagement and work of teachers.

The current Ontario government wants larger “Let’s figure out ways to make a better class sizes so that it is an initiation into “the real Manitoba together.” world”.This is a ridiculous concept, according Niigaan told us, “Let’s follow the lead of to Niigaan, who taught in the Winnipeg One teachers. Let’s imagine that Manitoba is not the centre of racism but is the centre of reconciliation.” School Division. He taught English, Drama and Social Studies.He is a scholar-in-residence for an Niigaan identified several important “realties.”

Ontario School District near Toronto.

The most important is that the “baby boomer” His 12 year daughter has led a protest to generation is now retiring and the Indigenous protect the environment. population is growing, therefore making it Sometimes he receives hate mail from those everyone’s opportunity to ensure that Indigenous who have read his articles. He wonders at their people get the skills in the private and public sectors motivation. His superiors at the FP and at to build the economy. In fact, many already are. the university have received complaints from In the latest federal budget, over ten billion politicians and others about his viewpoints in dollars was set aside for native peoples. That is newspaper articles but they continue to support him. the same amount of money for the people of New Tina Fontaine was a pivotal point for Niigaan Brunswick, whose numbers are four times smaller. because he organized a vigil expecting a small And half of that will go to bureaucrats! turnout but he was amazed at the large numbers John Sushelnitsky who came, many of them non-Aboriginal.

Niigaan has both a Masters and a Doctorate Recently, he stood beside the Muslims at the vigil degrees.He spent some time growing up on to mark the tragedy at the New Zealand mosque the North Hill of Brandon and still fondly because they are part of the community- the remembers a teacher who stayed after school with Manitoba family. him providing “a safe place”. He would like to see To conclude, “Niigaan” means “in the front” and her now to express his appreciation. “wewidam” (the second half of his name) means He comments that it is often easier to sell “sound that announces”...a name that I would stories about bad news as opposed to good news. paraphrase to mean “a leader who communicates”.

32 n RTAM KIT Summer 2019

Association Canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants retraités Canadian Association of Retired Teachers

SENIORS’ ISSUES FOR THE 2019 FEDERAL ELECTION

ENDORSED BY

ACER-CART

Seniors’ Issues Information

To:

ACER-CART Members and Friends

ACER-CART is committed to promoting healthy, active and dignified retirement living for retired teachers and Canadian seniors. At our Annual General Meeting in June of 2018 we established the following priorities that we wish to communicate for the upcoming federal election cycle: • • • • •

advocating for Pension (and Income) Security supporting a Comprehensive National Canadian Pharmacare Plan. opposing the Privatization of Medical Services in Canada calling for a National Seniors’ Strategy on Healthy Aging endorsing the establishment of a Canadian Federal Seniors’ Ministry.

(The Honorable Filomena Tassi was named as Minister of Seniors on July 18th, 2018.)

In the Spring of 2019, ACER-CART worked collaboratively with eight other Seniors Organizations under the umbrella of “Vibrant Voices” and developed a consensus on key issues for the upcoming election campaign. We are particularly indebted to the Retired Teachers’ Association of Ontario (RTO-ERO) and the National Association of Federal Retirees, for their leadership in this endeavor. Other participating groups included the Canadian Federation of Pensioners, the Canadian Health Coalition, CARP, the College and University Retiree Associations of Canada, the International Longevity Centre of Canada, and the National Pensioners Federation. ACER-CART drew on their positions to consolidate these, our own, established priorities.

We hope you find this information useful in assessing the positions of the various parties. We encourage you to visit the nominated candidates of each political party to focus their attention on these four critical issues facing seniors now and into the future.

Each issue has facts and questions to help you prepare for your visit. You might select only one or two issues important to you for your conversations. We suggest you use the same issue(s) for the candidate of each political party so you can compare their responses.

“Whatever we do for Seniors today impacts all Canadians going into the future, as they will all be Seniors someday.”

—Jean-Guy Souliere, President of National Association of Federal Retirees.

Bill Berryman President ACER-CART 2018 - 2019

2 | Seniors’ Issues for the 2019 Federal Election

Making Retirement Income More Secure Key message Canadians deserve a secure and dignified retirement, with a guaranteed and sufficient source of income.

What is the Issue?

A defined benefit pension is a pension as we traditionally think of it. Employers and employees contribute to a pension fund which is pooled and invested. Retirees are paid a specific amount for the rest of their lives, using a formula that usually considers years of employment and salary.

Defined Benefits Pensions have proven to make retirement secure, with up to 80% of all pension dollars spent coming from investment returns. This enables retirees to continue to contribute meaningfully into local, provincial and national economies.

The rate of individuals covered by defined-benefit pensions continues to decline across the country, having moved from 70% in 2005 to 42% in 2015 in the private sector. This happened despite the fact that, when properly managed, this pension option is the best way to ensure retirement income security. Defined Benefit Pensions are proven to make retirement secure.

Further, employees and retirees must not be left out in the cold when their employers go bankrupt. We have only to look at the recent Sears example to know that defined benefit pension plans are not always guaranteed.

More work is needed to ensure that pensions are protected during insolvencies.

Advantages for Canadians Protecting Accrued Pension Benefits: means that no employer, in either the public or private sector, will be allowed to change the compensation promised to employees once they have retired. Employees can have confidence that their future is secure and their contractually promised pension, in reality deferred wages, will be guaranteed.

Protecting Employees and Retirees in Corporate Insolvencies with a pension insurance plan, paid for by pension plans, means that pensioners will have a secure retirement and not have to rely on tax-payer funded benefits like the Guaranteed Income Supplement.

Strengthening Defined Benefits Plans will deliver the same retirement income at a much lower cost than defined contribution plans. Government policy and legislation must support the protection and expansion of defined benefits plans. For example, the BC Teachers Pension Plan’s Administration and investment costs are 0.34%, compared to the Average Management Expense Ratio of Canadian Mutual Funds which was 2.35% in 2018.

Questions •

•

•

What is your party’s retirement income security plan for current and future seniors?

Will you ensure employees and retirees with defined benefit pensions are protected if their employer goes bankrupt?

In 2016 the federal government introduced Bill C-27, legislation that would allow employers to press for the surrender of defined benefit pensions.

Do you support this approach?

More information • •

For general information on pensions: Ontario Securities Commission http://bit.ly/2vBUE4s

•

http://bit.ly/2ZR165i

ACER-CART | 3

ACER-CART

National Pharmacare

Key message All Canadians should have access to the medications they need. A universal, public, comprehensive, accessible and portable national Pharmacare program would cut costs and lead to a healthier population

What is the issue?

Canada is the only country in the world with universal health care that does not also provide universal drug coverage and we consistently pay among the highest prices for prescription drugs. Twenty per cent of Canadians have inadequate coverage to meet their needs. One in four households in Canada can’t afford to fill their prescriptions.

A universal, public Pharmacare program would help Canadians better manage their health, lead to reduced medication costs and allow for better monitoring of the effectiveness and safety of medications.

It would also reduce the burden on other parts of the health care system.

A universal, public Pharmacare Plan would allow for better monitoring of medications, support, evidence-based drug coverage, and reduce the burden on other parts of the health care system.

Questions •

•

•

Advantages for Canadians Canadians would save between $4 and $11-billion with a national drug plan that had interprovincial cooperation in buying.

With no plan, Canadians drug costs as a share of GDP have more than tripled since 1985.

The disparity in drug costs, insurance coverage and drug availability would be eliminated. Today, prescription drug coverage is provided through a patchwork of 100 public and 100,000 private insurance plans. Many Canadians can’t afford insurance or prescription drugs and do without, suffering poor health and requiring more expensive, taxpayer-funded medical services as a result.

One in six hospitalizations could be avoided if prescription drugs were used appropriately.

Will your party implement a universal, public, comprehensive, accessible and portable Pharmacare program?

Will your party ensure that federal and provincial governments work together effectively to implement universal, public Pharmacare?

Will your party ensure a comprehensive, evidence-based formulary, so that Canadian’s can access the medications they need to maintain and improve their health?

More information • •

4 | Seniors’ Issues for the 2019 Federal Election

Canadian Health Coalition: http://bit.ly/2Wqaue4 Advisory Council on the Implementation of National Pharmacare: http://bit.ly/2PJxja8

Opposition to Privatization of Medical Services Key message Access to medical support should not be dictated by an individual’s means to pay.

Medicare is based on the five principles contained in the Canada Health Act: public administration, universal access, comprehensive coverage, accessibility without extra charges or discrimination and portability across the provinces.

What is the issue?

Private clinics are operating across the country offering health care services for a price, and the federal government is doing nothing to stop it. British Columbia and Quebec already have a number of these clinics, while other provinces – such as Alberta and Nova Scotia – allow them to a lesser extent. A report by the Ontario Health Coalition found that there are 130 private clinics open in five Canadian provinces, and provided evidence that 89 of these clinics may be selling services in violation of the Canada Health Act. Federal and provincial governments need to work together to ensure a strengthened public health care system that provides timely, quality health care services to all Canadians, not just for those who can afford to pay.

When Canada insures all its population for necessary doctor and hospital care, the delay of timely access to care is eliminated. Too often what could have been routine becomes critical, and when delayed, results in the need to access more expensive facilities and services. This creates additional stress on the system.

Questions •

•

•

Advantages for Canadians All Canadians should have equal access to quality medical care. When Privatization of Medical Services occurs, a two-tiered system is created. People with money can get the medical services that they need/want. People without money wait in line.

When the Canada Health Act is enforced, with strong penalties on provinces that allow private clinics, the system becomes fairer, with all funding for necessary medical treatment paid from one source.

Will you support the provisions of the Canada Health Act which assures Canadians universal accessibility without extra charges?

Will your government make adherence to the provisions of the Act a condition for Federal Transfer Payments?

Will your government ensure that physicians and institutions are not able to participate and receive funding in both the Public and User-funded domain?

More information •

•

Re-examining Public Funding and Not for Profit Health Care – Canadian Nurses Association: http://bit.ly/2UeDHXG Canada’s Health Care System: http://bit.ly/2VdsvzK

ACER-CART | 5

ACER-CART

National Seniors Strategy

Key message Canada needs a National Seniors Strategy that optimizes health, financial security, affordable housing and social inclusion so all Canadians can age with dignity.

What is the issue?

Older Canadians are the fastest growing segment of the population, and gaps in healthcare and social policies are creating barriers to seniors’ independence and the essential role they play in healthy communities and economies.

These issues must be addressed as a whole to get the results we require. A coordinated National Seniors Strategy, with dedicated funding and accountable goals will ensure we meet the needs of seniors.

Advantages for Canadians Providing the right care, at the right time, in the right place, at all stages of aging, allows seniors to remain healthy and active for as long as possible. Canadians are living longer, and our health care system must adapt to shifting demographics. Stable funding is needed to provide the social determinants of health.

More long term, community and home care, closer to home enables seniors to receive care in comfortable and familiar settings. Current shortfalls in the appropriate delivery of healthcare for seniors forces them to stay in expensive hospital care longer than they need. The provision of facilities to house patients transitioning from hospital to home, as well as adequate staffing levels, better training and education and safe working conditions will bring about the needed improvements to care.

More primary caregivers and geriatricians would provide a consistent and appropriate quality of care. Many Canadians do not have access to a primary care giver, and with one geriatrician per 15,000 adults, Canada is unprepared to

meet the current and growing demands for geriatric expertise. Current nursing shortages create a stressful working environment, burning out experienced nurses and discouraging new recruits.

More than 8 million informal caregivers support a family member or friend, contributing an estimated $25-billion in unpaid labour. This comes at a cost to their personal finances, and to their physical and mental health. These informal caregivers need support. Expanded respite care and adult day programs are needed to provide relief for family caregivers and support aging in place.

Seniors who are socially connected and have adequate support contribute productively to society. Social isolation, elder abuse and a lack of age-friendly strategies can deteriorate quality of life, and lead to poor health outcomes, higher social costs and loss of vital economic and social contributions of older populations.

Questions •

•

•

•

6 | Seniors’ Issues for the 2019 Federal Election

Will your party implement a National Seniors Strategy that addresses health care infrastructure, caregiver support, home care, long-term care and agefriendly communities?

Will your party establish national standards of care for home and long-term care?

Will your party recognize and support unpaid caregivers who play a vital role in our health care systems?

How will your party support health care and personal support professionals to better meet the growing need for geriatric expertise in Canada?

NOTICES & COMING EVENTS Looking for retired teachers in Winnipeg!!!

Would you like to make a difference by helping our community members to learn and to speak English?

Marlene Street Community Resource Centre is a nonprofit organization located in St. Vital, Winnipeg. We provide support and services to low-income families which include children, youth, single parents, Indigenous families and newcomers. Parking space available on site.

For more information, contact: Saima Siddiqui (Adult Program Coordinator) or Angela Konkin (Executive Director): 204-253-8994 or email: msacord@shaw.ca

Hold the Date – June 6, 2019 The Manitoba Teachers' College Class of 1958-59 are celebrating 60 years on June 6, 2019. The celebration will take place at the former MT College, Canadian Mennonite University. Further information will be forthcoming.

FINAL REUNION / DR. LOUISA LOEB Permit Teacher's of Manitoba 15th and Final Annual Reunion Viscount Gort Hotel 1670 Portage Avenue Winnipeg, Manitoba Thursday, July 11, 2019 09:30 - 3:30 pm Guest and former students welcome For further information, contact Edith Alexiuk 204-256-6484

PARTNERS FOR LEARNING

Retired teachers in the Winnipeg area for part time tutoring over the summer and the upcoming school year for Grades 1-10 Language Arts, Maths and Science.

Email resume to Partners for Learning at pfl1@mymts.net.

For Rent

Furnished beach house on Vancouver Island for rent Off season rates available 250-248-3446 kapitt@shaw.ca

For Sale

FOR SALE: RCI Time Share, Las Vegas, sleeps 8 abaca_007@yahoo.ca

60th MTC Reunion

Date: June 6, 2019, 9:00 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.

Registration Deadline: April 15, 2019 Location: Canadian Mennonite University (former Teachers' College) Event Description: 9:00 a.m.sign in and breakfast at Pancake House, 2220 McGillivray Blvd., followed by either a city tour or visit to the zoo. Dinner at 1:30 p.m. in the Great Hall at CMU. Visiting and reminiscing afterwards.

Contact Information: Emily Williamson, 204-837-5668, emiwill@mts.net or Bert Suss, 204-326-9470, blsuss1@gmail.com

Are you interested in becoming a mentor?

N.E.E.D.S. Inc. (Newcomer Employment & Education Development Services) is currently seeking volunteer mentors to work with newcomer youth ages 6-18.

N.E.E.D.S. Inc. is a non-profit, charitable organization that seeks to provide accessible services and supports to immigrant and refugee newcomer youth and their families during their settlement in order to enhance their integration into Canadian society.

Please consider becoming a mentor today! It only takes 6 hours a month to make a difference in the life of a refugee youth new to Winnipeg. Mentors connect newcomer youth to the community and engage them in educational and recreational activities.

Hours are flexible and a minimum commitment of 6 hours per month for 1 year is required. Please contact Matthew Fast at 940-1265 or matt@needsinc.ca if you are interested in applying or want more information.

CONTACT INFO N.E.E.D.S. Inc. 251-A Notre Dame, Winnipeg, Manitoba, R3B 1N8 Phone: (204) 940-1260 Fax: (204) 940-1272 Check out www.needsinc.ca for more information on N.E.E.D.S Inc.

RTAM.MB.CA n 39

TRAVEL

MEDOC® Travel Insurance for RTAM Members.

A variety of voluntary insurance options are available to RTAM members and their eligible dependents including: Premier Travel with Trip Cancellation Additional Stand Alone Trip Cancellation Extended Health Care

“I’ll stop chasing mine”

RTAM’S goal is to provide the best voluntary benefits at a competitive price to meet 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 plans.

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

Dental Care

1-855-473-8029

Guaranteed Issue Life Insurance

pbservicewest@johnson.ca

Term Life Insurance

www.johnson.ca/rtam

Home Insurance

#100, 17203 – 103 Avenue NW, Edmonton, AB. T5S 1J4 Get a quote & you’ll be entered for a chance to

RTAM sponsors pre-retirement seminars for teachers.

WIN † $25,000

Johnson Insurance is a tradename of Johnson Inc. (“Johnson” or “JI”), a licensed insurance intermediary, and operates as Johnson Insurance Services in British Columbia and Johnson Inc. in MB. MEDOC® is a Registered Trademark of Johnson. This insurance product is underwritten by Royal & Sun Alliance Insurance Company of Canada (“RSA”) and administered by Johnson. Valid provincial or territorial health plan coverage required. The eligibility requirements, terms, conditions, limitations and exclusions which apply to the described coverage are as set out in the policy. Policy wordings prevail. Johnson and RSA share common ownership. 1Coverage for Trip Cancellation begins the day of booking your trip provided your insurance is in effect. If a trip is booked prior to Trip Cancellation insurance being in effect, coverage for that trip will begin the day that the insurance premium is paid and the policy is issued. 2A 90-day Health Stability Clause applies to pre-existing medical conditions and other restrictions may apply. 3Based on a comparison of MEDOC’s multi-trip annual C plan design against single trip plans with similar benefits.

Johnson and RSA share common ownership. Eligibility requirements, limitations, exclusions or additional costs may apply and/or may vary by province or territory. Call 1-855-473-8029 for details. †NO PURCHASE NECESSARY. Open January 1, 2019 – April 30, 2020 to legal residents of Canada (excluding NU) who have reached the age of majority in their jurisdiction of residence and are a member of a recognized group of Johnson with whom Johnson has an insurance agreement. One (1) available prize of $25,000 CAD. Odds of winning depend on the number of eligible entries received. Math skill test required. Rules: www1.johnson.ca/cash2019