Association

Life never was fair, and the same may be said of sacrifices in retirement years. An investment banker, with possibly suspect scruples, is rewarded with obscene bonuses; the outstanding teacher is rewarded with thank you notes and a disappearing COLA. You can’t take thank you notes to the bank. Let us not neglect, nevertheless, to speak out against injustice.

Our End is the Conclusion

For most of us retirement means less money to spend and more time to spend it. Faced with tempting splurges we debate whether we are here for a long time, or for a good time. We experience a loss of purchasing power - from rising prices, from stock market meltdowns, and at present, miniscule interest rates. These, like death and taxes, are certainties. The ultimate uncertainty is how long we are going to live. So how much we need for our retirement years is unknown. The one certain thing, though, is that the undertaker will hike his charges to reflect a cost-of-living adjustment. As the ad for a local funeral establishment so chirpily declares: “When the price of living increases … so does the cost of dying!”

RETIREd WOMEN TEAchERS ASSOcIATION

On Thursday, February 17, 2011, 109 retired teachers participated in the third program for the 20102011 year at the Masonic Temple in Winnipeg.

Candace Swick, a leading practical expert on fitness for the older adult population, presented ideas and strategies for Active Aging Fitness. As owner of Bee-Well Fitness and the Older Adult Health and Fitness Specialist at the Rady JCC, she specializes in exercise programs for those with different health issues faced by the older adult. Candace is a co-author to the Can-Fit Pro Older Adult certification manual. She is certified in the areas of: fitness, water, rehab and any specialty programs related to older adults. She is a regular presenter on older adult topics across Canada. She holds a Diploma in Therapeutic Recreation, is a Rehab Therapy Therapist for Older Adults, and is very well known in her community. Candace continues to write articles, create programs for those in need, and trains others to teach programs to older adults of all levels and functions. She was recently nominated for an Active Living award at the Reh-fit Centre.

Candace began her presentation with a 20 minute workout involving all the teachers. She demonstrated many of the activities she does in her classes. The members of her classes range from 45 to 92 years of age and are at different levels; including people who use canes and who are in wheelchairs. She presented a variety of activities that meet the different levels of ability. Some of the exercises involved balance, focusing on muscle strength and stability. She also demonstrated the kind of equipment that she uses, such as tubing and a variety of tools and resistance equipment. She also suggested “cross-trainers” runners as appropriate footwear when working out. Candace explained the benefits of doing these activities. As people age, we need to take advantage of the newest ideas to accommodate our abilities.

I believe the teachers who attended this program acquired many excellent ideas to strengthen their body.

If you are interested in participating in one of Candace Swick’s classes, she can be reached at the Rady JCC centre (for members and non-members). She also sets up personal programs. Her website is www.beewellfitness. com

A special thank you to photographer Louise Burton.

I would like to extend our sincere thanks to the teachers who contributed non-perishable food items and cash donations ($170) for Winnipeg Harvest. Phyllis Kalinsky