STS Outreach, Winter 2023

WI N TE R 202 3 • VO LUME 4 6

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Spotlight on Superannuates – Doris McDougall PAGE 10

50th Anniversary Celebration PAGE 11

10 Ways to Prevent Falls PAGE 12

Advocacy to Learn Truth and Seek Reconciliation PAGE 3  Wanuskewin Heritage Park

Message from the President WRITTEN BY: DOUG STILL We have heard much about Reconciliation in recent years and the 93 Calls to Action released in June 2015 by the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Governments at the national, provincial and municipal levels are responding, as are nongovernmental organizations like the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation, of which the STS is one of 28 Locals.

Feedback from members to the first issue has been overwhelmingly positive with expressions of interest in continuing to get updates from Provincial Executive meetings that are held five times a year. To remain as cost-neutral as possible, Outreach is now published quarterly. We have embarked on an additional communication tool called Executive Notes to provide updates from these five meetings, usually within seven to ten days of meeting.

At the provincial level and within a growing number of our 41 Chapters, there is expanding awareness of engaging in dialogue and relationship building with First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples.

We are seeing a growing number of resolutions at our own AGMs which call upon our organization to engage more fully. As educators, we do have a tradition of openness to change and inclusiveness, knowing that society as a whole benefits. This issue of Outreach comes together in that spirit of reconciliation.●

The intent is to provide more timely updates through the network of Chapter Presidents soon after each meeting, and Presidents are asked to distribute Executive Notes through their local networks. As always, we continue to encourage feedback about both Outreach and Executive Notes.

Outreach

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For any changes to your address

ISSN 2817-173X (Digital)

and/or Group Benefits coverage,

All articles in Outreach represent the information and opinions of the authors and not necessarily those of the STS. Reminders STS Group Benefit Plan holders who are eligible for the

please contact the STS Office directly at 306-373-3879 or email sts@sts.sk.ca.

Have a story idea or a topic you would like us to include? We’d love to hear from you. Reach us at sts@sts.sk.ca

Saskatchewan Seniors’ Drug Plan

Content Curator

may be eligible for a reduced

Kevin Schmidt

premium by providing the STS Office with a copy of the Seniors’

In this Issue

Welcome to the second issue of the refreshed Outreach. One of the key changes you will notice is the use of themes for each edition.

The last issue was about new beginnings while this one will have a Reconciliation theme along with some other content that is familiar from late August/early September, including updates on the ongoing flurry of 50th Anniversary Chapter events.

Member Photographs

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Education at Wanuskewin

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Advocacy – Truth and Reconciliation

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Woven Stories

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Travel Wanuskewin

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Book Review – Truth Telling

8

STS Honorary Life Membership

10

Anniversary Celebrations

11

10 Ways to Avoid Falls

12

Journey Into Retirement – Part II

14

Strategic RRSP Withdrawal

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Drug Plan confirmation letter. For information on the Saskatchewan Seniors’ Drug Plan, please speak with your pharmacist or contact the Seniors’ Drug Plan office at 1-800-667-7581. If you live in Regina please call 306-787-3317.

www.sts.sk.ca

Events

Back Cover

Winter 2023 • Volume 46 Member Photographs

Member Photographs

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ELOW IS A selection of photos by members of the STS. Do you have a photograph, idea or a topic you would like us to include? We’d love to hear from you. You can reach us at sts@sts.sk.ca.

 Lorraine Brokop

 Gord Strom

 Denise Schmidt

 Rene Goertzen

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 Rene Goertzen

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Chapter Engagement

Chapter Engagement

Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Education at Wanuskewin WRITTEN BY: ALAN LAUGHLIN Some years ago, the members of the Battlefords and District Chapter of the STS began considering how they might become more active in actualizing one or some of the Calls to Action as presented in the Truth and Reconciliation Study. Although, as a Chapter, we realize that we have little influence on how history is interpreted and represented, we decided that we have the ability to become more aware of the Canadian saga through the eyes of our First Nations brothers and sisters. Most of us agreed that we had learned our history in a similar way, using similar resources and had likely taught that history through the same colonial lens.

With that understanding, our Chapter decided to visit Wanuskewin Heritage Park to begin the work of gaining new understandings.

We gathered at Wanuskewin on June 15 and embarked on an immersive and educational journey. A lunch of traditional foods, a self-guided tour with a massive amount of reading, a tour of the galleries of First Nations art, an interpretative video followed by viewing many artifacts, including a copy of a treaty, and a time enjoying a presentation by a Cree fiddler rounded out the day. The day was hot and humid, so we did not undertake the outdoor interpretive walks, but that can be for another time.

All field trips include an assessment of the learning outcomes! The purpose of this adventure was to gain personal understanding, and I am assuming from the conversation on the way home that this was accomplished. It has been suggested that we follow this trip up with a similar trip to a First Nation such as Poundmaker or Sweetgrass (Cutknife) perhaps later this fall. ●

The Battlefords and District Chapter travels to Wanuskewin

Alan Laughlin is the President of the Battlefords and District Chapter as well as a member of the STS Provincial Executive. Alan’s teaching career began in 1977 in Spiritwood and continued through a number of locations in Northwestern Saskatchewan. Alan has a keen interest in the welfare of teachers and the importance of an active retirement that is founded on giving to others.

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Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Chapter Engagement

WRITTEN BY: HELEN SUKOVIEFF AND SHIRLEY HUMPHRIES Advocacy is an important aspect of creating change in our society. It allows individuals to raise awareness about important issues and push for policies that benefit marginalized communities.

The Regina Chapter created an Advocacy Committee in April 2019. Thanks to COVID-19, the Committee met online. Speakers, also online, were accessible to STS Members provincially. The Committee surveyed Regina Members in January 2021 then planned speakers to both reflect and to broaden Members’ interests. The Committee invited speakers related to Truth and Reconciliation.

Maureen Johns spoke to us in November 2021 about the Truth and Reconciliation Commission’s Recommendation #8 regarding inequity in funding Indigenous students on and off Reserves.

Regina Chapter sponsored a resolution supported

by STS AGM 2022 Delegates to request ACERCART and STF/CTF to follow up with the federal government. Funding education on Reserves is now tied to provincial funding but has not yet addressed the chronic underfunding, a topic for more learning.

Poverty, homelessness and violence are experienced disproportionately by the Indigenous population.

In 2022, we heard from Katrina Swan regarding the Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls Inquiry’s recommendations for police services.

In 2023, Peter Gilmer presented regarding poverty in Regina and we learned from Carol Schick about being an ally. This concept of being an ally led to a resolution regarding the Chapter and Members’ potential role as allies in Reconciliation.

The Members who attended the 2023 Regina Chapter AGM passed the resolution to learn truths about our history and its impact on Indigenous peoples and take action toward Reconciliation.

We realize there are cultural factors to attend to as well as facts. Advocacy Committee planning now is guided formally by an Indigenous Advisory Group. Wilfred Burton, Vanea Cyr

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and Shelly Tootoosis help us understand land acknowledgement, identify topics, speakers, projects and related resources, and attend to our process. The Executive is exploring expanding the Indigenous advisory role to include Chapter work such as policies and planning.

On October 23 this fall, we heard from Florence Stratton, social and justice activist, regarding homelessness in Regina and beyond. On November 27, Wilfred Burton will speak to us about the role and importance of Indigenous authors to further the goals of Truth and Reconciliation. He will recommend some related reading and gift ideas for children, youth and adults.

Join us! Our presentations continue to be online allowing for province-wide participation. Check out the stsregina.ca website for more information or contact stsreginaadvocacy.com to register for upcoming online sessions. ● Helen Sukovieff, BEd, MEd, is a retired educator who has served in several capacities on the STS Executive since 2013 – first as an STF Councillor representing retired teachers, then as a Member-at-Large and most recently she has been the ACER-CART Director representing Saskatchewan. Throughout these years, she has witnessed the many ways the STS enhances our lives as superannuates. She wants to continue to play an active role in the planning for the many events that are tackled, not the least of which is Truth and Reconciliation.

Shirley Humphries, PhD, taught K-6 and French immersion before joining the STF senior administrative staff. After retiring, Shirley engaged in STS and Chapter-sponsored activities and is the Regina Chapter Advocacy Committee Chairperson.

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Chapter Engagement

Advocacy to Learn Truth and Seek Reconciliation

Book Reviews

Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Book Reviews Travel

Woven Stories The Clothing and Artistry of Métis Women in Batoche WRITTEN BY: KAYLEE HOKO

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SNIPPET OF BRIGHT ribbon on an apron hem, a lively floral splash to a skirt, or smooth beads stitched into a work of art beneath your fingertips– that is what you will find as you experience the historical clothing exhibit at Batoche National Historic Site. “Woven Stories” offers you a glimpse into the lives of Métis women, and their creativity, resilience, and strength. As a woman of Métis ancestry with a background in women’s history studies and Heritage Presenter at Batoche, my passion and goal is to showcase and celebrate the stories of Métis women.

In my search for information on my own family history, I found that many ancestry records and stories were from a male perspective. When I began working at Batoche, I recognized a space for additional women’s viewpoints in the stories being shared.

When I was invited to develop a gallery exhibit, it felt like a great opportunity to bring forth the voice of Métis women with partner collaboration for a memorable visitor experience.

A vibrant, uniquely patterned ribbon skirt by Brenda Hrycuik

The goal was to explore ways for visitors to engage with stories of real people through an interactive exhibit. For the historic element, local seamstress Louise Tournier

created a collection of Métis clothing from 19th century Batoche. The historic pieces were modified to allow visitors to try them on and step into the stories being shared. These stories were inspired by research on real people and events at Batoche and capture the details of everyday life.

The gallery hosts biographies of 19th century women of Batoche and displays historical images showcasing the beauty and artistry of their handmade clothing, as well as the work of local Métis artists. With the assistance of Dr. Cindy Gaudet and Brenda Hrycuik, the modern ribbon skirt display was included to pay

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Winter 2023 • Volume 46 Book Reviews

Strips of ribbon were added to the Leather mittens adorned with floral beadwork.

hemlines of skirts and aprons, a practice of Métis and First Nations women that represents womanhood,

tribute to historic ribbon skirts and the inspiration they give to today’s cultural vibrancy. A quote from the exhibit shares this connection; “Today the ribbon skirt connects to our matriarchs and is for many women, a symbol and expression of womanhood, strength, creativity, connection and resilience. It is also the continuity of artistic and cultural practice of sewing together and honouring our kinship relations.”

The creation of this exhibit and connecting with each of the participants was an incredible journey and helped me feel closer to my own Métis heritage. I hope those who experience this exhibit will feel more deeply connected to their personal stories and that it adds an enriched perspective to the important history shared.

Open May to September, the site offers a range of engaging experiences for visitors. Rich in Métis culture and life from the 1870s onward, Batoche became a national historic site due to its strong cultural roots and its significance to Canadian history.

Batoche National Historic Site is honoured to collaborate with the

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Gabriel Dumont Institute, Métis Nation - Saskatchewan, Friends of Batoche, River Women’s Collective, Batoche Métis Local 51 and many Elders, scholars, local community, and descendants to share the history and stories of Batoche. ●

resilience, and strength.

Originally from Prince Albert, SK, Kaylee Hoko has been a Heritage Presenter at Batoche National Historic Site since 2021. She has an undergraduate degree in history from the University of Saskatchewan with a specific focus on women’s history. She has experience working in multiple museums and historic fields and enjoys sharing her love of history, recovering hidden stories, and developing new exhibits and educational programming.

Kaylee Hoko with a portion of the “Woven Stories” exhibit at Batoche National Historic Site.

5 Kaylee Hoko hand painting

Batoche National Historic Site

pointillism art on the gallery walls.

Travel

Travel

Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Travel Wanuskewin

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WRITTEN BY: CASSANDRA LANG AND ANDREW MCDONALD ANUSKEWIN HERITAGE PARK is a unique cultural centre located five minutes away from Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. The park celebrates Northern Plains Indigenous Cultures, focusing on a number of cultural facets including art, cuisine, and spirituality. We work to advance the understanding and appreciation of Northern Plains Indigenous cultures, all of whom have gathered at this sacred site for over 6,400 years.

Wanuskewin has been an essential Indigenous tourism destination in Canada for the last three decades, and the winner of the Indigenous Tourism Destination of the year in both 2016 and 2019.

The park welcomes thousands of educators and students annually who experience our educational programming, all based on the Saskatchewan Teaching Curriculum. These dynamic programming options focus on both pre and post contact topics. Programs include, “wâhkôhtowin: Bison Kinship”, “Northern Plains Technology”, “Voyageur Games”, “Tipi Raising”, “Medicine Walk”, “Archaeology” and more.

These programs have also been made available online, allowing greater access for students and their families to learn at home as well. Visit kiskêyihtamowin: Learning through Experiences Originally designed for schools during COVID-19, kiskêyihtamowin: Learning through Experiences was created to connect students with the thousands of years of culture and history at

Wanuskewin in a time when in-person visits were not possible. Now, this online learning series serves as a digital library for the teachings, stories, and information at Wanuskewin to be shared in classrooms, training sessions, workshops, homes, and workplaces.

Wanuskewin has now introduced a second video series called Learning For Reconciliation. These videos feature a variety of topics centered around a variety of historical and cultural lessons. This series features presenters John Lagimodiere and Winston McLean. The Learning For Reconciliation Series is designed to support our collective learning journey.

The park is now home to 33 Plains Bison. This herd is made up of the descendants of the last one thousand bison left on the plains by the year 1870.

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Winter 2023 • Volume 46 Travel

This spiritual teaching has been brought back from the edge of extinction and now is thriving, having been returned to its ancestral homelands on the prairies. Guests are invited to hike the trails and enjoy a majestic view of the herd.

Wanuskewin has partnered with Federated Co-op to launch a food line across Western Canada in over 160 grocery and convenience stores. This food line is made up of Bison products (not from our bison herd) featuring bison burgers, bison jerky, bison meat sticks and bison smokies. These bison are sourced from Alberta for commercial purposes. We are showcasing plains artists on the packaging and supporting western Canadian bison producers as well.

In 2017 Wanuskewin was named to the tentative list for UNESCO World Heritage Designation, and as such we are busy writing and researching the final pieces of our application to be submitted in the coming months. We will get a formal adjudication in the next three years, and become the first UNESCO site in Saskatchewan’s history.

Wanuskewin is an epic Canadian story that has continued to evolve over the past 31 years. We invite you to visit, volunteer, donate and join with us as we become Canada’s next UNESCO World Heritage site! ●

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Andrew McDonald, Director of Marketing and Communications.

Andrew has been with Wanuskewin as a team member since 2011, contributing to the growth and development of the park and igniting a passion for tourism. Over the past decade, the park has reached several important milestones including multiple provincial and national tourism and marketing awards as well as a recent induction for Wanuskewin into the Saskatchewan Hospitality Tourism Hall of Fame. Andrew is a founding member of the Kichiota Indigenous Tourism Corridor.

Cassandra Lang (she/her), Coordinator, Programs and Education.

As a teacher, Cassandra brings a strong understanding of schools and curriculum to Wanuskewin’s programs.

Over the past two years, she has worked to make Wanuskewin’s programs more accessible for all groups, especially school groups, wanting to learn about and appreciate the distinct and diverse cultures of the Northern Plains Indigenous peoples. As an ally and resident in Treaty 6 territory, she is passionate about education and making our home a safe place where everyone feels like they belong.

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Book Reviews

Book Reviews

Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Book Review

Truth Telling: Seven Conversations About Indigenous Life in Canada

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WRITTEN BY: JOAN ELLIOT

ICHELLE GOOD’S NEW book presents seven illuminating essays that reveal the historical and present-day experiences of Indigenous Peoples in Canada. They also build understanding of what meaningful reconciliation should entail. Good, a member of the Red Pheasant Cree Nation, began her career as an activist with Indigenous organizations and then became a lawyer who worked on behalf of residential school survivors. Her bestselling first book of fiction, Five Little Indians, was the winner of multiple awards including the Governor General’s Literary Award for Fiction.

The author shares her devastating experiences in foster care as part of the Sixties Scoop and the inadequacy of the compensation provided later.

Noting the Honourable Justice Murray Sinclair’s fundamental principle when the Truth and Reconciliation Commission report was issued, that without truth there can be no reconciliation, Good aims to dispel the myths of Canadian history so that non-Indigenous Canadians can begin to understand the true horror of what Indigenous peoples experienced and enter into a respectful dialogue with them. In “Residential Schools”, the first essay in the collection, she states that the schools were part of the federal government’s colonial policy to assert political control over the land and exploit it economically.

She traces the impact of the Doctrine of Discovery, broken treaties, the intentional 8 Outreach

Winter 2023 • Volume 46 Book Reviews

decimation of the bison herds, and the federal government’s Peasant Farming Policy, which placed limitations on the implements Indigenous farmers could use and forbade them to grow wheat, in order to placate settlers.

Good aims to dispel the myths of Canadian history so that non-Indigenous Canadians can begin to understand the true horror of what Indigenous peoples experienced and enter into a respectful dialogue with them.

Other essays discuss seminal moments in the fight by Indigenous Peoples to preserve their rights and the recognition of those rights in the Constitutional Amendment of 1982, the racism her mother experienced when marrying into a white family, the large membership in the Ku Klux Klan in Saskatchewan in the 1920s, and the long history of treating Indigenous women as disposable chattel.

public lands, using their privilege to influence real change, and moving beyond talk to action.

Despite all the challenges, Good is hopeful for a brighter future and this powerful book will foster many better-informed dialogues, just as she intended. ●

Did You Know?

The ESRC collection includes extensive resources about K-12 education, wellness, social justice, and truth and reconciliation.

Award-winning books by Saskatchewan writers and several Canada Reads titles are in the collection.

We provide a free mailout service to anywhere in the province.

You can browse the collection in person at 2311 Arlington Avenue in Saskatoon or use our online catalogue at www.stf.sk.ca (no log in required).

CONTACT US Please call us at 1-800-667-7762 or email esrc@stf.sk.ca to request materials.

Joan Elliott is the librarian/manager of the Emma Stewart Resources Centre. She and her team are honoured to provide library services to educators throughout the province.

The author also shares her devastating experiences in foster care as part of the Sixties Scoop and the inadequacy of the compensation provided later, describes the negative impact of Pretendians, the identity frauds who pretend to be Indigenous, some of whom are white supremacists, and outlines the significance of the rise and resistance of Indigenous literature.

To participate in substantive reconciliation, she asks non-Indigenous Canadians to support the calls of Indigenous Peoples for natural, political and financial resources including the return of

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Recognition

Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Recognition

Spotlight on Superannuates In 2020 Doris McDougall was nominated for an STS Honorary Life Membership by the Wakaw Chapter. Doris has been, and continues to be, a leader in the Wakaw Chapter and in the local Métis community.

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OR SOME REMARKABLE members of our profession, the good life is associated with opportunities to serve. One such person is Doris McDougall who has dedicated her life to her schools, her community, her profession, and the Métis nation of which she is a proud member.

Doris was born in Levine Flats and went to school in St. Louis, where she learned to speak both French and English since her first language was Michif. She went on to Normal School in Saskatoon and had a 33-year teaching career, mostly in Métis settlements and on First Nations reserves. After retirement, she became one of the driving forces to create a Wakaw Chapter of the STS and rarely missed a meeting.

Doris served 28 years on the Chapter Executive and was a constant support in all its activities. She also represented the Wakaw Chapter at several STS AGMs and helped the Chapter host several provincial Kaiser tournaments and a fishing derby.

For her hard work and dedication, she received the Chapter Award in 2018.

Within the community of St. Louis, Doris has served a variety of organizations, including the Catholic church, the Lions Club, the organization supporting French culture, the Historical Society, and the 2005 Celebrate Saskatchewan Committee.

She has been a member of St. Louis Métis Local #28 since the 1950s, faithfully attending and supporting its meetings and events. She was part of the ground-breaking committee work that put the Michif language into written form. The Michif Language Learning Resource was published in 2018 along with a deck of playing cards with words in Michif, French and English.

Presentation of Honorary Life Membership

Doris’s many contributions have not gone unnoticed. In 2004 she received the Inaugural Volunteerism Award from the St. Louis Business Association, followed by the Canada 150 Award for Volunteerism in 2017. In 2020, her colleagues in the teaching profession were proud to honour her extraordinary life of service by awarding her Honorary Life Membership in the STS. ●

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Winter 2023 • Volume 46 Anniversary Celebrations

(Melfort & District) Chapter STS Last Mountain Chapter

STS Prince Albert Chapter

STS Last Mountain Chapter

STS Carrot River Valley (Melfort & District) Chapter

STS Mainline Chapter

STS Saskatoon Chapter

STS Estevan Chapter

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11 STS Mainline STS Weyburn Chapter

Chapter

Anniversary Celebrations

STS Carrot River Valley

Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Health

Health

10 Ways to Avoid Falls WRITTEN BY: KIMBERLY BROWN

Did you know that falls are the leading cause of injury among older Canadians?

• 20-30% of older adults experience one or more falls each year.

• Falls are the cause of 85% of injury-related hospitalizations among older adults.

• Falls are the cause of 95% of all hip-fractures.

• 50% of all falls causing hospitalization happen at home. (Source: Canada.ca)

What causes People to Fall?

Many things can cause a fall at any time but the risk of falls increases as we age. Outdoor walking surfaces can become uneven due to cracks and winter weather adds ice and snow. Other things that can increase the risk of falls are different health conditions such as diabetes and heart disease and even some medications. As we age, changes in eyesight, hearing and reflexes may undermine our balance and ability to see and respond to potential risks. Age-related loss of muscle mass, problems with balance, gait, and blood pressure that drops too much when you get up from lying down or sitting are all risk factors for falling.

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Winter 2023 • Volume 46 Health

How can we avoid falls?

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Better Balance and Coordination: strengthening stabilizer muscles (core, back and muscles around your hips) by safely trying squats and lunges to engage the muscles.

Correct Posture and Form: sitting straight with your shoulders back while in your chair or driving will help to improve your posture.

Physician approved physical activity can go a long way toward fall prevention.

Ask your physician about activities such as walking, water workouts, tai chi or any type of yoga to help stretch your body, improve your posture, and increase your balance. Build your muscle and bone strength by doing "resistance" activities or exercises (such as weightlifting). You can find Strength and Balance Exercises for Seniors at www.lifeline.ca/en/resources.

Getting up too quickly can cause your blood pressure to drop and make you wobbly, so take your time when moving from sitting to standing.

If carrying items, use a shoulder bag, fanny pack or backpack to keep your hands free to access assistive devices, handrails or grab bars to gain or regain stability and avoid falls.

Having healthy bones won’t necessarily prevent a fall, but if you do fall, healthy bones may help prevent serious injury, such as breaking a hip or other bone.

Getting enough calcium and vitamin D can help keep your bones strong. So can staying active.

Other ways to maintain bone health include quitting smoking and avoiding or limiting alcohol use. Tobacco and alcohol use may decrease your bone mass and increase your chance of fractures.

Additionally, try to maintain a healthy weight. Being underweight increases the risk of bone loss and broken bones.

(Source: U.S. National Institute for Aging)

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Keep outdoor stairs and walkways free of clutter, ice or snow. Look around for and remove safety hazards in the home – anything you can trip on.

Have your hearing and vision checked regularly and light up your life in your hallways, stairs, and walkways.

Love your feet by wearing shoes with support and traction. If your feet ache, roll them over a tennis ball to relieve the ache and provide a solid grounding.

Put traction or ice cleats on shoes for winter walking or purchase boots with IceFX rubber soles. Change your gait and slow down your walk during winter. Another technique is the shuffle – pushing your feet along the ice instead of picking them up to avoid being off balance.

If you do fall, fall with grace – try to bend your knees and crouch to absorb some shock or fall backwards with your arms and chin tucked in.

Enjoy winter and start your preparation early to stay safe. Keep active, healthy and be careful to prevent falling. ● Kimberly Brown is a retired school administrator who is enjoying substitute teaching. She is also a Yoga Alliance E-RYT® 200, YACEP® Yoga Teacher and a Yoga Medicine® Registered Therapeutic Specialist who teaches yoga classes and workshops in Regina and Mexico. Kimberly has led beginner to half-marathon running clinics and loves being active whether indoors or outside.

Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Transitions

Transitions

Journey Into Retirement, Following A Path of Adult Development WRITTEN BY: DAVE DERKSEN 14 Outreach

Winter 2023 • Volume 46 Transitions

Part II – Five Things I’ve Learned from Adult Development Theories • a neutral zone of uncertainty, with confusion and anticipation, which leads to …

I have been reading various adult development theories and thinking about what they mean for me in retirement. Here are five insights I’ve gained: 1

Stages of development continue throughout adulthood. Research on adults around the world has repeatedly shown consistent patterns of development through distinct stages.

It also shows that just knowing about these stages can initiate growth.

This knowledge has opened me to the exciting possibility of personal improvement, even as I age.

Adult development theories affirm that it is okay, even preferable, to let go of parts of me that used to be important.

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Each stage of adult development has characteristic beliefs, priorities, and motivations that influence decisions.

The stages progress toward deeper understanding of who we are and how we relate to others and the world.

I have traced my development using Spiral Dynamics and Robert Kegan’s stages. Comparing my thinking to the priorities typical of each stage has helped me become more self-aware, something my wife and I are both happy about!

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Developmental changes happen gradually, not in sudden shifts.

Life transitions proceed through a predictable series of steps:

• a new beginning. (from the Bridges Transition Model by William Bridges) I recognize these steps in my transition to retirement. I am experiencing neutral zone uncertainty, but I am optimistic about discovering a new beginning.

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Adult development requires a motivation to learn, a context that supports change, and awareness of development as a possibility.

I am lucky to have supportive friends and family who encourage my desire for renewal and fulfillment in retirement. So, I have moved into a process of change, pursuing new interests and reimagining my purpose.

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As adults learn and grow through various stages, we can still understand the motivations and priorities of previous stages.

This developmental memory helps me relate to those with opinions and motivations from stages I have experienced.

Adult development theories affirm that it is okay, even preferable, to let go of parts of me that used to be important. I am feeling good about redefining myself in retirement. I will continue to grow and learn, knowing that I can go beyond who I have been in my work life toward a new version of me.

In Part III, I’ll describe some practical benefits of understanding adult development. ● Dave Derksen spent 31 years with Saskatoon Public Schools. In retirement, he enjoys life with Marlys, his wife of 35 years and their growing family. He features diverse human experiences on his podcast Stories told by Friends and is a regular guest on TPI’s The Kitchen Table.

• an ending with a sense of loss, followed by …

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Finances

Finances

Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Strategic RRSP Withdrawal WRITTEN BY: TRÉ BYNOE When should you start withdrawing funds from your Registered Retirement Savings Plans (RRSPs)?

Often, this decision plays a key role in how much income tax you pay, which impacts how you maximize your retirement savings and enhances the safety of your retirement income.

You have control over when you withdraw from your RRSP, and therefore, you have some control over the tax you pay and when you pay it.

You have control over when you withdraw from your RRSP, and therefore, you have some control over the tax you pay and when you pay it. Just because it comes out of your RRSP doesn't mean it can't return to your Tax-Free Savings Account (TFSA) and other investments for later spending.

Consider an example: someone retires at 60 with a lifetime pension benefit of $35,000 and a bridge benefit of $8,000 for a total of $43,000 a year until they are 65. Their bridge benefit will stop at that point, and CPP and OAS will start for $16,000. Now, they will earn $51,000 a year. They have an RRSP for $150,000, and for reasons outside the scope of this article, they would like to use up the RRSP before they are 70. They will pay 20% tax on income under $50,000 and 30% on income over $50,000.

When should they start withdrawing from the RRSP? While they are earning $43,000 or $51,000?

Firstly, you must understand a crucial principle: your taxable income during retirement is not the determining factor in what you can spend.

During your working life, you will typically spend based on what you earned during the year. During retirement, you are now spending money you have already saved. Because of this, spending more than your taxable income is very reasonable. The opposite is also true; your taxable income may be low as you spend from TFSAs and other savings. There are times when the best strategy might include withdrawing RRSPs and paying the tax even if you do not plan to spend the money at that time.

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Winter 2023 • Volume 46

Part of the decision of when to withdraw money from RRSPs is a tax question, not necessarily about when you would like to spend the money.

Finances

a qualified financial planner may be of benefit when considering these questions and when to withdraw your RRSPs. ● Tré Bynoe, CFP®, RIS, CIM®, Financial Planner, TCU Wealth Management Tré is known for his relentless pursuit of truth, candor, and clear insights. Tré has a unique approach based on recognizing opportunities and building a framework around decision-making to help his clients systematically reach their goals.

While life is rarely this simple, hopefully, you understand the point. Part of the decision of when to withdraw money from RRSPs is a tax question, not necessarily about when you would like to spend the money.

What if you need more income to live than your pension provides? Unlike during your working years, where you expect your income to increase over time, retirement revolves around a fixed income. The consequences of bad decisions may be significant down the line. You may have a few choices of income sources if your pension doesn't cut it. You could use RRSPs, you could take CPP early, you could even work part-time. These strategies all have their merits. Before making a retirement-defining decision, I encourage you to consider the big picture. A fundamental investment principle is diversification, which also applies to income sources. It's often better to have a few different sources of income than to rely solely on one.

There are many strategic decisions for you to make, each with pros and cons. Do you opt to reduce the survivor benefit for your spouse, increasing your monthly pension but also increasing your spouse's longevity risk?

When do you withdraw from RRSPs? When do you choose to start receiving CPP and OAS benefits? Which option do you select for your defined benefit pension plan? Your choices will increase risk in some areas and decrease it in others. You must find the balance that works for you, your life, and your desired outcome in retirement. Seeking the advice and guidance of

Outreach

Executive Notes

W

ATCH FOR EXECUTIVE NOTES being distributed through Chapter Presidents and posted on the STS website in the week following each Provincial Executive Meeting! Provincial Executive and Committee Meetings for the remainder of the 2023-24 year are: • January 9-10, 2024 • March 11-12, 2024 • May 7, 2024 (combined with the Annual General Meeting)

17

DECEMBER

FEBRUARY

20 STS Office Closed until

14 Valentine's Day 19 Family Day

January 3, 2024.

25 Christmas Day 31 New Year's Eve JANUARY

1 New Year's Day 9 Executive Committee Meetings 10 Executive Committee Meetings

Are you moving and want to join the STS Chapter in your area? Contact the STS Office to do so, or for Chapter contacts.

Event Highlights

PUBLICATIONS MAIL AGREEMENT # 40017216

Mel Ozolinsky and Don Gabel Playing Kaiser

For more details and registration forms for our events visit the STS website at www.sts.sk.ca

EXT-00247 / 20231115

(Al Laughlin on left)

SASKATOON SK S7J 2H8

Men’s 2nd Place and 1st Place

2311 ARLINGTON AVENUE

(between Al Laughlin, Don Gabel and Gail Huber)

STS OFFICE

Low Score – Donna Moore, Terry Deneiko

SUPERANNUATED TEACHERS’ OF SASKATCHEWAN

Provincial Kaiser Tournament

RETURN UNDELIVERABLE CANADIAN ADDRESSES TO:

FA LL 202 3 • VO LUME 1

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