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President's Remarks

RTO-ERO Charitable Foundation
A major thrust of the RTO-ERO Charitable Foundation is to endow an additional Geriatric Chair at the University of Toronto. Doing so, will effectively double the resources for research and treatment while taking advantage of an existing infrastructure that includes the largest Regional Geriatric Program in Ontario with a network of 28 participating institutions whose services encompass a range of hospital and community based care.

In addition to the Geriatric Chair, the Foundation will also provide charitable assistance to a variety of other causes. One example that directly affects our members is the RTO-ERO Emergency Assistance Program that was suspended because Canada Revenue prohibits non-profit organizations from using funds for the benefit of individual members. The Foundation, as a separate entity, will be able to reinstate the EAP.

The Charitable Foundation project is a bold undertaking that correlates well with our values, our needs, and our organization. Reasons for supporting this initiative include the following:

1. It is a good fit with who and what we are: individuals whose careers were devoted to betterment of others, and who, in retirement continue to respond to societal needs.
2. It addresses needs pertinent to our members
3. It is a responsible action to take. For the generation that created the public health care system, increasing geriatric- knowledgeable health care providers and resources is a logical approach to the challenges posed as the Baby Boomers enter senior citizenry.
4. It gives us, as an organization and as seniors, a positive profile in a climate that is tending to perceive seniors as a liability.
5. It is financially doable and donations are tax deductible.

Three million dollars is required to fund a Geriatric Chair in perpetuity. The plan is to raise that amount over three years relying on many people each donating a little to achieve the goal. For example, If 10,000 members contributed $10 monthly ($120 gross annually per person, about $85 net after tax deductions) for three years; the goal would easily be reached.

The Charitable Foundation initiative aptly exemplifies the RTO-ERO motto: Here for you now... Here for your future. Please consider supporting this initiative in whatever ways are appropriate for you.

More information about the RTO-ERO Charitable Foundation can be found at http://www.ero-rto.org/rtoero-charitable-foundation

For a donation form, click on DONATE NOW
Gordon Cressy, Director of Advancement & Fund Raising, can be contacted at gcressy@rto-ero.org / 416.962.9463 OR 1.800.361.9888 ext. 245

Bonnie Hamilton, President District 22

Download your Executive Contact List Here ~

Awards Committee

The Awards Committee consisting of Sharon Kular, Toni Michalczuk, Joel Nasimok, Don Routley and Jane Shaw, is responsible this year for administering four annual awards as follows:

1. STO or Service To Others Award
The Provincial Committee sponsors this award. Our responsibility is to review all requests and recommend to the District Executive a group to be nominated. If successful, the group is eligible for a grant up to $4000. Details of this award and an application form are available on the RTO/ ERO website at www.rto-ero.org. On the left, click on Project STO. Completed application must be submitted to the Awards Committee - District 22 by November 15, 2011.

2. 10 Year Service Award
After completing 10 years as a member of the Executive of District 22, a special recognition award is presented. This year our recipient is Joel Nasimok.

3. Outstanding Community Service Award
This award is available only to members of District 22. Nominations for this award of $1000.00 must be submitted to the Awards Committee by March 31, 2012. This award is designed to recognize members who have devoted much of their time in retirement and earlier to voluntary community activities. This year’s recipients are Linda Beaton and Alice Casselman.

4. 25 Year Membership Certificates.
These certificates are presented at our June Luncheon to individuals who have been a member of RTO for the past 25 years.
This year we have 49 such recipients. We were fortunate to have 19 of these members present at the luncheon to receive their certificates: Dirk Chow, Douglas Clark, James Fred Collins, Rita Crowe, Ronald De Val, Corinne Deverell, Sonja Dunn, Shirley Fraser, Mary Frattini, Daniel Jones, Lucille Jones, Dorothy Killin, Andrew Kozakavich, Arthur Lepper, Paul McKenzie, Win McLellan, Doreen Raymond, Margaret Rutledge and Margaret Tipping.

Sharon Kular, Awards Chair, District 22

Kinds of Projects to be Considered for the STO Award:

• Local Heritage and Culture projects

• Support for initiatives from First Nations communities

• School day care for the children of single teenage mothers

• Special arts and education programs for children

• Support for the disadvantaged

• Visitation support programs for shut-ins

• Support for group homes

• Support for initiatives in developing countries

• Crisis Centres

• Medical and social programs for the needy

• ESL, literacy and numeracy programs

• School dropout programs

copied with permission from RTO District 16 newsletter of May 2011

Outstanding Community Service Awards...

Alice Casselman
Alice taught at the Etobicoke School of the Arts where she spearheaded an environmental awareness long before that became a mainstream education objective.

She was a founder of ACER (Association for Canadian Educational Resources), a non-profit organization dedicated to environmental awareness through the design and production of educational materials with a unique Canadian perspective and the involvement of students in monitoring tree growth in the Humber College Arboretum. She has been the president since 1987. Her work includes successful fund-raising as well as the employment of newly graduated university students to assist in the carrying out of ACER’s various programs. Each year Alice will be involved with the HaltonEcofest, TRCA staff training in tree monitoring protocols, the OSEE annual conference, the STAO conference, planting for change activities at Humber Arboretum and interviewing York students for summer internships.

Her energy and enthusiasm are infectious, and she continues to give of herself to the education, employment and environmental awareness of others. Alice is certainly worthy of the award for Outstanding Community service. Congratulations Alice!

Linda Beaton
After Linda retired as principal of St. Elizabeth RC School several years ago she came to the St. James Food Basket in Etobicoke. The Food Basket operates under the umbrella of the Daily Bread Food Bank and Second Harvest when it opened. Currently there are 2100 people a month who attend the Food Basket on Wednesdays. Linda is the most important person in the operation of the kitchen.

As Food Services Manager she ensures that sanitation standards are met, and that the cooked meals are both healthy and tasty. She prepares a meal for approximately 300-400 people every week. Linda has a delightful sense of humour – as one must have working in a kitchen with 15 other volunteers. The kitchen has become a joyful place to work. She bolsters morale and promotes team spirit among the workers.

When asked what personal benefits she had found in her volunteer service, she said “my work here at St. James Food Basket introduces me to many different community groups. It’s a new challenge and a constantly changing learning experience”. One reference said that Linda is one of the linchpins of the St. James Food Basket and as such we feel that she is a good candidate for the Outstanding Community Service Award.

Congratulations Linda!

Twenty-Five Year Club
This elite club is growing larger every year. This year there were 49 members added to the list and we had the pleasure of welcoming 19 of them at the June luncheon. Unfortunately a few escaped before we could snap their pictures.

Sonja Dunn
Sonja is the creator of ten books of poetry for children and also writes for the mainstream adult audience. She has been published in numerous anthologies.

A former educator and drama consultant she has traveled internationally, performing her work in schools, libraries, on television and at major conferences.

A former television writer producer, performer, and host she promotes the arts with focus on language and reading. Her television shows “Sonja Dunn and Company,” originated with CBC and CTV in Sudbury, Ontario, and continued with Rogers in Toronto. She has taught drama in education at universities and for various school boards.

Her rhymes, raps, chants and songs are familiar to many elementary school children and their teachers. She travels the world with her guitar, story skirt and hat and continues to write and perform.

Sonja is a member of The Writer’s Union of Canada; The league of Canadian Poets; Canadian Society of Children’s Authors, Illustrators and Performers; Haiku Canada; Canadian Children’s Book Center; Ontario Poetry Society.

We have a list of her published books but it is too long to add here.

Dorothy Killin
Dorothy began her teaching career in York Township and went on to teach in North York and Etobicoke.

When Dorothy returned to teaching after raising four children to school age, she taught the Grade Six gifted programme at Islington School. It proved to be a challenge but was very enjoyable. Dorothy says that the staff members were very dedicated to their students but also to making all of us enjoy each other.

One of Dorothy’s memorable events was taking a class to the Royal Winter Fair. When they returned to the school one young man showed Dorothy a “prize” that he had found in a chicken cage - an egg! The class hatched the egg and there was a beautiful rooster! Soon it had a home in a cage in the front hall of the school where it greeted everyone with its “cock-a-doodle-doo”! That rooster was a mascot for a long time but few people knew where it originated.

Since retiring Dorothy has particularly enjoyed travelling.

Corinne Deverell
Corinne taught business subjects in Lindsay and Etobicoke.

One of the special events in Corinne’s life was a JAL airline ticket to fly around the world in 1972 from January to June. She toured 25 countries, beginning in Tokyo, Japan and had many adventures along the way; sometimes with a group, but mostly on her own. She continued to travel extensively - from the Antarctic to the High Arctic.

A good memory Corinne has of her students is a boy from Lindsay who became a teacher, then Principal of Lindsay CI and later Mayor of Lindsay. One of “her girls”, a graduate from Etobicoke, is presently the manager of Air Transat at Pearson Airport. Corinne is always interested in hearing about the careers of her students.

In her retirement years she has worked as an Outside Travel Rep for Golligers Travel, worked as Tour Guide & Escort for RTO with Travel Guild, escorted groups to Australia & New Zealand, Fiji, China & the Yangtze River Cruise; Scandinavian Tours and Portugal and has worked as Tour Escort for Longstay Holidays (3 weeks) with RTO groups in the Algarve, Portugal; Torremolinos and Spain. Corinne has volunteered for the Travellers’ Aid Society Booth at Terminal 3, Pearson Airport for 25 years presenting Travelogues to seniors in residences around Toronto.

Her interests are photography, gardening and being active in Toronto University Women’s Club & Etobicoke University Women’s Club.

Rita Crowe
Although she always wanted to be a teacher, Rita became a bookkeeper instead. After marrying and raising a family she finally went to Lakeshore Teachers’ College in 1965. The next year she began teaching Grade 5 at Holy Angels School in Etobicoke. A particular highlight of her teaching was when her Grade 5 girls quilted a double bed size quilt in the classroom and the boys built a frontier Fort York for their Centennial project.

As her school was too small to have a vice principal she became “head teacher” when the principal was away. The joy of teaching for her was to see the smiles on the children’s faces each day and to see “the light go on” when they understood a new concept.

Since retiring Rita has travelled extensively, attended many lecture series, joined various clubs, learned to swim, and is an avid reader. She says life is good as she is enjoying her five children, 11 grandchildren and soon to be five great-grandchildren.

Ron De Val
Ron was born in London, UK, in 1921 and received a Grammar School education - equivalent to our High School. After a six year stint in the RAF during the war he immigrated to Canada in 1948. After several years in business he went back to school to become a teacher. Ron began his teaching career in 1968 at Thistletown Middle School and had to take mandatory retirement from Beaumonde Heights in 1986. Unhappy with mandatory retirement, Ron appealed to the Teachers’ Federation and the Etobicoke School Board - to no avail.

He says it is ironic that he has been retired longer than he taught. He has been a volunteer reader for the CNIB, Voiceprint, and assisted reading programs in two junior schools.

Since retirement he has worked as a Court Registrar at the Supreme Court of Ontario.

Margaret Rutledge
After Margaret, her husband Colonel Brian Rutledge, and their three sons returned from three years in England Margaret taught for the Ottawa School Board, Port Credit Secondary School and Vincent Massey C.I in Etobicoke for 18 years as Department Head of Physical Education, Family Studies Head and teacher of Science and Guidance. Her last year of teaching was at Lakeshore C.I.

She had a lot of fun being the staff tour guide on many trips to England, Nassau and Hawaii.

After retiring she worked with Murray Gaziuk at the Visa (Asian) Private School.

Margaret enjoyed many outstanding experiences. She organized the first track meet on the brand new Centennial Park Games Facility, became an Associate Teacher for the Faculty of Education, taught summer school for the Faculty of Education, participated as panel member at the U. of T. Workshops on Educational Activity and served as President of the Ontario Education Association.

What a career she had! After retirement she enjoyed supply teaching – and her love of teaching all started at Etobicoke CI where as a Grade 9 student in 1935 she earned the distinction of being awarded the “Junior Athlete of the Year”.

Physical Education was in her blood!

Lucille Jones
Lucille taught four years in New Brunswick and one year in Wawa, Ontario, before getting married and moving to Toronto. She taught at Earl Haig Collegiate and supply taught while raising two children.

When Lucille’s husband went back to school she accepted a full time position at Royal York Collegiate. When that school closed twenty years later, Lucille completed her career at Mimico Collegiate.

The highlights of her teaching career were the wonderful long time friendships she enjoyed with staff members and the Student Badminton Club. For many years she was successful in sending teams to Provincials, travelling to Sudbury, Thunder Bay and Kapuskasing as well as southern venues.

Lucille had not planned a career in teaching but enjoyed a “wonderful 25 years”!

James Fred Collins
Fred retired in 1986 and the purchase of a camper van was the beginning of overseas and local travel and painting excursions that have continued to this day.

The van got him to many places on this continent from Newfoundland to Vancouver, from California to Alaska and back south to Florida and most places between. All of these trips involved painting and/or workshop sessions.

Overseas trips took him and his wife to Israel for three months, France six times, Greece twice, Crete, Ireland, Scotland and England, to Spain and Portugal, Italy and Sicily, to Austria, the Czech Republic and Switzerland.

There have been trips to Mexico, Hawaii and even to Pangnirtung on Baffin Island with a side trip north to the Arctic Circle.

They did all these trips, one per year on the North American continent and one abroad.

Of course, the usual retirement things happened when they were home like lots more golf in summer and skiing in winter, and family visitations throughout the year, art exhibitions and sales, taking guitar lessons and playing bridge, wood carving, Bonzai training, odd job guy at their local art centre, a session as President of the Etobicoke Art Group and teaching their grandchildren the fine art of painting. It has been a wonderful and busy retirement!

Shirley Fraser
After graduating from Lawrence Park Collegiate Shirley attended Toronto Normal School. She taught kindergarten in North York for ten years and then joined the Etobicoke Board as a kindergarten teacher at Lambton Kingsway School. After five more years in kindergarten and receiving her BA from University of Toronto, she decided to broaden her horizon and moved to the grades while working on and receiving her ME degree in Curriculum from U of T. The years following were spent in many capacities including an assignment “on loan” to Lakeshore Teachers` College.

Shirley retired from Park Lawn School. Highlights for her included travel to the British Isles with OTF to visit nursery and primary schools, as well as the ability to attend courses and seminars in New York, Houston and Rochester in the USA.

Her interest over the years involved family, cottage in Haliburton, music, sport and travel.

Since retirement, she has had cottage and Florida time, volunteer work at the local hospital (within, and as liaison with the schools) and finally caregiver to her parents who were an important part of her life and are well into their 90s. This past year she had two cruises with her family which were most enjoyable.

Dirk Chow
Dirk graduated with a BA from the National Normal University in Tapei. Afterwards, he received an assistantship from the University of Toronto. His wife and he left Taiwan to come to Toronto in the fall of 1965. After graduating from UofT with an MEd degree, he studied in the Teachers' College of Ontario to get his teaching certificate in three fields - Math, English and History.

From 1967 to 1982, he taught in Ottawa and Kapuskasing. He also took courses for a few summers at the University of Western Ontario and Queen's University in Kingston.

Dirk had fun with one principal who liked to play chess with him at leisure and always lost.

During retirement he went back to Taiwan to teach in a university for a few years. When they returned to Canada Dirk worked in Toronto as a free-lance writer for a Chinese newspaper.

The Chows have enjoyed travelling around the world and have been to countries in Asia, Europe and South and North America.

Mary (Orlando) Frattini
Mary graduated from Toronto Normal School in 1948. She taught at Christ the King School in Long Branch for five years before moving to Alberta where she taught until her first daughter, Jean, was born. When her younger daughter, Sue, was in Grade One, she began supply teaching back in Toronto for MSSB. She truly loves the variety in this work - kids, schools, grades - and by choice, did this for 28 years.

Through those years, Mary was able to pursue the things that have become important in her retirement. She has been volunteering for 25 years at the Travellers` Aid at Pearson International Airport, not to mention ballroom dancing, travelling and knitting.

A big satisfaction was working on her university credits, obtaining her Bachelor of Arts from University of Toronto in 1984 at the age of 54. All the while, family has been a major joy through the years. Watching five grandsons (aged 28 down to 17) progress through the school system has been exciting in terms of the many changes in education. Mary is so glad to have been a part of the school scene. She has been volunteering for the past 25 years and continues to enjoy playing bridge.

Win McLellan
Once her three sons were in high school, Win decided it was time to broaden her own education, so she enrolled at Teacher’s College, and then took her BA. Consequently with her “late start” she was not ready to retire at age 65. “I loved teaching”, says Win.

Win taught at various schools in Etobicoke. She found it most rewarding to teach children with “Special Needs”. A child would come feeling insecure and unhappy with school and in a few weeks would come and say “I can do it”!

A memorable experience was when; Harry Learoyd came to her for an inspection and remarked that she had a “great class”. Win says “That made me feel good”!

Since retiring, Win has enjoyed travelling and having time to read whenever she wants. Articles on Education are always a “must read”.

Doreen Raymond
Doreen taught in Brampton from 1952 to 1955, married in 1955 and had five children. From January 1971 to June 1972 she was at Martingrove Collegiate, and from 1975 to 1980 at Richview and North Albion Collegiates. Finding life very busy with five children, she became a supply teacher and taught at Silverthorn, Burnhamthorpe, North Albion, Lakeshore and Etobicoke. She even taught at Applewood Heights in Peel before retiring, but continued to do some supply teaching until 1999. Doreen loved teaching!

She enjoyed being a member of Islington United Church Senior Choir from 1979 to 2009. Now she has time to spend with nine grandchildren!

Dan Jones
Dan’s experience in industry was as a machinist in the Experimental and Development Department at Bristol Aeroplanes in the UK as well as Orenda Engines in Canada.

With the closing of A.V. Rowe in 1959, Dan went back to school to upgrade his academic qualifications.

He was hired to teach Machine Shop at Martin Grove Collegiate where he remained until retirement.

Dan fondly remembers a group of students who manufactured their own steam engine for their boat – a 5HP wood-burning engine with a steam whistle! They reported “cruising” the Trent Canal singing and drinking beer!

One of Dan’s classes for girls, in auto repairs, won a speed competition! Dan still has the T-shirt they won.

After retirement, Dan indulged his love of model making and joined the Brampton Flyers. He also made remote control boats for the cottage.

Since developing macular degeneration Dan now enjoys watching hockey on TV.

Paul B. McKenzie
Paul attended Pauline Public School, Bloor Collegiate and Toronto Normal School. He later obtained his BA and MEd, Diploma in Child Study, Inspector’s Certificate, and Guidance Specialist.

He taught first in Vaughan when it was a rural township and finished his long career as Principal in Martin Grove Gardens, James S Bell and Smithfield in Etobicoke.

Paul co-authored Figures are Fun for Grades 1 to 5 and he was the author of Dent’s Speller for Grade 7 and Arithmetic for Canadians, Grade 5.

Memorable experiences in Paul`s life are travel, taking lectures for seniors (Learning Unlimited) and Bridge Club.

Andy Kozakavich
After graduating from Toronto Normal School in 1950, Andy taught in a rural school near Sarnia. He was both teacher and caretaker for a salary of $1800 a year. Getting to school early in the morning to start a fire in the pot-bellied stove was a “chilling” daily routine on wintry days.

Andy was appointed principal in 1960. He had the privilege of opening two new schools – Green Meadows in 1960 and Elmbank Middle School in 1967. It was ironic that 18 years later, he worked with the Green Meadows School community in closing their school because of declining enrolment.

Throughout his career, he worked with many excellent, dedicated teachers and support personnel. A memorable experience for him was a two year assignment - 1970-72, as principal of a DND Intermediate school in West Germany where he worked with staff and students from across Canada.

Upon returning from overseas, Andy was principal of Martin Grove Gardens School for two and a half years and was then transferred to Dixon Grove Middle School. He was appointed Area Superintendent in 1977, and later held the position of Superintendent of Program until his retirement in 1986.

Andy is proud to have worked for 33 years in such a progressive school system as Etobicoke. His interests include travel, photography, computers, music and golf. Andy and Helen, his wife of 54 years, now live in Guelph. Their son, Douglas, lives and teaches in Etobicoke.

Doug Clark
Doug was born in East York in 1925 and spent his early life in the east part of Toronto until his marriage. He attended Adam Beck Public School and Malvern Collegiate. After high school Doug enlisted in the RCAF but by the time he graduated from training the war was almost over and he did not go overseas. Doug went to Toronto Normal School in 1946-47. His first two years of teaching were in Aurora. He has always felt that his relationship with students was formed there. Aurora was a hockey town. They had a Sr B hockey team and allowed him to play for them. His Grade 7 students were more than pleased to have a teacher who actually played hockey and he learned that a teacher could enjoy being with his students and still command their respect. Doug intended to move from there to Scarborough but he was asked by a friend to meet with Art Tranah at George R Gauld because Art needed to hire a new teacher. Doug was really impressed with Art and took the job, intending to stay for only a year. He spent nine years with Art at George R Gauld. After a year each at 7th Street, 2nd Street, and John English, he was appointed Principal and opened David Hornell School. That was an interesting experience for a beginning principal. But he had the advantage of a good staff. After eight years at DHS he worked eight years at Richview Jr School, four years at Fairhaven and five years at Braeburn and really enjoyed each one. After Doug left Richview and Fairhaven, each ceased to operate as a junior school, but it was not his fault.

When he looks back on his career he is most impressed with the fine teachers with whom he was privileged to work. Doug still feels like an eastender.

Membership/Recruitment

Welcome to our many new members. RTO now includes many retired employees who worked in education or for a school board. Continually growing, District 22 now numbers 2146 members as of July 31, 2011.

Adele Pick, Membership

New Members

In Memoriam

AGM & June Luncheon

Our Annual General Meeting and June Luncheon took place at a new venue on Wednesday, June 8, 2011. It was held at the Panamonte Banquet and Convention Centre, which is in the northwest end of the city. This, of course, was more convenient for some and a little less convenient for others. However, we had one of our best turnouts yet.

The meeting proved interesting and successful. Our guest speaker, Dr. Gary Naglie (right), Chief of the Department of Medicine, Baycrest, and Chair of Geriatric Medicine at U of T, was well received and certainly held everyone’s attention. He ended with an active question and answer period.

Following the meeting, we all went into the banquet room and enjoyed a meal of salad, pasta, a chicken, veal, salmon or vegetarian entrée and a trio of ices for dessert. As we finished our dessert and tea or coffee, we were entertained by The Daytime Orangeville Sweet Adelines.

According to the surveys provided for members’ input, the day was definitely enjoyed by all. It is always fun when friends and colleagues get together. If you missed it this year, make sure you attend next year.

Please look at page 16 in this newsletter for information about our Fall Luncheon at The Islington Golf and Country Club on Nov.16, 2011. It is a great opportunity to enjoy a day with friends and colleagues. There will be a free golf cart shuttle from and to the parking area.

Judy Paton

Tips from Your District Health Representative

A number of plan improvements were put into place this year. Suggestions for improvements to health plans go before the Provincial Health Committee and their professional consultants for review as to cost and benefit to the entire membership of RTO.

You, too, can submit suggestions to the Provincial Committee - just use the form found at the provincial website ( www.rto-ero.org ) or call the office, at the phone numbers listed on page 5, to obtain one. It is a long process since much research has to be done before the improvements can be adopted or rejected. No more suggestions are being accepted for improvements in 2012, but suggestions are being accepted for consideration in 2013!

Here is an important reminder to all members approaching the age of 65 who are not currently participants of the RTO Health Insurance Plan: if you are a member of another group benefit plan such as one provided by a school board, you can transfer to the RTO Plan within the first 60 days after expiry of your current plan without taking a physical examination. However, if you wait beyond that 60 day window, or are not a member of a group plan, a full physical examination as well as a questionnaire are required.

Stay active and keep healthy!

Claudia Mang, Health Rep, RTO District 22

East of Halifax...

Your editor was deeply shocked to learn that our wandering reporter, Wayne Cooke, had passed away very suddenly in May this year. He and Sheila had only been back from their winter sojourn in Tobago for about a week.

Wayne liked to cook and had made a raspberry pie that day which they had enjoyed at supper. Around 11:00 he said he was going up to bed because he had an early appointment the next day. Sheila went up about ten minutes later to find him sprawled across the bed. At first she thought he was pulling one of his goofy tricks and told him to move over because she needed some room. When she looked more closely she could see he was not fooling around and he did not respond to her touch. Ambulance and police arrived quickly but it was too late. Wayne was gone.

Wayne’s untimely passing was a terrible shock to the Cooke family and their many friends and acquaintances.

Wayne was a tower of strength in 1999 when the Ontario RCL Pipes & Drums visited Newfoundland to help celebrate fifty years of Confederation. He arranged accommodation and was very helpful in so many ways that made the band’s visit to Newfoundland such a memorable occasion. Wayne and Sheila have done a lot of volunteer work since moving to their adopted home in Newfoundland.

A celebration of Wayne’s life was held at his “local”, Erin’s Pub, with more than 300 people in attendance; friends, neighbours, and representatives of all the volunteer organizations spoke of his humour, generosity, and love of life.

Our sincere condolences go to Sheila, their daughter Kyrstyn and son Ford. District 22 RTO will miss his lively “East of Halifax” column.

Eleanor Thomson, Newsletter Editor

RTO/ERO Documents

The Pension and Retirement Concerns Committee is developing a document on Aging Successfully through Wellness.

A care giving resource document is expected to be ready this fall. It will discuss diseases normally associated with aging and outline resources for home care.

The following Fact Sheets have been recently revised: E-2 Social Insurance Number (SIN);

• C-8 Trillium Drug Plan;

• H-2 Driver License Renewal;

• A-10 Joint Asset Planning;

• A-4 Pension Escalation Calculation; and

• A-1 & A-2 Tax Information

These are available online in the Members Section OR they can be ordered by calling 416.962.9463 or through this link.

Caveat Emptor

The choices which will be made by the Ontario electorate – that’s us – in October profoundly impact our lives for many years, if not decades, to come.

It is crucial that we closely examine the platforms, policies and promises of the parties in order to discern the future effects of their implementation on not only our lives but also upon the lives of our fellow citizens. Our very quality of life is bound up in our electoral choices.

RTO-ERO members are either entering or are within that period of our lives where the support structures which have been painstakingly erected over the past century are of increasing import and necessity. These are built upon the premise that ours is a caring and supportive society for all of its members. We must be vigilant in the face of efforts to diminish that which makes our land so great.

There seems, presently, to be some public clamour to reduce the fabric of our society to the lowest denominator of a balance sheet. The mantra is one of doing more with less. As we readily know from history, and our own household budgets, this is patently fallacious; we can only do less with less. (This is not the same as being economical and efficient; that should always be a criterion.) The question is: for whose benefit is the shift away from our public services?

Maintenance of health care, support for infirmities/disabilities, ease of transportation, access to social services are some of the many things important to an aging populace. Actually, these are of value to every citizen. It is not our practice in Ontario to jettison the needy from dignified participation in our society. We must ensure that these valuable aspects of our society continue – not only for current citizens, but also all those who will follow in the future. It is these provincial values which make us who we are. We are not a mean spirited people who know cost, but are ignorant of value.

Everything of value in our society has a cost. Mere reduction of expenditure cannot buy the same services. Inflationary pressures affect these services just as they affect our own domestic budgets. (We do have the benefit, however, of having inflation protection for our pension.)

It is imperative that we demand from those who solicit our votes that they be completely transparent and honest with their intentions. We cannot be promised that there will be no service cuts, that there will be tax cuts and then find ourselves blind sided with such things as program cuts or increased user fees. Those saying that electricity rates will be a single rate had better be able to guarantee that the annual aggregate cost will not be the same or greater.

Governments in Ontario can no longer use the plaint that they were unaware of the financial picture of the previous government. For the past decade, Ontario governments must make a full disclosure of all finances each year.

Whatever we deem best and appropriate for our society is absolutely worthless if we do not inform ourselves of the issues and VOTE. We have spent our careers in providing noble service; in our retirement we continue to serve by being vigilant of our values and ensuring their continuation. We have worked hard to make Ontario a better place for all of our citizens. We need to be wary of any who would sell us a bill of goods for the narrow interests of a few.

Art Witham, Political Advocacy

Vote for whom you choose, but VOTE!

Assorted Photos

Bruce and Sharon Roney enjoying lunch on the river cruise in June

Enjoying the June Luncheon...

More Smiling Faces at the June Luncheon

Best Turnout for a June Luncheon

Guidelines for Submitting Material for the 22nd Report

The preferred method of submission is via email in MSWord or PDF. The month of the newsletter in which you want it to appear must be at the top of your submission. In the title there must be some indication of what kind of material you are submitting; e.g.: My Trip for January Newsletter Ad for Reunion for May Newsletter Notice of upcoming meeting for Aug/Sep Newsletter.

All material via snail mail must be typed, double spaced or hand printed and must reach your editor four weeks prior to the date of publication. If you are adding or changing material please indicate that clearly in your title or first line of your submission. Please do not re-submit material with added lines or names. Make a new submission indicating that the new material is part of a previous communication.

All material sent via Canada Post must contain a return address and telephone number.

Changing your Address?

To ensure you receive your newsletters after you move please inform Head Office.

Contact:

Dianne Vezeau / Tel: 416.962.9463 ext. 223 or write to:

RTO/ERO 18 Spadina Road Toronto ON M5R 2S7 or email to:

Dianne Vezeau /dvezeau@rto-ero.org

Please do not notify your newsletter editor.