Summer 2013 NEW Members Save Exclusive Discounts! on Worldwide Travel Save up to $900* per couple!

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* Savings amount varies by tour and is valid on new bookings only. Offers can expire due to space or inventory availability. Space is on a first come, first served basis. Offers are not valid on group or existing bookings or combinable with any other offer. Other restrictions may apply; call for details. † Not valid on group travel. Service is offered on all air-inclusive departures when within 100 km radius from most major Canadian gateways. One transfer per room booking. Additional stops are not permitted on route. Other restrictions may apply; call for details. Travel Industry Council of Ontario Reg#3206405 BC Reg#23337 FL028 The Magazine of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association

Summer 2013 Vol. 21:4

news & views Table of Contents Editor Robin Carson Assistant Editors President’s 50th Articles Vi Oko 5 Message Anniversary Bev Sawyer It Has Always Graphic Artist Executive Been ARTA! Hazel Adair 6 Director’s ARTA Liaison 7 COSCO Workshops Jerry Stefanyk Report 30 in Alberta Printing Central Web Letters to the Seniors Care Designer 8 Editor Isn’t Working Hazel Adair 19 History of CARTA 34 news & views is published In My NEARTA Wellness four times a year by the 9 Opinion History of CERTA Conference Alberta Retired Teachers’ 22 36 Association (ARTA). Improved In Memoriam Contributions to History of SDRTA Walking With news & views 16 24 38 are welcome. Poles They may be sent to History of STARTA 409, 11010–142 Street NW, 26 Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 Columns or email Bridge and Information [email protected]. Cribbage Lynne Butler 29 Deadline for submissions 10 Tournament Contests for the fall issue is 2 July 25, 2013. What Are Travel Office Information Tel.: 780‑822‑2400; We Doing 3 Alberta only: 12 Touring in Poland 1‑855‑212‑2400; Now? fax: 1‑780‑447‑0613; 12 and Ukraine Scholarships email: [email protected]; Perry 4 website: www.arta.net 14 Dorgan From Our Members Second Wind Return undeliverable 4 Canadian addresses to Classified 409, 11010–142 Street NW, Diane Britton Autumn Leaves Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 31 39 40 Advertisements

12 29 32

On the cover: “Sunshine Near Cameron Lake” What Are We Bridge and Touring in by S. Stanger Doing Now? Cribbage Tournament Poland and Ukraine Contest 15 Contest 16—Trivia Winners ARTA has two Gift Cards generously donated by TW Insurance for ARTA Contest #16. by Jerry Stefanyk Just answer the three questions correctly, submit your correct answers to ARTA before the deadline date of July 19, 2013 and hope that your entry is the one drawn. Two prizes will be awarded. Congratulations to the ARTA Question 1: In what year did the Edmonton Oilers last make the news & views Stanley Cup playoffs? Contest 15 Question 2: What was the last year the Calgary Stampeders played in winners. a Grey Cup Game? We had three Question 3: How many staff does ARTA currently employ? (Please winners for this count full- and part-time staff.) contest and these lucky Send your answers to: three won a ARTA, Contest #16, 409, 11010–142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 ‘surprise pack’ The contest officially closes July 19, 2013, at 1:00 pm. The contest is consisting open to all ARTA members in good standing, both regular and affiliate. of ARTA 50th Entries received after the closing date and time will not be considered. anniversary Winners will be notified shortly after the closing date. Decision of the material. judges is final. Email entries are not considered. The winners are Rob Boyd, St. Paul; John Schwonik, Gwynne; and Warren Debert, Calgary. A big thank you to everyone who entered. We appreciate you taking the time to do so and we hope you enjoy entering as much as we enjoy creating these contests.

2 Summer 2013 news & views Deadlines Fall Issue: ARTA Office News July 25, 2013 Winter Issue: October 25, 2013 Spring Issue: by Evelyn Morin Members requiring a claim form January 25, 2014 for reimbursement can access it on Membership renewal notices our website at www.arta.net or by Summer Issue: April 25, 2014 have now been sent out. You calling ASEBP at 1-855-444-2782. can renew your membership by If you are not on the benefit Your letters and sending a cheque payable to ARTA ideas are welcome. plan and do not wish to continue Please send them to in the enclosed envelope, paying your ARTA membership, please online with Visa or MasterCard, or newsandviews@ call the office at 780-822-2400 shaw.ca by calling the office with a credit and request that we make your card number. ARTA does not membership inactive. Doing so accept cash payments. will prevent you from receiving Please note, because we have renewal notices in the future. IMPORTANT over 8,000 renewals to process, it CONTACTS may take some time before you ARTA receive your new card and receipt. 780-822-2400 The applications are processed Toll-free: in the order they are received in 1-855-212-2400 Travel Assistance for Email: the ARTA office and we would [email protected] appreciate your patience and ask ARTA Members you please not to call the office news & views Are you planning your next [email protected] to inquire if your application getaway? Is travel on the horizon or has been received. Thank you news & views for you? Do not fret! 409, 11010–142 Street NW for your patience and for your WEBCORP is an online Edmonton, AB T5N 1R1 understanding. resource that provides extensive ATRF Since ARTA’s transition to information about your travel 780-451-4166 our new retiree benefit plan Toll-free: destination. It is provided by AXA 1-800-661-9582 administrator, the Alberta School Assistance, ARTA’s emergency Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP), Email: travel provider. Whether your trip [email protected] there has been a change that is to Belize, Hong Kong, Mexico or CPP & OAS Benefits members should be aware of— Ireland, you can use this tool to Toll-free: your prescription drug claim first find current health alerts, security 1-800-277-9914 goes to Alberta Blue Cross for alerts, health providers, emergency ASEBP adjudication through the Alberta contacts, vaccinations needed, Claims: 1-855-444-2782 Health Coverage for Seniors weather, currency, and much TW Insurance plan. If your prescribed drug is more. If you require immediate (Home and Auto) 1-855-894-2782 not covered under the Alberta assistance while on vacation, you Prescription Drug Formulary, Pension Deposit Dates can call 1-888-996-9003 to reach (Third last business day of Alberta Blue Cross will notify AXA representatives quickly. the month; early at Christmas) you that they are not paying Access WEBCORP by visiting June 26 July 29 August 28 Sept. 26 the claim, and the claim will http://arta.zonassist.com with the Oct. 29 Nov. 28 then be forwarded to ASEBP username ARTA and password Dec. 20 Jan. 29 Feb. 26 March 27 for reimbursement for eligible ARTA2012 for comprehensive April 28 May 28 prescription drug expenses. pre-trip planning.

Summer 2013 3 Scholarship * RENEW * RECONNECT * RE-ENERGIZE * Information The members of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association actively support continued learning by funding scholarships and endowments. ARTA provides one scholarship independently and partners with TW Insurance to provide a second one. ARTA–TW Insurance Second Wind Scholarship Degree Program The ARTA–TW INSURANCE Conference SCHOLARSHIPS are made possible by the generosity of TW Insurance. TW Insurance 2013 provides, through ARTA, scholarships for under- graduate students in the second, third, or fourth year of their first The Second Wind, a conference for retirees in the greater Edmonton degree and who are related to area arrives on Wednesday, September 25, 2013, and you are invited! an ARTA member. These scholarships recognize academic This event will be held at the Chateau Louis Conference Centre and achievement as well as community the registration fee includes a lunch both delicious and nutritious, involvement and volunteer work. along with noon-hour entertainment. An art show and an art sale Future goals, personal feature local artists. accomplishment and supporting letters of reference are also At Second Wind you will find significant in the determination • information and resources that promote retiree health and wellness; of scholarship recipients. • inspiration to remain actively engaged in your community; ARTA Scholarship • opportunities for social interaction and mental stimulation; Certificate/Diploma Program • methods to raise the profile of retirees as valuable and productive The ARTA Certificate/Diploma members of society; Scholarships are made possible • strategies to promote membership and involvement in ARTA and by the generosity of the Alberta the branches. Retired Teachers’ Association (ARTA). ARTA provides scholar- The day will begin with a presentation by the keynote speaker, the ships to students in a certificate animated and passionate Laurie Greenwood, followed by interactive or diploma program of two or sessions to nourish body, mind and spirit. more years at an accredited • Bonnie Carter will tell you about the Tibetan Five, and reveal how to post-secondary institution. reverse the aging process. These scholarships recognize academic achievement, • Theresa Fielden will introduce you to the Passion Test, and disclose community involvement and how to live life with more purpose. volunteer work. Future goals, • Charlene Landridge from Alley Kat microbrewery will share her personal accomplishments and excitement about their beer. supporting letters of reference • Peter Nolan will lead you in a drumming session. are also significant in the overall determination of scholarship • Carole Aippersbach, a public legal education lawyer, will provide recipients. the latest information about wills and personal directives. Scholarship prizes are awarded These are just a few of the topics being offered at this dynamic as follows: one-day conference. 1st place recipient—$2,500.00 2nd place recipient—$1,500.00 Be among the first to register. Registration forms are available online 3rd place recipient—$1,000.00 at www.GERTAsecondwind.org or by calling Maurine Maslen at Application forms and criteria 780-418-8032. The early-bird registration fee of $60 is available until are available by writing to: July 15. After that date, the fee will be $75. Register early to ensure ARTA, 409, 11010–142 Street NW, your choice of program selections. Edmonton AB T5N 2R1 Enjoy a day of learning, fun and new experiences. Re-unite with or may be downloaded from ARTA’s former colleagues and explore new connections with people of website at www.albertarta.org similar interests, passions and needs. Afterwards, join the ‘wine Application deadline: July 31 of down’—to relax and share the experiences of the day with friends, current year both old and new.

4 Summer 2013 Greetings from the President A Very Good Year by Gordon Cumming

Membership and Marketing is working to When a defining moment comes along, you update resources available to new retirees and define the moment, or the moment defines you. potential members. The Benefits Committee —Kevin Costner in “The Tin Cup” will assess the impact of proposed health care changes and the challenge of incorporating them into our plan. Wellness sponsored an rior to retirement, when we were still P outstanding in-service to introduce British working in our schools, this was the time of Columbia’s COSCO Workshops for seniors year when we often reflected on what ‘woulda, to branch representatives. The celebration coulda, shoulda’ happened; and more often of our 50th anniversary advanced our social than not, it had. The secret, of course, was the connections, and has generated a number of background, wisdom, integrity and enthusiasm activities and projects that will be a legacy as of the staff. I guess that is the essence of they continue into the years ahead. Strategic professionalism. It was the relationship and Planning has oriented and in-serviced branch partnership we shared with students, parents representatives to help strengthen their and community. And it was no accident. While leadership. Governance and Finance has Robbie Burns experienced, “the best laid kept us on track, and ‘Retreat 2013’ worked schemes o’ mice an’ men gang aft agley,” our to ensure your organization is focused and experience was that good planning and follow- connected. through led to success. Now please allow me to share a thought on So, as the saying goes, “Once a teacher, one immediate challenge ahead. As I pen this always a teacher,” and I’m pleased to report epistle, we are anticipating a meeting with that those of us in ARTA are not only life-long the Minister of Health; and on your behalf learners, but also that the lessons learned stick we will engage him in dialogue on issues with us. At our retreat in 2012 we launched of concern, and, in particular, question the our Strategic Plan, and the strands that wisdom of projected changes to the Seniors’ emerged have motivated our actions over the Pharmaceutical Plan. We will draw on the past year. They are well summarized in our wisdom and experience of our consultants and Mission Statement: our Benefits Committee, and will point out ARTA supports an engaged lifestyle after our belief that the economies anticipated by retirement through member-centered services, the Government’s proposed actions will not advocacy, communication, wellness and come to fruition. We will remind the minister leadership. of the ‘promises’ that were in place when In a year in which committees reviewed their we retired, and those made during the past mandates, we have launched new initiatives election campaign. We will advocate for those that have increased the Association’s relevance commitments to seniors that this province to retirees. Communications and Technology needs to honor. with Editor Robin Carson has given news & Congratulations to all staff, board, views a new look, and it continues to evolve. committee and trust members who, together, The Pension Committee is broadening its have given definition to a great year for scope to look at all income in retirement. ARTA.

Summer 2013 5 It Has Always Been ARTA! by Wayne Hampton, Chair of the Health and Wellness Benefits Committee

was, a Johnson Plan! It has always been the ARTA health and wellness

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose plan! By any other name would smell as sweet.” The ARTA Plan is wholly owned —William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet and operated by the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association. It is managed by the Health and Wellness Benefits Committee (H & WBC), which A rose by another name may is made up exclusively of retired smell as sweet, may look as pretty, teachers and the executive director but will not be the same, because of ARTA, Daniel Mulloy. ARTA its associations are no longer the simply hires companies to operate same. The power of names and their the plan. Until December 31, 2012, values has long been immortalized Johnson Inc. very capably filled in prose, poetry and religious that role. ceremony. During 2012, the H & WBC made Names matter! Whenever we a decision to better position the plan In 1995, ARTA hear one, we draw a wide range of for future growth. Hence, we chose assumptions about what is being established a to go to the marketplace to invite ‘‘ named. Just ask the fish merchant companies to bid on providing health benefit whose stroke of naming genius consultancy and administration turned the undesirable Patagonian services for our plan. Johnson Inc. plan for retirees toothfish into the haute cuisine was also invited to participate in and named it Chilean sea bass. Or, as Psychology the bidding process. Ultimately, Today has pointed out, ponder for a a decision was made to hire Aon the Alberta moment the raping and pillaging Hewitt as our consultant to provide

conjured up by ‘music piracy’ as Retired Teachers’ advice and recommendations

opposed to the parking-ticket-like on plan design, premiums and language of ‘copyright violation.’ Association Health ‘‘ related matters. The Alberta School In 1995, ARTA established a Employee Benefit Plan (ASEBP) was and Wellness health benefit plan for retirees hired to be the administrator of the Benefit Plan. and named it the Alberta Retired plan. Our new service providers took Teachers’ Association Health and over on January 1, 2013. Wellness Benefit Plan. To assist No, we are not part of the Alberta with designing, operating and School Employee Benefit Plan for administering our plan, ARTA practicing (non-retired) teachers! contracted the services of Johnson We are the ARTA plan, and ASEBP Inc. Over time, our plan became is the just the administrator of that known by many as ‘the Johnson plan. ARTA issues the marching Plan.’ How many times in the last orders and ASEBP carries them out. seventeen years, while talking to So, remember, we are the ARTA retired teachers about what health plan! Please take the time to inform plan they belong to, have you heard potential subscribers and to remind the majority invariably respond, all present subscribers to our plan “I’m a member of the Johnson that it has always been the ARTA Plan.” Sorry, there is not, and never plan!

6 Summer 2013 Executive Director’s Report

Patience by Daniel Mulloy

service and inconvenience these delays caused. “Patience is the most essential ingredient on Please be assured that we have learned from that the road to success.” experience and are making several changes to —Shubhanshu Tiwari our internal and external processes to ensure we don’t encounter the same circumstances again. Thank you for your patience during our time of ARTA is now well on the way to a successful transition. transfer to our new partners as of January 1, Our main priority has always been to 2013. We have gained new capacities by going bring more capacity and excellence to the through the change in partners. The system administration of our Health and Wellness improvements we have now gained allow our Benefit Plan and to ARTA. Without going into members more options for claims to be paid at complex details, the task of transitioning from the point of sale while improving reporting and one set of partners to another was complicated analysis to ARTA. The new reporting and and delayed by important measures that analytic capacities allow us to monitor and look we implemented, which were related to due for ways to improve the plan using timely and diligence in order to ensure the long-term accurate data. Our new administrative partners, sustainability of our plan and a higher level of who are experienced in providing benefits to the security of ARTA member information. education sector, have provided us with leading- We are pleased to report that the transition is edge resources and programs that have and will now substantially complete. Should you have continue to improve our service to our members. circumstances that remain unresolved, or if you Tools such as the AXA Assistance Canada have any further concerns, please feel free to Webcorp Application, which is an online contact me or a member of my team directly, at utility, provide unique, accurate and up-to-date the email address below. For more information health, security and practical information on the ARTA Health and Wellness Benefit plan, for ARTA members who are travelling. These our administrative partners or to access the improvements bring our plan to a new and AXA Assistance Canada Webcorp Application, different service level. Our members now visit www.arta.net benefit from new relationships in benefit plan [email protected] or [email protected] administration, and travel, home, and auto insurance. Our providers were selected with our unique ARTA membership service requirements Corrigenda in mind. These programs and partnerships break stones to pave the way to the next level of ARTA The following names of STARTA members were not success. included in the list of quilters in the last issue of During the transition, some of you may news & views: have experienced service issues and frustration “The St. Albert Coat of Arms” by Helen Kieran because of the volume of material and calls “To Teach is to Touch a Life” by Maureen Smith related to the change. If you were affected, we “Celebration of STARTA Choir” by Maurine Maslen are very sorry for that interruption in timely

Summer 2013 7 Letters to the Editor Editor, news & views 409, 11010–142 Street NW, Edmonton, AB T5N 2R1 Email [email protected].

To the editor: To the editor: To the editor: I would hope that we would Thanks to ARTA for the Congratulations to all who collectively acknowledge generous prize of a two-day took part in preparing the and thank Ralph Levinson. stay at the Executive Royal 50th Anniversary ARTA news For too many years to count, Inn and Conference Centre & views publication. It is a Ralph seems to have been in Calgary. treasure—one that all of you the advocate and steward in I chose the grandchildren’s and all members can be all things having to do with Teachers’ Convention date proud of. benefits for ARTA members. of last weekend to meet My attention was drawn His dedication, time and them in Calgary. They drove to the forward-thinking and efforts were significant. In from Winnipeg, while I took always eloquent Gordon my opinion, all things that the Red Arrow. We met at Cumming. Also to Paul follow stand on his shoulders Calgary for a delightful Boisvert for nostalgia—I, too, and made us able to move visit. was a ‘six-week wonder,’ a forward and beyond. The weather was great, city girl going to an isolated Perhaps it is an oversight the hotel was roomy and rural area in the 40s. or I just missed it but we are clean, and the hosts provided Thank you Lily McCool— remiss if we do not thank my little people with me, too—teacher, homemaker, him sincerely and deeply for complimentary Zoo, Water child-care person—and as his accomplishments on our Park and meal tickets for all you say, “I didn’t think about behalf. of us. We extended our visit it. I just did what needed Burna Purkin, for one more night, enjoying doing.” Saskatoon but formerly of in-room movies. A jacuzzi To all contributors, many Calgary tub was also provided. thanks with much It was a grand opportunity appreciation for a Burna, thank you for your to have a school break publication to be proud of kind words. ARTA has been during the heart of winter, and ‘thumbed through’ fortunate to have had so and my three grandchildren often. many committed leaders and had the benefit of an Sincerely, contributors over the past fifty unhurried visit with Nanny Eileen Thurlow years. We certainly are the (me!) Assistant Superintendent, Thank you so much to beneficiaries of their efforts on CBE our behalf. ARTA for this prize! Gordon Cumming, Sincerely, ARTA President Ardith Trudzik More letters on page 37.

8 Summer 2013 In My Opinion

But Age, With His Stealing Steps by Robin Carson

There used to be a hair product for tinting I’m getting old, and I refuse to pretend men’s beards that, during its TV commercial, was otherwise. The wrinkles that I learned from my recommended because without it, as a youngish father and used to teach others are advancing female voice pronounced, “He looks so ooooold!” for real on my face. My hair—what is left of it—is That ad offended me deeply, but also made the white so scorned by the youthful voice in the me think about the image that is projected by advertisement. Neither the wrinkles nor the white age. In our youth-centric culture, that image is hair dismay me at all. frequently a negative one. We seniors display those wrinkles, we have I see age differently from most people. My white hair (or none at all) and we have bodies father, among his many other talents, was that often betray us; but that is a small price for an excellent theatrical makeup artist of some the life we still have ahead of us. While some renown. He began training me in that art when of us still lead lives that involve golf courses, I was about sixteen, and I taught the subject travel, and tennis courts, many of us have for many years with him and alone at both the moved into a time of frailty in which we must University of Alberta and at (what was) the Banff now rely on the very caring that we have given School of Fine Arts. to others throughout our lives. All of us, though, My father built his lessons about makeup are blessed with the one thing that youth only on age. The reason? Most of the young actors shows rarely: wisdom. The same life that has learning the art were, well, young. If the object is taken a toll on our body has provided us with to teach how paint can fool the eye, then making the experiences that enable us to see beyond the young people look old is an excellent way to do moment. We no longer display the solipsism of that. Along the way, bending noses and thinning youth, because we can now speak with a depth lips can also be part of a course; but painting age that only a lifetime can bring to our words. is a good basis on which to build the rest of the I am not at all saying that we must give in to lessons. the worsening health that age too often brings; As my father aged, he used his own face as a but that fight is one that should be waged at any model. He would not only point out and name age. Daily walks on the treadmill, or eating a the various wrinkles; but he would also show proper diet is a whole other concern from denial of how light falling on them caused the eye to age. Staying healthy is very different from tinting see them, and then show how to use paint to a greying beard because of fearing to look old. manipulate the light in order to fool the eye. So, my own attitude is to embrace my age rather In the pursuit of painting character as well as than to pretend I am not getting old. When age, I learned about the effects of gravity on the someone says about my age, “That’s not so old,” face and body as muscles give up their fight I disagree—at least in my mind I do. I’m happy against the inexorable. I learned how habitual to be almost seventy, and I will be happier to be facial expression leaves its mark. I learned how almost eighty, and absolutely ecstatic when I am the sun affects the skin, as well as the effects of almost one hundred! We mustn’t let those who sell tobacco, alcohol, and bad nutrition. In short, I youth con us into believing that age is a disability. learned how we come to look the way we do. In Age is the mark of living. It is the mark of life the process of learning the how and why of it, I itself. To deny age is a falseness that profits nobody stopped looking for youth as any sort of ideal in but the sellers of wrinkle creams and beard- people. I learned to accept aging as a continuum, tinting kits; to embrace age opens the door to the with no need to pause at any part of it. many gifts that living a lifetime has given.

Summer 2013 9 Lynne Butler BA, LLB is a senior Will and Estate Planner for Scotiabank, with an extensive background in elder law in Alberta. Her blog is at www.estatelawcanada.com.

Gifts to Your Children May Cause Unexpected Problems by Lynne Butler

My neighbour (let’s call him ‘John’) gave his money is considered to be an advance on the adult daughter, Lily, $60,000 for a down payment child’s inheritance. The amount given to the on a home. John wanted to help Lily, who was child either has to be repaid by the child or, as working, married and raising three children, is much more common, the amount is set off and he was glad that he could afford to do so. against the child’s inheritance. Most parents I She gratefully accepted the help. Though have spoken with have no idea that this principle nothing was written down, it was understood exists, and tell me that it doesn’t reflect how between John and Lily that this money was a they’d like their children to be treated. gift that Lily did not have to pay back. Let’s assume that John’s estate is $1,000,000 Years later, John passed away, leaving his (after taxes and expenses). Had no advances estate equally to Lily and her brother, Tom. been made to either of his children, each of The executor of the will was Tom, who hired them would receive $500,000. However, because a lawyer and started the probate process. To Lily has received $60,000, the estate calculation Lily’s dismay, she received a letter from Tom’s would now be different. A notional $60,000 is lawyer saying that her inheritance was to be added to the estate (the money Lily took from reduced because she had already received the estate via the loan), after which the total is $60,000 of it from her father. She suspected divided in two and Lily’s advance is subtracted Tom’s motives. After all, he knew that the from her share. It would look like this: funds were a gift! She and Tom argued bitterly 1,000,000 + 60,000 = 1,060,000 over their father’s intentions with respect 1,060,000 ÷ 2 = 530,000 to the funds paid to Lily. Tom said he was 530,000 – 60,000 = 470,000 only following the will. Lily accused him of ignoring their father’s wishes. In return, Tom Out of the estate of $1,000,000, Tom would accused her of being greedy. They may end up receive $530,000 and Lily would receive resolving the matter in a courtroom. $470,000. This equalizes their inheritance, Does this sound familiar? Many readers taking Lily’s earlier gift from her father into will recognize the first part of this story consideration. about ‘helping out the kids.’ That’s certainly This presumption in law is not well known a scenario most of us have encountered. outside of law offices. Most parents who are in Few, however, will realize how often their a position to help their children financially are magnanimous acts lead to the upsetting not thinking about their estates in any event, second part of the story. By giving or lending but are focused on the reason behind the gift money to their children without leaving itself. Those who do think there might be a instructions or documentation behind, parents problem later on will sometimes document the may cause litigation in their estates and even transaction by drawing up a loan document worse, disputes among the children. and mark it ‘paid in full’ or in other ways The problem arises because of the common record the fact that the amount is intended law principle that says when a parent provides to be a gift. Most seem to believe that simply a significant amount of money to a child, that telling the child who receives the funds that

10 Summer 2013 it need not be repaid will be sufficient legal Even if you agree that your child who authority, though unfortunately they are received financial help should be required wrong. Even documenting the transaction is of to inherit less than her siblings, it’s a good limited value for estate distribution purposes. idea to address this in your will. You will not Where does this leave parents? If you have be available at the critical time to clear up loaned or given money to your children the issue, so your will must speak for you. To during your lifetime, what are your options for prevent confusion and disputes among your dealing with this situation? children, make a clear statement that you The best idea is to address this issue head-on expect unpaid loans to be offset against the in your will. Talk about how you want the child’s share. It’s also a good idea to keep a funds paid to your children to be handled. The record of what you have loaned or given your law discussed in this article is a presumption children, particularly if there is a repayment that will apply unless there is evidence to the scheme in effect. This will greatly help your contrary. Your will is the place to provide that executor and your children. contrary evidence. Had John only included a The purpose of your will is to ensure that statement in his will dealing with his gift to your wishes are carried out in as smooth Lily, he could have prevented the falling out and timely a manner as possible. During my between Tom and Lily. legal practice of close to thirty years, most If it is your intention that funds given or clients have told me that their primary estate- loaned to your children are not to be repaid, planning goal is to preserve harmony among include a statement in your will to that effect. the children once the parents have passed The usual language used is very simple, and away. To do that, your will has to be tailored says that gifts, loans or advances are to be to your specific situation. If you have given forgiven. This simple sentence alone can or loaned money to your children, be kind to prevent arguments and resentments among your loved ones by including some instructions your children. about the money in your will.

Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association Celebrates 50 Years! 2013 Annual Golf Tournament Wednesday, June 19, 2013 Ponoka Community Golf Club (1pm Texas Scramble, Shotgun Start)

$100 Registration includes: For more info contact: Registration forms available from ARTA  Green Fees for 18 Holes Bryan Martin Branch Executives or www.arta.net  Power Cart ([email protected]) Mail your Registration Form & Cheque  Gift Bag of 50th Anniversary Memorabilia OR  Lunch (made payable to “PDRTA 50th • Lunch only $15 Juanita Knight Anniversary Golf Tournament”) to:  BBQ Rib Eye Steak Dinner (403-783-3145) Bryan Martin • Dinner only $25 4404 – 36 Avenue  Fabulous Prizes - Hole, Skill & Lucky Draw Ponoka, AB T4J 1A3

Summer 2013 11 What Are We Doing Now?

G’Day Mates! by Marilyn Bossert

Soon we were on our way into the desert Travel is the only thing you buy to watch the sunrise over Uluru—previously that makes you richer. known as Ayers Rock. Geologists believe Uluru is the tip of massive rock that extends underground for five or six kilometres. Travel is the perfect way to celebrate However, the Anangu people have their own an anniversary and significant birthday. We version. They share the origin of Uluru in the found a fun-filled tour that would take away delightful stories passed down through the the daily challenges connected with where generations. Uluru is their sacred place, thus to go, where to stay, and where to eat, not to explaining why tourists are discouraged from mention the trials of driving on the wrong side climbing the rock. of the road! The Aussie & Kiwi Experience with The previous evening we had enjoyed Collette Vacations was perfect! colorful effects of the sunset on Uluru as we We could fill news & views with anecdotes sipped champagne. Now the sunrise created a from our twenty-eight day tour, but here we scene just as breathtaking. would like to share just two of our adventures As we lumbered along in the cool morning in Australia. air, I discovered a new friend. Connor, the A Camel Ride, the Rock, and a Sunrise, a camel behind us, was not content to stay in tour within the tour, was something I had to line behind Apollo, but instead preferred to be do. We stumbled out of bed at a ridiculously right beside me. Like a pet, he loved having his early hour to set off for the Uluru camel farm. ears scratched, so yes, we bonded in that hour The camels were all saddled and on their in the desert. knees, ready for the sunrise tour. We were That experience came to a perfect conclusion assigned to Apollo, a veteran of camel tours. with a breakfast of freshly baked beer bread Once we were on his back, we were instructed damper served with quandong jam and a cup to lean back to prevent tumbling over his head of billy tea. Yumm! onto the red sand as he stood up. That move caused several squeals and giggles from our group! Apollo was a rather vocal fellow, and in his own way, I suspect he was telling us his family background. His ancestors were imported into Australia in the mid 1800s to assist with the exploration and development of the Outback. When they were no longer needed, it was directed that they be destroyed. Apollo was thankful that they were freed instead. Now it is estimated that close to one million wild camels live in the Outback. Apollo is one of the descendants now used for camel tours.

12 Summer 2013 The Hot Air Balloon Ride, another option, By the time the transfer of passengers was was Ken’s idea. At 4:00 a.m. we found complete, dawn had broken. We were on our ourselves outside our Cairns (pronounced cans way up. What an amazing view! Down below as in tin cans) hotel waiting for the coach that were the dairy farms, fruit trees, the town of would make the one-hour trip to the site. The Mareeba and the Baron River. The scheduled first flight of seven balloons was in the air thirty-minute flight grew into almost an hour as when we the pilot maneuvered us up and down. He would arrived at the Atherton tablelands, an area spit over the edge of the basket to determine the that claims to have 300 days of sunshine each direction of the air currents that would bring us year. down eventually in yet another pasture. Our driver spotted our balloon—yellow with Under the watchful eye of another farmer, a red kangaroo, and raced off in that direction. we landed. But we could not leave yet. This was Since hot air balloons cannot be steered so the final flight of the morning, so the balloon no one is really sure where they will land. As had be deflated until the next morning. This the descent seemed more imminent, we left procedure is not quite the same as deflating a the coach and climbed aboard a rubber-tired balloon at a birthday party! Seventeen passengers wagon pulled by a land rover. Hanging on as and several staff forced the air out of the best we could, we bumped our way through a balloon before it could be bundled back into a pasture past cows and kangaroos to where our container that would be taken back to base. balloon had landed. Yes, travel really is the only thing we buy that As we approached, the pilot was cautioning can make us richer. Thank goodness we did not those onboard not to jump out of the basket. allow the thought of that long flight prevent Apparently, if everyone jumps out at once, the the trip of a lifetime in the Land Down Under. balloon and pilot will rapidly float back into Share your retirement experiences with news & the clouds. views. Contact Marilyn at [email protected]

Summer 2013 13 Perry Dorgan, BA, YPMI, is a senior vice-president of Aon Hewitt and is ARTA’s lead benefits consultant. He was recently recognized by Risk & Insurance magazine as the top Broker/Consultant working in the education sector in North America.

PharmaCare Initiatives Announced Effective January 1, 2014 by Perry Dorgan

Alberta’s Budget 2013, tabled on March 7, at $30,000 or higher). It would then pay 70% of 2013, proposed significant changes to provincial eligible expenses after the deductible had been drug and health programs. More detailed budget achieved until an out-of-pocket family income documents were released the next day, including maximum of 3% or 4% of net income had been the announcement of a proposed PharmaCare reached, at which time 100% of eligible expenses program for all Albertans effective January 1, would be paid. Albertans earning less than 2014. $15,000 would appear to have no deductible or The positive Budget 2013 news is that the would have coverage subsidized by government. price for generic drugs would be reduced from For example, a net annual family income 35% to 18% of the brand name drug prices, of $40,000 (about $54,000 gross annual effective May 1, 2013; however, this has not yet family income) for those born after 1939, been confirmed. The previously removed $1.00 would generate an annual PharmaCare family transactional allowance to pharmacies has been deductible (where tax payers would be first reintroduced for one year. payers) of $1,200, with an overall annual The announcement of a PharmaCare program family out-of-pocket (OOP) maximum of $1,600 appears, on the surface, to be positive news. (including the deductible). It would take about However, the Alberta Health website post-budget $2,500 of eligible family drug expenses to be announcement included the phrase: “Details on incurred in order for the overall OOP maximum the PharmaCare program still have to be to be achieved. Currently, the Alberta Seniors developed, but it will be an income-based program Benefit provides first payor coverage of 70% of that is sensitive to those in greatest need and those eligible expenses to a maximum out-of-pocket who have the ability to pay” (emphasis added). expense of $25 per prescription. The co-insurance Alberta Health also announced that the balance of 30% is currently the only out-of- PharmaCare program would be the second pocket expense to Alberta seniors. payor after private insurance programs, effective For a summary of the plan details of the January 1, 2014. Many retirees will recall 2009’s BC PharmaCare program and to get a better successful campaign against a similar proposal. understanding of what the Alberta PharmaCare The proposed program is expected to be based program could look like, effective January 1, on net family income, and generally modeled on 2014, go to the following link: www.health.gov. the income-based BC model. Net family income bc.ca/pharmacare/plani/planiindex.html each year would be based on income tax filings Key details of the proposed Alberta on April 30 to capture the income amounts PharmaCare program components such as the for the previous year. This ‘tax calculation family income level thresholds, deductibles, and basis’ feature may be slightly different from BC out-of-pocket family maximums have yet to be PharmaCare. announced at the time of writing this article. It would appear that Alberta’s proposed The proposed PharmaCare program could also PharmaCare program would not pay any benefit replace several publicly-funded health-care and until a family deductible had been achieved (2% drug-benefit programs, including the Alberta for income under $30,000, or 3% of net income Seniors’ Drug Plan.

14 Summer 2013 Albertans, in particular retired Albertans, may want to better understand the government’s want the Government to clarify these points: rationale for implementing a design where a) Why have the details of the new PharmaCare only those Albertans on fixed incomes, and those with higher drug requirements would be program, and the termination of the Alberta paying more under the proposed PharmaCare Health Coverage for Seniors’ drug plan not plan in 2014. been announced, particularly the percentage of family income thresholds for deductibles d) The move to a ‘family net income’ approach and out-of-pocket maximums? for PharmaCare, coupled with the apparent replacement of eighteen publicly funded b) Would there be a two-phase program supplemental health programs for Albertans design for current and about-to-be-retired with special needs (including Seniors’ Dental Albertans, as there is for BC retirees? In the and Optical, Alberta Aids to Daily Living, BC PharmaCare program, there is a more ambulance, home care, chiropractic), suggests generous benefit provided for residents born that those families with special needs could in 1939 or earlier. The equivalent year of birth pay much higher out-of-pocket costs for for a two-tiered Alberta PharmaCare program drugs and other supplemental health care would be 1949. products. The government appears to be c) The proposed PharmaCare program for all shifting its focus from the needs and unique Albertans appears to segment the Alberta circumstances of the ‘special needs Albertan’ population into three broad groupings: to one on the income level of their families. i) The 20% of Albertans considered to be If this is the case, Albertans would want to low income, and those Albertans who, for a understand the rationale behind that shift and all related implications. variety of reasons, are currently without drug coverage. For these Albertans, the PharmaCare e) The announced PharmaCare government program will be of great assistance. strategy (‘those who have the ability to pay’) could be problematic for the government if ii) The actively working population, the only retired Albertans on fixed incomes have majority of whom are provided drug benefit to pay more in a system based on progressively coverage with the premium paid in full or in higher incomes. The government’s strategy part by the employer. The drug benefits costs on the PharmaCare issue appears to be for working employees and their employers are philosophically at odds with the current very likely going to be reduced. Alberta flat 10% income tax rate for all iii) The retirees of Alberta, today and Albertans. Is this a signal that the flat tax in tomorrow. This segment of the Alberta Alberta will end, and that a more progressive population lives on fixed incomes. Most income tax system for all Albertans is being retirees will be paying for their prescription considered? drug costs with after-tax dollars (unlike active If these potential scenarios become reality, employees whose incomes are rising, and Albertans would want to understand the whose out-of-pocket drug costs are paid with rationale for retirees on fixed incomes and pre-tax dollars). This retired cohort of Alberta’s families with special-needs dependents paying population exhibits a well-documented higher more for health care and prescription drugs than prescription drug incidence rates through no working Albertans, on what could be described fault of their own, as a result of the normal as a progressive-tiered income tax basis, while and inexorable impact of aging . actively working Albertans will be paying a It seems that only one of the three segments of flat tax on income, yet receiving health and Alberta’s population would pay more out-of- drug benefits through flat (non-income based) pocket costs under the proposed PharmaCare monthly pre-tax ‘per capita’ employer paid program at January 1, 2014. If this turns health and drug care premiums. out to be the case when all details of the ARTA leaders hope to meet with the Minister of PharmaCare program are announced, all Health to address these and other issues related Albertans (current and future retirees) would to PharmaCare and retirees.

Summer 2013 15 In Memoriam

Gloria Inez Albritton She was also an assistant Federation. He and his family (née Burroughs) of Innisfail principal in three Edmonton moved to Calgary where he passed away on February 22, schools before her retirement in taught at Bowness High before 2013, at the age of 89. Born 1989. serving as assistant principal in Calcutta, Gloria served in at Sir Winston Churchill the Burma theatre during Edna Stretch Cerveny School. Art also received WWII, achieving the rank of (née Kay) of Ponoka passed his Diploma in Educational Sergeant. She was awarded away on October 26, 2012, Administration, and later a the Burma Star, the 1939–45 at the age of 103. She attended MEd from the University of Star and the War Medal. After high school in Ponoka and was Calgary. He became president completing teacher’s training in the first president of the Ponoka of the Calgary Public Teachers’ England, she taught there until High School Student’s Union. Association. 1954 when she immigrated After completing a First Class Brendan Dunstan Dunphy to Canada and taught in Teaching Certificate, her first of Calgary passed away on various schools in Taber and teaching assignment was at a January 13, 2013, at the age the surrounding area until her one-room school in Glenfalloch. of 73. Born in Peakes Station, retirement in 1984. In 1937, Edna joined a group of twenty-six teachers for a trip Prince Edward Island, he Dorothy Margaret Baker across Canada, living in a received his BA and BEd at of Westlock passed away on converted horse trailer pulled St. Dunstan’s University and February 11, 2013, at the age by a truck. She taught at his MEd at the University of of 92. She taught in Jarvie and Bentley School later returning Toronto. A lifelong educator, Hazel Bluff after attending with her husband to Ponoka. he also served as president Normal School, then went of the Northwest Territories to university to add to her Brian Earnest Clarke of Teachers’ Association, Calgary credentials. Dorothy taught at Edmonton passed away on Local 55 of the ATA, and of Westlock Junior High School November 15, 2012, at the age the ATA itself, as well as vice- for many years and was of 68. Brian was a long-time president of the Canadian a prolific writer about the instructor of instrumentation at Teachers’ Association. Brendan Westlock area. the Northern Alberta Institute received the Queen’s Golden of Technology. Jubilee medal for service in Marion Anne Black (née education. Puffer) of Edmonton passed Arthur (Art) Cowley of Ruth Ruby Fath (née Hanna) away on February 24, 2013, at Calgary passed away on of Vulcan passed away on the age of 87. A graduate of the November 24, 2012, at the February 28, 2013, at the age of University of Alberta, Marion age of 85. He was born in 92. She grew up in the Armada began her teaching career in Borden, Saskatchewan, and Lomond area. Ruth began London, England. After she attended teacher’s college, her teaching career in 1943 and returned to Alberta, she taught and finally received both continued until 1963, living in at Poplar Lake, Vauxhall and a BA and a BEd from the the Vulcan area. Taber. In 1965, she returned University of Saskatchewan. to teaching in St. Albert. She After moving to Regina in Wilbert (Bert) Frey of taught for the Edmonton Public 1958, he taught mathematics Edmonton passed away on School Board where she served at Martin Collegiate and April 14, 2012, at the age of 92. as a curricular associate, and as became involved with the He grew up in Josephburg and an early childhood consultant. Saskatchewan Teachers’ attended Edmonton Normal

16 Summer 2013 School. Wilbert was a teacher Cecil Eric Johnson passed Elizabeth taught school in the and a school psychologist for away in Taber on January 29, southern Alberta communities thirty years working at several 2013, at the age of 65 years. of Hoping and Onefour. In locations in Alberta before Eric received his education 1976, she completed her becoming a Moravian minister. degrees from the University BEd and taught first in Bow Later, he joined the United of Lethbridge and San Diego Island and later in Standoff Church serving in both Alberta State University. He was until 1984. She obtained her and Quebec. He also taught a teacher, vice-principal, Masters of Divinity and was for two years in Dodoma, and principal, and became ordained in The United Church Tanzania. superintendent of the Horizon of Canada in 1999. After School Division. His service serving as a minister in various Gerald (Jerry) Edmund in education was recognized communities in Newfoundland Golden of Edmonton passed when the school division’s new until her retirement in 2007, away on November 4, 2012, at boardroom was named for she moved back to Lethbridge the age of 79. He received his him. Following his retirement to be near her family. degree in Chemical Engineering Cecil continued to work for in 1956 and was an instructor Horizon Division as a principal, Horace Vernon (Vern) of physics at the Northern on special assignments, and Lowry of Edmonton passed Alberta Institute of Technology as an instructor for the pre- away on December 9, 2012, at for twenty-five years. apprenticeship program with the age of 86. After serving as Dr. Paul Hawryluk passed Community Adult Learning. a missionary in New Zealand for two and a half years, he away in Lethbridge, October Phyllis Johnson of North 15, 2012, at the age of 70. attended the University of Kleskun District near Grande Alberta where he obtained a He received his BEd from the Prairie passed away on University of Alberta, his BEd, and later an MEd degree. February 27, 2012, at the He was a teacher, a reading MEd from the University of age of 87. Phyllis taught at Lethbridge, and his PhD from specialist and the supervisor of Teepee Creek and area schools language arts for the Edmonton the University of Saskatchewan. for many years where she Paul taught in rural schools, Public School Board. Later, he was much respected by both became principal of Avonmore Lethbridge Community College, students and colleagues. the University of Lethbridge, School. and Augustana University. He Grace Korth (née Underdahl) was a teacher of English, and of Calgary passed away on Bertha (Peggy) Mair of an author of both short stories February 26, 2013, at the age Grande Prairie passed away and articles. of 90. Born in Manyberries, on December 10, 2012, at the Alberta, she was raised in age of 90. Born in England, she Lois Hopkins (née Dragland) Lethbridge and Calgary and began her teaching career in passed away in Bow Island on was an outstanding teacher Flying Shot, a country school March 9, 2013, at the age of throughout Alberta until her west of Grand Prairie. Peggy 94. Born in Medicine Hat, Lois retirement in 1987. taught for forty-four years, grew up in Conquerville. She mostly at Avondale School. attended school in Medicine Rev. Elizabeth Kozbial Hat and Normal School in (née Ayling) passed away in Nicholas (Nick) Marchak Calgary. She worked in Calgary Lethbridge on February 18, of Edmonton passed away on and Victoria and taught in 2013, at the age of 79. Born in April 20, 2012, at the age of Coutts, Whitla, and Acme. England, she attended teacher- 89. Well known as a teacher After retiring to Bow Island, training college in London and an administrator, he was Lois was an active volunteer and worked as a teacher in also the author of several for several organizations, and the English Midlands and publications on education, most taught English as a Second at a school for children with notably a study for Alberta Language with Community special needs in Cornwall. Education entitled Assessing Adult Learning. After immigrating to Canada, Communication Skills.

Summer 2013 17 Dean Morrison McKenzie at the age of 67. She taught for serving several terms as of Edmonton passed away on much of her life and always president. February 4, 2013, at the age had fond memories of her of 72. Known as a writer and students. Evelyn Soltys (née Foote) of a poet as well as a teacher, Lethbridge passed away on Dean earned his BEd from the Donald (Don) Keith Peters January 25, 2013, at the age University of Alberta in 1963 of Edmonton passed away on of 69. Born in Taber in 1943, and was a teacher at M. E. October 24, 2012, at the age she attended school in Purple Lazerte School in Edmonton of 79. Don graduated from the Springs, Grassy Lake and Taber. until his retirement in 1996. University of Alberta with a Her degree and her teaching BEd in 1963, began teaching at career took her to Red Deer Irene Ruth “Pat” Mehalko Old Scona School in the same and ultimately, to Lethbridge. (née Chambers) passed away in year and was soon appointed Evelyn was a teacher-librarian Lethbridge on February 7, 2013, temporary principal. When with the Lethbridge Public at the age of 87. She was raised Harry Ainlay School opened School District from 1977 until in the Armada area, attended in 1966, Don joined the her retirement in 2000. She was high school in Calgary and department of mathematics a member of SWARTA. then went to Normal School. until his retirement in 1992. She taught at the Sundial Magdalene (Mag) Marie Helen Mary Raycheba school, then helped to run the Ungstad of Edmonton passed of Toronto passed away family farm after she married. away on March 29, 2013, at on January 9, 2013, at the Irene retired in Lethbridge in the age of 88. Born in Florann, age of 100. She attended 1984. Alberta, she moved to Ponoka Normal School in Moose Jaw, before attending Edmonton James (Jim) Alexander Saskatchewan, and taught Normal School. She began Mitchell of Coldstream, British Grades One to Nine in one- teaching in Wanham in the Columbia, passed away on room schools in southwestern Peace River area, then came February 27, 2013, in Vernon, Sasketchewan until she was to Edmonton in 1947 where British Columbia at the age forced to resign because she she taught at many schools of 84. After emigrating from had married. Helen moved including King Edward Park Scotland in 1952, Jim joined the to Edmonton in 1959 where and Belgravia. Mag also was Edmonton City Police. In 1963, she attended the University of an art consultant. She retired he began a long career with Alberta and was an elementary in 1979. the Edmonton Public School school teacher for the Paralleling her teaching, Board, and for two years was a Edmonton Public School Board Mag was also deeply involved special needs consultant with until she retired in 1977. with the welfare of children as the Greater Victoria School a volunteer for such agencies Board. Kathleen (Kay) Emily Smith (née Finch) of Lacombe passed as the Unitarian Service Margaret (Peggy) Laura away on January 16, 2013, at Committee, Mujeres en Accion Mitchell of Edmonton the age of 91. She was born in and their training centre in (formerly of Redwater) passed Heisler, and was a well-known Guatamala, and a school away on February 15, 2013, teacher in Mirror and Lacombe. for handicapped children in at the age of 66. She taught She was an active member of Honduras. for many years in Calmar her church. and generously volunteered her time to both her church Norman Smith of Ponoka Please note that the Calgary and to several charitable passed away on October 12, ­teachers who have passed organizations. 2012, at the age of 88. A away are ­remembered on the teacher for many years in CRTA website at Elizabeth Oginsky (née Ponoka, he was very involved Pankiw) of Edmonton passed with the Ponoka and District calgaryretiredteachers.org away on November 4, 2012, Retired Teachers’ Association,

18 Summer 2013 CARTA, The Central Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association Is Thriving by the CARTA Executive, as submitted by Edna Warriner

Where were you in ’72? That 1979 membership had increased was the year that seventeen retired to ninety-one. teachers met in Red Deer with two In 1984, two new retirees, representatives from the Edmonton Mary Morrison and Dorothy branch to provide information Bishop, gathered with nine other about forming a branch of ARTA. retired teachers to celebrate These seventeen retirees were from their retirement. This gathering as far north as Ponoka, south to launched the annual brunch, To Bowden, west to Rocky Mountain Hell With the Bell! that is held House, and east to Stettler. The each year to recognize newly objectives were similar to those of retired teachers and welcome other branches: them into the organization. One hundred members and a number • improve and protect the welfare of new retirees marked the 28th of retired teachers; anniversary of this event in • work as a united group to September 2012. CARTA’s great provide a stronger, more idea has spread to other branches influential voice for retired of ARTA and beyond Alberta’s teachers both locally and borders. provincially; and CARTA joined the Alberta • promote fellowship with other Council on Aging in 1985 playing retired teachers. an active role in the organization. At the time, pensions were the Gerry Beauchamp, president of biggest issue, especially for women CARTA in 1985, also became the who received substantially less president of ARTA and Ray Heard than their male colleagues. was secretary-treasurer of ARTA. Don Carlson was elected the Gerry and Terry Beauchamp, Ray first president and Dorothy Read Heard, Bern Roe, Mary Lovejoy, was the first secretary of the and Nap Wyshynski were very Central Alberta Retired Teachers’ active members of CARTA at this Association (CARTA) and were time. very active in the association for In September of 1994, Ron many years. Dorothy Read also Hitchings, Nick Miazga, Gill went on to become the president of Graboski and Gordon Girvan ARTA in 1975. started a Men’s Golf Group. The fee for membership in Initially, it was just the four guys CARTA was $1.00 in 1972. By getting together but many others

Summer 2013 19 wanted to join the group, and the CARTA… Some of the meetings annual event now has sixty to were held in the Knights of seventy men who also contribute Columbus facility in Red Deer… to prostrate cancer research. In Inviting newly retired teachers September of 2000, Arlene Girven, to become CARTA members Virginia Arnold and Maureen was enhanced with good Yamagishi started a Ladies’ communication techniques Golf Group that included fifteen developed by Jack Layton. women. The event has continued It brings joy to my heart when since then, now with about thirty- I see former students who have six women golfers each year. become successful educators and In 1995, when ARTA launched are now joining CARTA in their the new health benefit plan, retirement. membership in CARTA increased Fellowship at meetings and to about 130. long-lasting friendships In 2000, a new pin for CARTA developed, which are invaluable with a bluebell to represent our to me as a retired teacher. Email To Hell With the Bell brunch was and phone have enabled me to introduced. Membership in CARTA share good jokes, stories, and had increased to 242. keep up with ARTA happenings. From 2002 until 2005, Edwin In December of 2010, Irene Olsen was the president of CARTA Harrington celebrated her 100th and served as the ARTA secretary. birthday. She had been a very Ed has many memories of those active member of CARTA and her years. special centennial was honoured I remember the numerous at our Christmas dinner. members who worked for CARTA Thanks to Margaret and Jack in varying capacities. Attending Roome, the first CARTA Art Show executive meetings enabled and Sale was held in September me to expand my knowledge of 2011. We hope it will continue beyond the boundaries of as an annual event to celebrate

20 Summer 2013 Central Alberta’s retired teachers’ email, if available, to keep our talents. members apprised of relevant Our first brochure to highlight information about CARTA, ARTA, CARTA and ARTA activities was and seniors issues. Throughout published in 2011. It is especially the years, we have continued beneficial at conventions and to provide information to our information sessions for teachers members at branch functions. We considering retirement. have featured speakers from ARTA, CARTA celebrated its 40th the Council on Aging, travel anniversary in the spring of 2012. organizations, senior safety issues, It was a wonderful opportunity Continuing Education through to go through the archives and Red Deer College, and wellness, revisit the past. We spent a to name just a few. Opportunities considerable amount of time abound to provide for fellowship making display boards that among our members. illustrate our progress over the Many of our members are active years. These displays will be used in both CARTA and ARTA as well at other events as well. as in community organizations. Over the years our membership Our volunteerism is recognized has continued to grow. There are and appreciated by many groups currently about 300 members. throughout Central Alberta. CARTA has a very active phoning CARTA: Proud of our forty years committee to keep members as a branch of ARTA in Central informed. Newsletters are sent by Alberta!

Summer 2013 21 Central East Retired Teachers’ Association History by Margaret and Cathy Wolters

An initial attempt to organize program convener; and Mabel a retired teachers group in the Otto, assistant secretary-treasurer. Vermilion area could have died Membership fees were two dollars, with the original organizer, and only one dollar for associate Clarke Richardson, in 1974, but members, spouses, and teachers interest had been roused and the who had taught for fewer than ten Central East Retired Teachers’ years. The constitution adopted Association (CERTA) was founded six weeks later stipulated that on September 11, 1975. four meetings were to be held The first meeting of the throughout a year that followed founding group of CERTA followed the school year reporting cycle: a June letter sent to thirty-seven September, November, March and retired teachers and associates who June. Initially, these were noon- were receiving pensions. The letter hour potlucks (often described outlined four purposes of such an as scrumptious) followed by a organization: to meet to transact business meeting. business related to the welfare of ARTA sent its congratulations. retired teachers; to inform and Secretary Fiona Milne was keep retired teachers up-to-date on “tremendously thrilled” and pension and health information; president Dorothy Read noted to provide an enjoyable social she was particularly interested contact with former colleagues; in the group’s formation because and to maintain a recognized she received most of her early group in order to qualify for group education at the “old brick rates when available. “With school” in Vermilion. ARTA also inflation as it is, I believe we need provided a fifty-dollar grant for a strong voice in respect to our organizational costs, and covered pensions and this would be a delegate expenses to its general way of expressing our views as a meeting (Margaret Jack attended group,” wrote Margaret Jack after before the second CERTA meeting). listing the four objectives. CERTA had thirty charter There was enough interest to members coming from as far south bring twenty-six people to the as Wainwright, west to Mannville, first meeting. Besides naming east to the Saskatchewan border and their group, an executive as far north as Elk Point. Eventually, was elected. Marjorie Knapp the more distant communities was elected president; Harriet would start their own associations. Reishus, vice-president (also the Charter members included the press reporter); Margaret Jack, original executive as well as Alan secretary-treasurer; Frank Welsh, Anderson, Jeanette Bessier, Heathy

22 Summer 2013 Challenger, Anna Findlay, Members were proud 1992, founding member Ann Green, Alice Hamilton, to contribute to the book, Margaret Jack was lauded Opal Hughes, Ruth Jack, Classroom Classics, prepared for her outstanding service— Marie Kunbill, Vera Mead, by the Camrose branch in devoting countless hours to Mossie McPhee, Alice Milne, 1990. In 1986, Opal Hughes CERTA, making her home Jessie Moore, Margaret Roberts, won a Central Alberta Retired available for the first meeting, Sybil Roebuck, Margaret Scott, Teachers (CARTA) contest to serving as its first secretary Lil Smith, Helen Spence, Jessie depict central Alberta. Her and also as president. She sent Strome, Edna Trask, Eunice painting, chosen from thirty- out the first letters, searched Teasdale, Marie Valleau, four entries, hangs in ARTA’s out similar retired teacher Bertha West, Mary Whitley new office at Barnett House. groups, and helped draft the and Irene Wilson. CERTA also stayed in touch first constitution. This group did not just sit with changes in the classroom. Charter members were and drink tea. Pensions were In 1995, members met at recognized with ARTA always a concern and CERTA J.R. Robson High School to pins and roses at a special not only sent letters to local experience a sample lesson ceremony in 1993. Lifetime MLAs, it also had Tom Lysons in computers, which students memberships are awarded to and Bud Miller at a meeting helped to coach. members when they reach the for first-hand discussion. From its roots, CERTA has age of eighty-five. Deceased Successive premiers, education been an active branch of ARTA. CERTA members have been ministers and MLAs received Two CERTA members have recognized with memorial letters when departmental served as ARTA president— books in the local library. exams were abolished and Floyd Sweet and Dean McMullen. “The meticulous, and most when the pension fund issue Floyd also went on to be often handwritten, minutes persisted. CERTA protested a president of the national depict a different era nearly suggestion that compulsory organization. Many CERTA forty years ago. It was a school age should be removed, members have been, or are more formal time where discussed seniors issues, currently, on ARTA committees Miss, Mr. and Mrs. were used including care, and sent helping to shape the provincial even in the minutes,” says correspondence to the provincial organization and its services. Margaret Wolters, a former government. When the home CERTA’s activities were well CERTA president, who had schooling movement became known in the community. For both former teachers and popular, CERTA had a local at least the first decade, the colleagues among the charter home school representative association’s press reporters membership. “What is evident speak to their group. provided detailed accounts of and shines through is the CERTA has not limited each meeting that were enthusiasm our founders activities to the political; its published in the Vermilion had for their association and fourth initial objective was Standard. its mission. It’s a wonderful social and that objective CERTA has also been good legacy to us now, and for was not ignored. Exchange at recognizing its own. In future retirees.” meetings with neighboring retired teacher groups, tours to local and regional attractions, speakers on a variety of topics and the fellowship of food and good company have been part of CERTA’s history. CERTA’s most recent activity was hosting the kickoff event for ARTA’s 50th anniversary, the Floyd Sweet Memorial Bonspiel in Vermilion.

Summer 2013 23 Happy 50th Birthday ARTA From SDRTA! by Jim Forde, President SDRTA

The Stettler and District Retired Coffee Party held each year at the Teachers’ Association (SDRTA) is farm of Dave and Jen Seibel, but one of the younger branches of there was no group acceptance ARTA. It took us some length of of the benefits of having a more time to make up our minds about formal organization. becoming a branch. In the early It was not until 2009, when 2000s, retired teachers in our Dean McMullen, a past president area had been courted by the Red of ARTA, requested a meeting Deer and Camrose branches to with retired teachers in Stettler join their social functions, which to outline the advantages some of us did. Eventually, Gerry of becoming a branch, that Smith who was a former teacher volunteers came forward to in Stettler and, at that time, form a local branch of ARTA. incumbent Executive Secretary The first executive arising of ARTA, encouraged us to form from that meeting was Larry a branch. Local teacher Bob Wilson, President; Don Tash, Erickson organized an annual Vice-President; Helen Ambury, Christmas dinner for a few years Secretary-Treasurer; and Evelyn and encouraged us to officially Shursen, Social Convenor. This join ARTA. There was also a June executive was determined to

24 Summer 2013 Our first official function deserves our whole-hearted was a To Hell With the Bell support. With the quality of Breakfast in 2009 attended by people working on our behalf, ninety retirees and guests and the next fifty years should be addressed by Don Mock, then carefree. Thanks to all those ARTA Executive Secretary. Our members on the ARTA Board first official function that year of Directors and in the office was a Christmas dinner, a who work on our behalf. fitting tribute to Bob Erickson I should also like to take who had advocated for several this occasion, on behalf of years for a branch of ARTA in the SDRTA membership, to obtain the required thirty-five our district. Our breakfast this thank the original members signatures to apply for the year was addressed by ARTA of our own executive and establishment of a branch Vice-President, Juanita Knight, those mentioned in this report of ARTA to be known as who expressed her pleasure at whose vision and hard work Stettler and District Retired “being among friends.” led to the establishment of Teachers’ Association. In It is our desire that all our organization. They all thirty-four signatures retired teachers are able to have now retired from their were acquired; and once the feel as welcome as our worthy positions and passed the application was submitted, vice-president did, and to torch on to a new executive it did not take ARTA long to this end we make an effort to that hopes to carry on the announce that approval for dialogue with our local retirees tradition that the original four the branch would be given at each year to join us. ARTA has established. Our thanks also the ARTA AGM on September made a substantial difference goes to the new members of 7, 2009. Since then, under in our lives as retirees and our executive. the capable leadership of these four people, SDRTA has grown steadily over the past four years to a membership of over sixty. We welcome Inspirational Educator all retired teachers from our CRTA has an ongoing project from October 2012 to October 2013— district to join, and do have gathering stories of teachers who inspired students in the Calgary members from Red Deer, Alix, area. Colleagues, parents and former students are asked to submit their memories of teachers who made a difference in a student’s life. Hanna and other locales. We We are featuring these stories on our website and eventually we obtained permission from our hope to be able to make an anthology of the stories for our CRTA local school board to attend library. their teacher professional On CARTA’s new website, look under the “Opportunities” menu for development day last August “Inspirational Educator.” www.calgaryretiredteachers.ca to make all the teachers aware of our services, and we hope to expand this initiative to other district schools. Today, we mainly provide information and social occasions to our membership; and to this end, we have added both a benefits and a retirement consultant to our executive. We are extremely fortunate that Garry Fix, our present treasurer, has built a website for the organization.

Summer 2013 25 The History of the St. Albert and Area Retired Teachers’ Association by Brenda Kane, Co-President, STARTA

The St. Albert and Area Legal and Westlock areas. Notices Retired Teachers’ Association had been placed in the St. Albert (STARTA) has grown from a small Gazette, Morinville Gazette and the group of retired teachers sixteen ARTA newsletter. The notices read, years ago to a group of over 150 Help is needed to organize a chapter active members. We are proud of of the Retired Teachers’ Association our enthusiastic and hard-working for Morinville, Legal, St. Albert and executive members, both past and Sturgeon. Chapter members meet present, and also of the many socially, participate in group outings people behind the scenes who help and are kept informed of events and make things happen in our branch. developments at the provincial level. In May of 1997, Susan Supruniuk, STARTA was chosen as the acronym Mary Forest and Dave Thomas for our group. The first breakfast asked ARTA for advice on setting social was set for 9:00 a.m. on up a branch. The organizational September 7, 1997, at the St. Albert meeting of STARTA was held on Legion. Gerry Smith, ARTA June 4, 1997, at 2:00 p.m., at the Executive Secretary, spoke on the St. Albert Senior Citizens’ Club. Association’s Benefit Plan, the A group of twenty-three retired Alberta Council on Aging, and the teachers met to discuss the One Voice organization. possibility of starting a group for Following this gathering, the St Albert, Sturgeon, Morinville, a muffin breakfast was held

26 Summer 2013 on September 22, 1997, and a held from September to May, STARTA executive was elected, usually on the last Friday of which included Mary Forest, Joe the month. Speakers on a wide Berlando, Susan Supruniuk, Terry variety of topics have shared Parsons, Jean Thornton, Helen their experiences and knowledge Kieran, Roy Gouchey, Eryl Jones, with our members. Some of our Joan Trettler and Joan Mestinsek. more memorable presentations On Wednesday, October 29, have included travel (“Hiking 1997, Dora Corbett, President Through the Pyrenees With Nordic of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Walking Poles,” “Golfing Down Association, recognized STARTA Under,” and “Zumba Dancing”); as its thirteenth branch in the volunteerism (in Africa, Spain, province. STARTA‘s first president, and Central America); cooking Mary Forest, received the framed (“Cooking with Pork” from the charter. Alberta Pork Producers was really Initially, there were to be four fun!); health and seniors issues meetings a year. However, as (such as “Identity Theft,” “Lifelong membership grew, it became Learning at Grant MacEwan clear that four meetings were College,” “A Comparison of the not enough, and other activities Canadian and American Health were planned besides the Muffin Systems,” and “Nutrition, Aging, Mornings and breakfast buffets. and Vision Loss”) as well as Some of these ventures were general interest topics such as one drama productions captured on speaker sharing her experiences 35mm film, a bowling afternoon, serving in Afghanistan with the a hat parade, dancing the Canadian Forces, and gardening Macarena, and an outing to the with Jim Hole. Ukrainian Village. The real draw Our members’ talents are was to get together to see friends varied, and we have often been you did not otherwise see. able to include them in our Since that first year, monthly programs. The STARTA choir breakfast meetings have been usually performs at our breakfasts several times a year and takes

Summer 2013 27 their show on the road to nursing annual golf tournament is held homes and seniors’ residences in June, and we were privileged to twice a year. We have had several host the Rod Throndson Memorial programs throughout the years Provincial ARTA Golf Tournament that highlighted members’ hobbies in June of 2012. More than ninety such as painting, carving, stained ARTA members from around the glass, origami, sewing, and province joined us to play golf knitting. We have also organized at the Sandpiper Golf & Country several fashion shows using Club and to remember one of members as models to show off the our outstanding presidents, Rod latest fashions from local St. Albert Throndson, who passed away shops. Our annual silent auction suddenly in 2010. is always noteworthy! Other club activities include an In addition to our monthly annual picnic in Lions Park in breakfast meetings, STARTA has July, lunch at Northlands racetrack several other yearly activities. Our in August, and dinner theatres at Jubilations and the Mayfield. We have also organized several workshops for our members, the most recent being a computer word processing workshop held at the University of Alberta. Many of our members volunteer with various organizations and have encouraged STARTA to support these groups. A bench was donated in 2001, The International Year of the Older Person, to the St. Albert Botanic Park in STARTA’s name. Donations have been made over the years to the Lois Hole Foundation, St. Albert Kinettes Christmas Hampers and Operation Christmas Child. One of the major strengths of our branch is the communication network that allows everyone to share in what is happening. Our monthly phoners contact over two hundred people to let them know what is planned for each upcoming breakfast meeting. The STARTA newsletter is sent out by email to all members each month, and the STARTA website has up-to-date information and photos about the branch. We look forward to many new members, many more activities, and many more years with STARTA.

28 Summer 2013 ARTA 50th Anniversary Bridge and Cribbage Tournament by Juanita Knight

The newly renovated Ponoka tournament will become a legacy Seniors Drop In Centre was the of the efforts of the Ponoka and setting for a fun-filled bridge and District branch. cribbage tournament held on The 50th Anniversary November 16, 2012. The Ponoka Committee of ARTA congratulates and District Retired Teachers’ the Ponoka and District Branch Association sponsored the on hosting this very successful tournament to celebrate the fiftieth event, another example of Alberta anniversary of the formation of retired teachers finding many the Alberta Retired Teachers’ opportunities to celebrate fifty Association and to satisfy requests years of history and growth. for a repeat of a successful tournament held last year. Fifty-eight retired teachers and friends came from Leduc, Camrose, Stettler, Lacombe and Ponoka to enjoy a day of bridge and cribbage. The competition was keen as participants competed for some fabulous prizes provided by Hampton Inn & Suites Edmonton West, Collette Vacations, ARTA, Aon Hewitt, Dino’s Restaurant, and the Ponoka and district branch. Branch president and ARTA vice-president, Juanita Knight, reported that the participants greatly appreciated the contributions of the sponsors and celebrated the fiftieth anniversary of ARTA in ‘spades.’ The evaluation comments strongly support repeating the event. Participants enjoyed meeting old friends, making new acquaintances, socializing and eating the great food provided. Many suggested advertising this event to other retired teacher groups to increase participation. Maybe an annual association-wide

Summer 2013 29 Cosco Workshops Come to Alberta by Mary Checkley, ARTA Wellness Committee

“Seniors helping seniors.” “Teachers teaching teachers.” “I used to be a teacher, now I am a facilitator.”

These are some of the experiences with the main objective of these that thirty-eight of our ARTA three days being to educate and members from across the province train participants to take these enjoyed at the Red Deer Lodge workshops back to their branches from April 8 to 10, 2013, as Sheila and communities to share with Pither and Sylvia MacLeay from other seniors. Sheila provided the Council of Senior Citizens each participant with a flash drive Organization (COSCO) of British that had all of the speakers’ notes Columbia took us though eight for each workshop on it. Each of the thirty-six Health and branch was also given ten copies Wellness workshops that COSCO of Healthy Eating for Seniors to use has developed. These workshops as door prizes at their workshops. have been created with the This book is an excellent resource, cooperation of health professionals, written partially by seniors for governments and other relevant seniors. resources to ensure that they are To be true to our wellness theme, accurate and audience-friendly. we enjoyed healthy meals and The topics covered were Falls snacks provided by the Lodge and Prevention, Stroke, Emergency even managed to “walk the talk” Preparedness, Getting to Know with a walking video that took Your Bladder, Chronic Diseases, us for a one mile walk without Technology and Seniors, Medication leaving the building. We renewed Awareness, and Osteoarthritis. friendships and made new ones as These were all PowerPoint we worked through the agenda. presentations, with Sheila and There was sharing time as Sylvia adding humor and personal well to consider what Alberta experiences to enrich the resources are available that can be presentations and to demonstrate accessed to help each individual to us some techniques that we become proactive regarding their might also be able to use in own health practices. As one workshop presentations we might representative said, “We must present on our own. There was always be our own advocate and also ample audience participation communicate with each other and as attendees shared their own our physicians, pharmacists and information and experiences. other health care providers to find Seventeen of ARTA’s eighteen the best solutions for ourselves and branches were represented, our loved ones.”

30 Summer 2013 Diane Britton is a registered dietitian who has worked as a sports nutritionist. She now works for Alberta Health and the Lethbridge Health and Wellness Centre.

Re-think Your Drink by Diane Britton

Calorie-laden drinks may feel great on food choices as the taste buds but they are not good for the much as possible, waistline. In fact, one of the main reasons filling up on behind weight issues in North America is the the high water quantity of liquid calories people drink. Liquid content, fibre, and calories lurk around every corner, making having the added it difficult not to choose them. They can be benefit of all the found hidden in coffee and tea beverages nutrients. (mochaccino anyone?), pop, juice, fruit • Choose milk smoothies, sport drinks, ‘energy’ drinks, and instead of pop. alcoholic beverages, of course. A client once Whether soy- or told me her husband challenged her to quit dairy-based, milk has protein (which can drinking pop while he quit smoking. She was help satisfy your hunger) and is loaded in surprised when she lost a few clothes sizes nutrients like calcium, vitamin D and A, without changing anything else in her diet. magnesium, and potassium. Drink pop less High-sugar, high-fat, and high-calorie drinks often. not only add empty calories to the diet, but • Drink water at mealtime. Add pizzazz they also don’t fill us up in the same way that with a slice of lemon, lime or just a splash of calories from solid foods do. Because liquids 100% cranberry juice. digest quickly, they shoot blood sugar up; and • Dilute the juice. If you just can’t do if the energy is not used immediately, the body without juice, try diluting it with water, plain stores it—and that means weight gain. When or carbonated. Start by diluting the juice blood sugar goes up quickly, the body brings half and half with water, and work your it down quickly, making you hungry again. It taste buds up to ¾ water and ¼ juice. becomes a vicious circle of high-calorie/high- • In this case size matters! Choose smaller sugar drinks needed to give you energy every portions; or if your favorite beverage only sixty minutes or so. comes in one size, share it with a friend—or Choose your drinks wisely with these tips to bargain with yourself to only drink half and help you re-think your drink: save the rest for the next day. • Drink water more often. Water is the best • Java junkies can choose to add low-fat or thirst-quencher by far; and if you hydrate fat-free milks, limit the number of times you properly, you won’t eat food when your body add syrups or sugar-laden creamers, and is really just thirsty. skip the whipped cream! Save those calories • Limit juice to 100% real fruit juice. If you for only special occasions. read ‘beverage,’ ‘drink’ or ‘punch’ on the • If you drink alcohol, moderating your label, you will be drinking mostly sugar intake to one or two drinks will help you not water. Canada’s Food Guide recommends ‘waist’ your calories. limiting juice to not more than 125-250 ml • Stock your fridge with healthy beverages. per day. I recommend my clients try to fill By purchasing sugar-laden drinks less often, their vegetable and fruit quota with whole you’ll naturally drink healthier choices!

Summer 2013 31 Touring in Poland and Ukraine by Paul Boisvert

When is a tour of a country instance, a member of our group not simply a tour? brought some old letters that On May 29th of 2012, Gladys she had found in her mother’s and I embarked on a bus tour possession after her mother died vacation to Eastern Poland and a number of years ago. With Ukraine along with 25 other the assistance of our Ukrainian Albertans and one resident of guide and our tour escorts out New York City. All of us except for of Edmonton, Valentina and one Albertan and the New Yorker Nes Urban, she was able to visit had family roots originating in the village where the letters had Ukraine. My mother was born originated many years ago. To her in Ivano Frankivs’k (formerly absolute surprise and delight, her known as Stanyslaviv) while visit to the village of her ancestors Gladys’ maternal grandparents allowed her to get to know over immigrated to Canada from the one hundred assorted cousins Chernivtsi area. who quickly gathered as the news The itinerary of the tour allowed spread like wildfire, that a relative those who had relatives they could from Canada had shown up in the contact to have the opportunity village making inquiries about the to hire, at a very reasonable rate, family. Our group shed many tears a car and driver who would take of anguish and joy as we shared them to visit with their Ukrainian our family stories. families. Some, like Gladys and Another factor that made this I, would also be able to visit the tour so special was our Ukrainian area from which our ancestors guide, Sofiya Fedyna. Sofiya originated even if we had no in addition to being a political contacts. For a year prior to our science lecturer at the University departure I had contacted the of Lviv and the newly elected Ukrainian Embassy with the president of the Lemkos Society of hope of receiving some assistance Ukraine is a professional singer. from them in an attempt to She is a strong advocate of songs determine whether or not any of that have Ukrainian cultural roots. our relatives still resided there. On several occasions while visiting Unfortunately these contacts were a historical site, Sofiya would sing unfruitful. a song that had a connection to For some of our touring that specific site. companions things worked out After having visited the area in quite differently. In one instance, Ukraine from which most of our when the person traveled to the ancestors immigrated, it is easy village where his grandparents to understand why they adjusted were buried, he suffered quite a so easily to living in Alberta. The shock: the entire village had been topography of eastern Alberta is destroyed and even the graveyard very similar to much of western had been annihilated. In another Ukraine.

32 Summer 2013 Given its very short life as an Consequently, they seem to accept independent country, Ukraine has corruption as a normal part of more than its share of obstacles doing business with elected and to overcome before it becomes appointed officials. financially and politically stable. Ukraine and Poland hosted the Having been under the rule of the EUROPA Football Championship Soviets for almost fifty years, and (soccer to us) while we were on so many other masters prior to tour. They had both prepared to that, it will take some time for the show off their country to its best Ukrainians to become accustomed advantage to their European cousins. to being ‘masters in their own We witnessed the excitement that house.’ Corrupt politicians this event generated throughout are all they have ever known. Ukraine especially.

Summer 2013 33 Seniors Care Isn’t Working: Is the Solution Patient/Family Councils and an Independent Seniors Advocate? by Noel Somerville, Chair, Seniors’ Task Force, Public Interest Alberta

People close to the seniors’ care public, get the media involved system know that it isn’t working and generate enough pressure very well. The chronic shortage that someone in authority feels of long-term care (nursing home) compelled to act. beds has not been addressed. But we also realize that what Home care is scarce, hard to we are dealing with here is

Families feel access, and often not reliable. Care really two quite different sets of

facilities are frequently under- problems. There are structural powerless to ‘‘ ‘‘ staffed and staffed by people who problems with how the system don’t have the qualifications they is organized; these can only address the require. While there are exceptions be addressed by ‘top-down’ problems. to these conditions, many of such intervention and probably involve exceptions are in facilities that few significant cost. There are also of us could ever afford. operational problems that could Those of us who spend our be more effectively addressed time trying to deal with the through “bottom-up” approaches. problems arising in care facilities The government of Alberta soon discover how difficult it is devised one of the prime examples to get corrective action on such of the ‘bottom-up’ approach about situations. Families feel powerless twenty-five years ago. Realizing to address the problems. One of that schools were not being the few effective ways of dealing sufficiently responsive to the needs with such situations is to go of parents, it required all schools to form school councils in which the school’s administration and teaching staff were in the minority, and the majority of the council was made up of parents and community representatives. While final decisions remained with a school’s administration, school councils were able to review and recommend on the school’s budget and other areas of school policy, thereby making schools more accountable. A recent example of the effectiveness of school councils emerged with the

34 Summer 2013 challenging of the ‘no-zero’ policy non-government organizations, at an Edmonton high school. as well as public, voluntary and School Councils ultimately private facility operators. The developed a provincial system is so complex that no organization, one that is now able one appears to have a thorough to influence government policy on grasp on where gaps and overlaps educational matters. exist. A similar mechanism could The appointment of an well be effective in making seniors Independent Seniors Advocate care facilities more responsive to with authority to report to the the needs of patients and their legislature rather than to any families. Patient/Family Councils ministry could have a huge The system is so could review and recommend how impact on addressing many of ‘‘ complex that no the facility utilizes its resources, the problems in the seniors care and could use the ‘bottom-up’ system. It could inventory all of one appears to approach to deal with disputes the services available, establish have a thorough that arise between patients and what is and is not working, facility operators. recommend ways to improve the grasp on where ‘‘ Yes, there is a difference system and resolve disputes that gaps and overlaps between a school that is built, cannot be resolved at the Patient/ staffed and operated entirely with Family Council level. exist. public funds, and a seniors care The Minister of Seniors has facility that may be owned and indicated that he does intend to operated by a non-governmental appoint a Seniors Advocate, but is organization or even a private, clearly thinking of someone who for-profit operator; but ultimately, would report only to his ministry, most seniors care facilities are not to the legislature. publicly subsidized at least for the One of the major difficulties health care component that they with all publicly administered provide, and many for the capital systems is that it is in the outlay. Both schools and seniors government’s interest, no matter care facilities are institutions that how much it seeks to be open and offer services to the public and, transparent, to claim that things as such, should be accountable are working well and to sweep to those to whom that service is problems under the carpet. For rendered. this reason, it is most important The Child and Youth Advocate that the Seniors Advocate be whose office became effective independent and report to on April 1, 2012, is an example the legislature, not just to the of a government-developed government or a government mechanism to protect vulnerable department. individuals. The Office of the That is why PIA’s Seniors Task Child and Youth Advocate is an Force has been advocating for external, independent advocacy meaningful Patient/Family system in which the Advocate Councils in all publicly supported reports directly to the legislature. or subsidized seniors care facilities Seniors in care are equally and for the appointment of an vulnerable and are part of a Independent Seniors Advocate. complex system that involves We believe these are constructive as many as nineteen different proposals that could do much to government departments, improve Alberta’s seniors care numerous municipal agencies, system.

Summer 2013 35 NEARTA Wellness Conference by Paul Boisvert

April 29, 2013, will always be a and young, when the need arises. prominent date in the annals of He also mentioned how this type the North Eastern Alberta Retired of event helped to create a strong Teachers’ Association (NEARTA). NEARTA/ARTA presence in the On this date almost one hundred community. members and guests gathered in The keynote speaker for St. Paul for Marvellous Therapies, this conference was Jennifer the branch’s first wellness Buchanan, BMT, MTA, owner and conference. president of JB Music Therapy Following words of welcome by located in Calgary. Under the branch president Larry Lambert, title “Music as Therapy,” Jennifer ARTA president Gordon Cumming was immediately able to engage brought greetings on behalf of the the audience in her presentation, provincial association. Gordon a presentation that was both recognized how this event, as part very emotional while also being of the year-long 50th anniversary thoroughly relevant to this celebration of ARTA was a good moment in each individual’s fit with ARTA’s goals of not only life. This two-hour presentation helping to enhance its members’ reminded the audience of the retirement years but also to be very significant role that music an advocate for all Albertans, old plays in our lives as we progress

36 Summer 2013 on our human journey. Jennifer’s rights and safety, and visual arts. presentation also demonstrated Displays were set up by Michelle the power that music plays in Dumontier ARTA Marketing the behaviour of persons who Director; Laurie Bauer of TW may be suffering from afflictions Insurance; and Brenda Rosychuk, commonly associated with aging coordinator of support services or brain deficiencies that result for persons with MS and their from birth or accident trauma. families. Comments on the evaluation Throughout the day Ardith forms reinforced the strong aura Trudzik manned the awe-inspiring of acceptance and appreciation travelling display of books that Jennifer engendered to launch authored by retired teachers. this wellness conference. Watch for this display at many Following a very tasty lunch branch events as we continue served up in the St. Paul Regional to celebrate ARTA’s 50th School cafeteria, participants anniversary. had the opportunity to attend This conference was made a maximum of two breakout possible only as a result of the sessions. The choice of topics financial and material support included therapeutic and natural received from ARTA, the St. Paul medicine, woodworking; wills/ and Area Elders Rights and Safety power of attorney/personal Committee, the St. Paul Regional directives, exercise for seniors, School District trustees and the quilting, travel, writing, pottery support staff at the Regional High throwing, healthy eating, elders School.

Letters to the Editor (continued from page 8)

Applying to court for an order does not To the editor: necessarily allow grandparents contact with Having read Lynne Butler’s article “The their grandchildren when parents or guardians Not-So-Good Old Days” (Spring 21:3, page 9), will not come to an agreement with the we were concerned that your readership might grandparents of the grandchildren. It just be under the mistaken perception that Alberta’s begins the arduous, expensive process for Family Act is still in existence. In 2010 the grandparents if the orders are granted to them. Family Law Act was replaced with the Alberta For more complete information refer to Family Law Statutes Amendment Act. our article: “A Special Relationship: Under this new legislation grandparents Grandparent and Grandchildren” by Marilyn still have the entire onus placed on them to Marks, which appeared in news & views, 21:1, show why they should have access to their Fall 2012. grandchildren (when access is denied by Another source of information can be found on parents or guardians). the Alberta Grandparents website www. Having to serve Access and Leave Orders on albertagrandparents.ca where you can find our their children in order to start the legal process to research document about the legislation. see their grandchildren is a very adversarial Marilyn Marks, action that grandparents must take and Founding Member, antagonizes family relations even further. Alberta Grandparents Association, Calgary

Summer 2013 37 Improved Walking with Poles by Mandy Johnson, Master Trainer, Urban Poling

sunset, a storm, a full moon, I discovered Nordic a starry night, or even a busy walking shortly after having city or bustling town than by a total knee replacement going for a walk? at a very early age. It was Well, there is an even amazing how walking with better way. It is to add in the poles took enough weight a pair of Nordic poles. off my knee joint so that I Walking with these especially could walk and even return designed poles turns walking to strenuous hiking without into a total body workout pain. As my knee will always and is called Nordic walking. be stiff with limited ability It combines an upper body to bend, the additional technique similar to cross- stability provided by the country skiing with the lower poles ensured that I would body technique of regular not stumble and fall on walking. By engaging uneven trails. And now that the core, back and triceps I live in Canmore, Alberta, Walking is one of the first muscles, Nordic walking where we share the land things an infant wants to do works ninety per cent of the with abundant wildlife year- and the last thing an older body’s muscles and burns round, but with icy footing in person wants to give up! twenty to forty-six per cent the winter, walking with my Walking is as natural as more calories than regular poles gives me an extra level breathing. It is the favorite walking. The cardio benefit of confidence. activity of Canadians for can be equal to jogging, Whatever your interest good reason. Its gentle, low- without jogging’s stress on level, whether it be enjoying impact nature effectively ankle, knee, and hip joints. a simple walk, becoming a burns calories, works the legs, The poles also provide regular Nordic walker, or even keeps bones strong, reduces additional stability, which is becoming a Nordic walking stress, and can be a joyful, a real bonus for hiking, and instructor, remember that even exhilarating, experience. provides security for older walking is a wonder drug! What better way is there to persons concerned about the Just get out there and be experience a sunrise, a consequences of a fall. active … it is our nature!

Urban Poling is the Vancouver-based company that developed the unique Urban Poling technique. Urban Poles are strapless and come with ergonomic shock-absorbent handles to enhance core workout. Rubber boot-shaped tips are ideal for use on paved surfaces and can be removed to reveal carbide tips to provide a secure grip on hiking trails and on ice and snow. An instructional DVD is available. ARTA members passionate about health and wellness can become Certified Urban Poling Instructors or can develop a small Urban Poling business selling the poles and running clinics and classes. Urban Poling can also bring a Master Trainer to your community for instructor certification. There will be an instructor course at Calgary City Centre, June 12, 2013, from 4:00 pm to 7:30 pm. If you have a physical education background, the online self-study certification program might be all that is needed to get started with Urban Poling. Special offers for ARTA members: $20 discount on the purchase of Urban Poles from the online store. Use the code: ARTA2013_$20_VALUE $60 discount on Instructor Training, Level 1. Use the code: ARTA2012_$60_VALUE These offers expire December 31, 2013. Visit Urban Poling at http://urbanpoling.com/learn/how-to-urban-pole.

38 Summer 2013 Autumn Leaves

The autumn leaves arrive with little warning, Their colors change so quickly day by day. It seems somehow they were glad to greet me, As the wind invited them out to chase and play.

The alchemy we view in their mix of colors, Entreats our eyes as they circle so. Those leaves that try to hold on tightly, Lose their grip, and most reluctantly let go.

I remember when I would chase them. We had picnics on a fresh carpet of grass. They gave us shelter from the harsh sunlight, As their invitation was too inviting to pass.

But now they fly about and cover walkways, They mix and mingle seemingly with ease. The wind whirls and twirls them at its pleasure, As they weave a colorful carpet under trees.

Their Fall attire, at times just leaves us speechless, As nature pulls out all the stops to show, That we cannot match their boundless beauty, But we can still admire nature’s ebb and flow.

—Doug Mirtle

Summer 2013 39 lassifie C advertising d

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40 Summer 2013 JustJust forfor You...You...

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