THE UNIVERSITY OF

Volume Twenty-three, Issue One Retirees’Spring, 2019

The 45th President’s ReceptionNews for Retirees President Barnard has again agreed to address this April’s reception even though he spoke at the fall reception. (Commitments forced him to cancel an appearance at last April’s meeting.) If you are planning on attending this spring’s reception, you are asked to RSVP to Lynn Bohonos, Learning and Organizational Development, by Monday, April 1, 2018. You may telephone Lynn at 204-474-9124, or send her an email at: [email protected]. President Barnard addresses UMRA members at the fall, 2018 Reception.

The next President’s Reception This past winter thirty-six U of for members of the University of M graduate students squared off Manitoba Retirees Association against each other on February (UMRA) is set for Saturday, April 26, 27 and 28 in three (3MT®) 13, at 2:00 pm in McLuhan Hall in 2019 heats. There were familiar UMSU on the Fort Garry campus. departments such as Social Work, The featured speakers again this Psychology, Fine Art and Law rep- spring will be selected winners of resented. But almost half the par- the (3MT®) competition. Three ticipants were from departments Minute Thesis (3MT®) challenges such as Biosystems Engineering graduate students to consolidate (4), Medical Microbiology and their ideas and research discover- Infectious Diseases (4), Physiology ies so that they can be presented and Pathophysiology (3) and concisely to a non-specialist audi- Kinesiology and Recreation ence, in three minutes or less. It’s Management. The speakers chosen exciting to watch, and learn about for the President’s Reception will what our innovative graduate stu- certainly be an eclectic mix. Retirees line up for delicious snacks dents are working on. at fall Reception. President’s Message 2 As we emerge from a rather long received donations that bring it and cold winter, I am hoping that closer to a value that will allow this message finds retirees have its distribution in the future. One enjoyed a pleasant holiday season. of those donations was provided Retirees from the University contin- from UMRA members who con- ue to contribute generously of their tribute with their membership time and other resources to the bet- fees to the continued operation of terment of our community. Some of our Association. Prudent manage- the highlights of our activities since ment of this income allowed the the Fall 2018 Newsletter are pre- Executive Committee to make a sented below. donation to the Scholarship Fund University retirees have again in December. Finally, UMRA has Daniel Sitar, UMRA President donated generously to the United again sponsored a portion of the second prize for the Three Minute Way of . In its most re- confirm this continuation with the Thesis Presentation competition. cent campaign, donations from us Human Resources Department of Thus retirees continue to be recog- increased by 7% over those made the University. Age 75 is a critical nized as important contributors to in 2017; they represent about 42% anniversary for determining your the life of the University. of all donations from the University subsequent supplementary health of Manitoba Campaign. As the In closing, I would again encour- care coverage. You may want retiree representative from our age you to review the University of to compare benefits with other University, I would like to thank Manitoba Supplementary Health available supplemental health care you again for your continuing gen- Plan to which many of you be- plans, some of which are de- erosity. long. For those of you who re- scribed on the UMRA web page. The Retiree tired after July 1, 2004, the partial Any lapse in coverage changes Association Endowed Bursary contribution to premiums by the your risk assessment. Thus it is Fund identified a worthy recipient University ends on your 75th important to make your health in the Fall of 2018. In addition, our birthday. You will then be re- insurance decision before expiry recently established Scholarship quired to pay the full premium for of any plan to which you currently Fund for Postgraduate Trainees continued coverage. You should belong.

From the Editor an article on strokes in this issue. take on strokes or other medical Fortunately, UMRA has a very advice for a future issue. valuable person, Dan Sitar, who is [By the way, Dan recommends that knowledgeable in chronic diseas- you check the latest information es of the elderly, as president. He on the use of “baby aspirin” (i.e., 81 agreed to check this article, and milligrams once per day).] he put the kibosh on it. It had too Faced with a large, last-minute gap many errors that would have mud- in this issue of the newsletter by the died the topic. So, all I can do in its elimination of the strokes article, I’ve place is provide a couple of useful recruited a past president for a look sites to seek better information. at Curac’s Medoc Travel Insurance. Gene Walz Read more about strokes at the It’s better than I could have hoped One of the ways that I believe (1) Internet Stroke Center < http:// for. www.strokecenter.org>, or that this newsletter can be useful Gene Walz to UMRA members would be to (2) www.strokeassociation.org Senior Scholar, provide the latest relevant medi- Perhaps a retiree from the UM Department of English, Theatre, Film, cal advice. I had hoped to reprint Medical faculty can provide a local and Media Retired? Not Entirely! 3 Speaking about Treaties by Jean Friesen

One of the most rewarding and Commission has collected and enjoyable aspects of my retirement published oral histories and an has been the opportunity to be- atlas. It has successfully advocated come a member of the Speakers’ for the inclusion of treaty educa- Bureau of the Treaty Relations tion at all levels in the Manitoba Commission of Manitoba school system and has been in- (TRCM), a role which I have found strumental in providing talks at fascinating and at times exciting as teacher in-service days, specialised it draws on my own scholarly work training and teaching materials for on treaties in western . hundreds of Manitoba’s teachers. It Most Canadians by now are famil- has built partnerships with galler- iar with the introductory formal ies and museums and has under- statement that reminds us that we taken public education through Jean Friesen are on the lands of the people of billboards and radio and televi- Treaty 1 (in the case of the U of M) sion discussions to emphasize the Commissioner, and now Senator, now in common use at ceremonial concept that “We are all Treaty Murray Sinclair issued “calls to events and even at hockey games. People”. And using the members action” directed to specific sections But for many, an understanding of of the Speakers’ Bureau it has of society. The Speakers’ Bureau the meaning of treaties has been brought the discussion of treaties has helped many Manitobans be- something of a mystery. Until to many parts of Manitoba’s civ- gin to understand the treaty rela- recently treaties were not part of il society. The extensive website tionship, an important part of the school curricula, and there was offers a broad view of its current long history of Indigenous-Settler very limited public discussion of work and achievements. relations. the spirit and intent of the agree- My own assignments have includ- My talks have taken me to differ- ments made between First Nations ed talks to business groups, federal ent parts of Manitoba where the and the Crown more than a centu- and provincial civil servants, po- serendipity of encountering former ry ago. lice recruits, church and commu- students and former colleagues The Treaty Relations Commission nity groups of all kinds, university from my days in the legislature of Manitoba followed the cre- students (particularly in educa- has been an unexpected pleasure. ation of a similar Commission in tion), high schools, and the public I usually speak for an hour, fol- Saskatchewan in the 1990s. Each is health sector. One of the reasons lowing an Elder and often a pre- led by an appointed Commissioner for this more widespread inter- sentation by one of the teachers and governed by a council of est in the relationship between involved in curriculum develop- Elders. The TRCM is “a neutral Indigenous and non-Indigenous ment. Using the written evidence body created through a partner- peoples is, of course, the publi- from Treaty 1 and my understand- ship between the assembly of cation of the report of the Truth ing of the history of the relations Manitoba Chiefs and Canada with and Reconciliation Commission. continued on page 5 a mandate to strengthen, rebuild and enhance the Treaty relation- Jean Friesen, B.A. McGill (1964) PhD UBC (1969), joined the UM history depart- ship and mutual respect as envis- ment in 1973 after 6 years as the western Canada historian at the National Museum aged by the Treaty parties.” of Canada. At UM she taught the history of Indigenous-non Indigenous relations, Canadian history, Arctic history and Public history and served as Provost of University Three activist Commissioners College. She has written on the Tsimshian, on Treaties in western Canada, on Christian in Manitoba (Chief Dennis missions and on Heritage issues. A founding editor of Manitoba History, she has also Whitebird, James Wilson, and cur- been a Governor of the Manitoba Museum, chair of the Heritage Council of Manitoba, and chair of the Manitoba Water Council. rently Loretta Ross) have accom- From 1990-2003 she was the Member of the Legislative Assembly for Wolseley and plished a great deal with a small from 1999-2003 served as Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Deputy Premier staff in a relatively short time. The of Manitoba. My Travel Insurance Story By Ed Unrau 4

I was one of the first to purchase In addition to the above, Medoc the Medoc Travel Insurance Policy insurance includes: when the College and University • Up to $5 million Emergency Retirees Association (CURAC) medical coverage per emergency brokered this plan about four years for every trip you take during ago. the policy year. This coverage was a good fit for me • Coverage for pre-existing med- because I am a colon cancer sur- ical conditions, but with some Ed Unrau vivor and prior to the availability restrictions and limitations. of the Medoc plan, I always had • Trip cancellation, interruption may be contingent on your medi- to jump through extra eligibili- and delay coverage for every trip cal history. ty hurdles in order to buy travel you take during the policy year Of course, the proof of the cov- insurance. In addition to my colon (your MEDOC coverage must erage lies in making a claim. cancer being a pre-existing condi- be purchased within five busi- Fortunately, I have not had to tion, the clauses relating to stability ness days of booking your trip, make a claim, but at the 2018 were additional stumbling blocks. or before any cancellation pen- annual meeting of CURAC I asked For me, the most attractive feature alties are applied to your trip). the chair of the benefits committee of the Medoc policy was that it was • Easy enrollment, no waiting for whether there was any feedback on “kinder” to people with a medical coverage approval. the claims experience. The chair history. Here is why: • Return of vehicle, up to $3,000. said that while she was not aware First, you can purchase Medoc • Pet(s) return, up to $500. of any college/university retirees coverage regardless of age or • Emergency dental, up to $5,000. making claims, she was also not health status. • Document replacement assis- aware of any “horror” stories of Second, the stability period is tance and benefit up to $500. coverage denied, a category of an- ecdotal report that would be more three months (in contrast to some • Non-medical emergency evacu- widely circulated than stories with policies which require a 12-month ation coverage up to $5,000. successful outcomes. stability period). • You are eligible to purchase The firm’s “standard health” policy Medoc insurance if you are a If you are interested in this trav- for an unlimited number of 17- member of UMRA. Spouses/ el coverage, go to website: www. day trips is $554.88. If you have a partners are eligible for joint curac.ca and open the “member health history where your serious coverage provided one of the benefits” tab at the top. problems are at least five years in two people are UMRA mem- Another health insurance option the past, your annual cost for the bers. In addition to the Medoc insur- “preferred” policy is $362.10. And, For me the choice of the Medoc ance product, CURAC set up a if your health history is spotless, coverage was determined by the second product provided by the you qualify for the “optimum” extent to which my previous Registered Teachers of Ontario/ rate of $312.12. Your answers to medical history (colon cancer) Les enseignantes et enseignants a questionnaire determine which affected my eligibility for coverage. retraités de l’Ontario (RTO/ERS). premium category will be applied This being said, there may be other This organization’s insurance to you. (Medoc also offers a 35-day insurance providers whose cov- products are available to teaching plan. Top-up coverage for addi- erage may be less expensive than and support staff of educational tional days may be purchased for the Medoc coverage, but eligibility continued on page 5 either plan.)

Now Past President, Ed Unrau was President of UMRA from 2013 to 2017. Before retiring he spent 36 years with the university during which time he was editor of the Bulletin and then assistant director of the public affairs department. 5 Change in Benefits My Travel Insurance Story by Janet Sealey continued from previous page

The Benefits and Pension While a limited number of retirees institutions in retirement. For Committee met with Dave Muir, were negatively affected by the im- close to 50 years, RTO/ERO has UM Director of Compensation posed maximum, the data provid- provides service to members who and Benefits on January 10, 2019 ed by Dave Muir showed that many range in age from 46 to over 109. to discuss the recent changes retirees are utilizing the expanded The RTO/ERO insurance plan to the retirees’ benefits package list of paramedical practitioners. combines both travel coverage and -- particularly the paramedical The data showed that the amount extended health into one cover- coverage. The meeting was in spent by retirees for physiotherapy age package. For UM retirees who response to a number of concerns in 2018 is down 10.3% from 2016 retired before July 2004 and whose raised by members of UMRA and down 13.3% from 2017. In participation in the university regarding the implementation of addition the data showed that the extended health plan expires at a yearly maximum of $500.00 for average amount a retiree spent on age 75, the RTO/ERO plan is an paramedical services. Previously, paramedical practitioners in 2018 option to consider. Rates are not there was no maximum. is similar to amount spent in 2016 age-banded and their full rate be- The change in the paramedical and 2017 prior to the change. comes an increasingly better travel coverage also included an expand- Discussions with the University value for clients at age 76 and old- ed list of paramedical practitioners regarding other inequities between er. For those who opt to maintain covered. The implementation the benefits for retirees compared their current UM extended health of both the $500.00 maximum to the benefits of active employees benefit coverage and purchase the and the expansion of the list of as well as a potential shortfall in RTO/ERO as their travel add-on, paramedical practitioners was to the Pensioner Account are ongo- an incidental value is that you may harmonize retirees’ benefits with ing. use the RTO/ERO coverage as top- those of current employees. up coverage. Again, a basic outline of the RTO/ ERO insurance coverage is avail- able at website: www.curac.ca, at the “members benefits’ tab.

Speaking about Treaties from page 3 between settlers and Indigenous were conceived as a “continuing I began my work on treaties in the people in Red River, I emphasize relationship of mutual obligation”, 1980s at the request of Murray that although the Crown’s need for that they were one of the pillars Sinclair and the Chiefs of Treaty 1 a treaty derived from the British of Canada’s National Policy, that who needed a study of the written policy in the Proclamation of they are now recognized in the record of Treaty 1 for use in legal 1763 we also need to understand Constitution and that they enabled cases. I later extended the work at and underline the longstanding a peaceful sharing of the land and the request of the Public Interest experience of Indigenous people resources with the thousands of Law Centre; for it to be useful to- in making treaties. I argue that new settlers. In the words of the day in the service, in a small way, the treaties are not a “once and for Commission - “ We are all Treaty of Reconciliation is an honour I all real estate deal” but that they Pe op l e .” could never have anticipated. Centre on Aging 6 The UM Centre on Aging’s 36th Annual Spring Research and Symposium takes place on Monday, May 6 from 8:45 am until 4:00 pm at 727 McDermot Avenue (Brodie Atrium). On Tuesday, May 7 the Symposium will be followed by a Workshop from 9:00 am to noon in The Great Hall at University College on the Fort Garry Campus. The workshop will put the spotlight on the UM as an Age-Friendly University. A showcase will provide information on existing programs and services at the University, followed by a discussion on how the UM can be more age-friendly. Contact information for The Symposium and workshop are free. Online registration is avail- UMRA able through April 26. For more information, visit us at umanitoba. ca/aging or call our office at 204-474-8754. The University of Manitoba Retirees ­ c/o Learning & Oraganizational This year’s symposium topics Development include: 137 Education Building · Deprescribing medications The­U niversity of Manitoba, Winnipeg, Manitoba R3T 2N2 · Late life depression Phone: (204)474-7175 · Media coverage of violence in E-mail: [email protected] older adults Website: · Long-term care in Manitoba http://umanitoba.ca/outreach/retirees · Dance program for people Email contact to Retirees with dementia · Reducing falls UMRA is using e-mail to send remind- · Birds, navigation, and aging ers and ­notices of events of interest to View the full session abstracts retirees. To receive these, ­retirees should online: https://bit.ly/2mLoZup forward their e-mail address to: [email protected] Read about the presentation sessions online at: http://umanitoba.ca.centres/ag- ing/events/384.html

Do you have a new email address? If you are one of the retirees who has registered for the universi- In Memoriam ty’s “.umr” email address, please send your new email address to: [email protected] You may not be aware of the In If you have changed internet providers and/or you prefer to use Memoriam section of UMRA’s web- another email address, this request for an update of your email site. It provides information about address applies to you as well. deceased retirees (including links to obituaries). This will ensure that you will continue to get regular retir- University of Manitoba - Outreach - ee updates and other missives, including Retirees News, the Retirees - Corner - In Memoriam twice-yearly UMRA newsletter.