The bucket list issue - Retired Teachers of Ontario

winter 2014
t h e
r e t i r e d
t e a c h e r s
o f
o n t a r i o
M a g a z i n e
The bucket list issue
Daring to Dream
Senate highlights
Born to teach
22
Winter 2014 • Volume 13 • Number 4
[email protected]  •  www.rto-ero.org
Feature Story:
Publisher  The Retired Teachers of Ontario/
Daring to dream:
Editor-in-Chief  Simon Leibovitz
Les Enseignantes et Enseignants Retraités de l’Ontario
Managing Editor  Kimberly Brathwaite
unexpected bucket lists
Assistant Editor  Susannah Maxcy
Health Matters Editor  Lori MacDonald-Blundon
Health Matters Managing Editors  Eliza Ives and
Clara Rodriguez
Production Consultant  Elizabeth Gjerek
Graphic Designer  Chris Simeon
Printing and distribution  Harmony Printing Limited
Translation  Claude Forand
photo: marilyn barbone, shutterstock
Renaissance is published quarterly for RTO/ERO
members, providing content on topics of interest to
the retired education community.
The views expressed are those of the authors and
do not necessarily reflect the official position of
RTO/ERO.
We accept letters to the editor, article proposals,
photos and artwork, preferably sent to
[email protected]. We cannot guarantee that
writing and images will be published as received.
Scanned or digital images need to be high resolution
(min. 5”x7” at 300 dpi).
Advertising Associate  Susannah Maxcy
Send queries to [email protected].
Publication of an advertisement does not
constitute an endorsement by RTO/ERO of
any product or service.
Renaissance est également disponible en français. Si
vous désirez recevoir la version française de ce magazine, veuillez communiquer avec le bureau provincial.
16
26
30
features
Upfront
Departments
26 Travel aspirations
1 Editor’s Note
30 Life begins at 60
1 Letters
16
Saluting Our Senior
Seniors
ON the cover
RTO/ERO’s 2014-2015 Provincial
Executive. Front (l-r) Martin
Higgs, 1st Vice President; Martha
Foster, 2nd Vice President. Back
(l-r) Mark Tinkess, Executive
Member; June Szeman,
President; David Kendall,
Executive Member; Norbert
Boudreau, Past President.
photo: Joseph Micheal Photography
18 Spadina Road, Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario M5R 2S7 CANADA
t: 416-962-9463 | f: 416-962-1061 | tf: 1-800-361-9888
[email protected] | www.rto-ero.org
2 President’s Message
18 ConnectED
RTO/ERO is divided into 48 Districts and has
71,648 members.
3
Executive Director’s
Update
34 Health Matters
Provincial Executive
42 Leisure Time
4 Senate Highlights
46 Members’ Bookshelf
6 Senate Reports
48 Classifieds
9 My first Senate
49 Reunions
10RTO/ERO Foundation
122016 Pocket Planner: Call
for artwork submissions
14
Renaissance proposals
wanted
June Szeman, President
Norbert Boudreau, Past President
Martin Higgs, First Vice-President
Martha Foster, Second Vice-President
David Kendall, Executive Member
Mark Tinkess, Executive Member
MOVING?
Update your mailing and email address with the
Membership department at [email protected]
or by calling 1-800-361-9888.
Editor’s Note | Letters | Upfront
Setting the scene
According to the online version of Merriam-Webster
dictionary, the first known use of the term “bucket
list” was in 2006 which is hard to believe as it seems
it has been part of our vocabulary for much longer.
The term was recently popularized by the 2007 film
The Bucket List, starring Jack Nicholson and Morgan
Freeman, two terminally ill men who set out on a
road trip with a list of things to do before they die.
The Merriam-Webster dictionary defines bucket list as “a list of things that
one has not done before but wants to do before dying” and references the
expression “kick the bucket,” which I then had to look up.
As this expression was not defined in Merriam-Webster, I turned to the
modern-day authority on, well, just about everything — Wikipedia! “To kick
the bucket is an English idiom, considered a euphemistic, informal, or slang
term meaning ‘to die’ (which Wikipedia informs us comes from the Oxford
Advanced Dictionary of current English). Its origin remains unclear, though
there have been several theories.”
One of these theories refers to execution or suicide, with someone hanging
from a beam while standing on a bucket, and kicking it away/having it kicked
away in order to end one’s life. Another relates to an alternate definition of a
bucket being referred to as a beam used to hang or carry things such as on
which pigs are suspended to be slaughtered and struggling on the bucket,
i.e. kicking about! Others include references to Caribbean and African
expressions dating back to as early as 1680 mixing “death” and a form of the
wording “kicking”. A more modern reference is in the jazz classic Old Man
Mose recorded by Louis Armstrong and others in the 1920s and 1930s that
states that Old Man Mose is dead and that he kicked the bucket. Still later,
but earlier than the afore-mentioned 2007 reference in the film, was a reggae
hit in 1969, Long Shot kick de bucket, referring to the death of a horse.
Whatever the origin of “kicking the bucket” which has apparently led to
the “bucket list”, the latter phrase has taken on a life of its own in our modern
lexicon. There is a plethora of websites available to provide ideas on exciting
and different activities in which to partake before one leaves this world, based
on what others have done or plan to do. These include: http://bucketlist.org;
http://personalexcellence.co/blog/bucket-list; www.bucketlist.net/lists/all_lists;
www.getoffthecouch.co/p/blog-page.html.
For me, creating a bucket list is a personal matter. I, therefore, truly
appreciate and commend those members who have opened their hearts,
minds, and souls to share their personal lists of wishes of what they want to
do before they “kick the bucket”.
In reality, I don’t have a bucket list and haven’t planned or thought,
hopefully, that far into the future. Perhaps it’s the influence of family
members, both living and those recently passed and long passed, who don’t
and didn’t have bucket lists, because they do and did live each day to the
fullest and tried to have fun while doing so. That’s my personal motto that I
try to epitomize every day.
Letters
I really enjoyed the color format
and the great articles on Travel.
I have travelled around the
world and still have an interest
in travel articles. I am disabled
and cannot travel anymore as
this is a health challenge. The
article on Eldercare was very
informative. Thank you.
—M
arion Da Silva
District 39, Peel
The fall magazine, Alternative
Health, was particularly interesting
and well-illustrated. For the
first time, I was not tempted to
remove a few pages for reference.
Instead, I put the whole
document in my health file,
because it was full of a variety of
relevant information which will
be useful for years to come.
Thank you for informing us
about topical subjects in simple
language which is accessible to all.
I now read avidly rather than
flipping through half-heartedly.
— J acqueline Desjardins
District 27, Ottawa-Carleton
Letters wa
nted
Letters to the
editor are alw
ays
welcome. We
like to receive
your feedback
on the stories
and other con
tent featured
in Renaissance
. Tell us how
you feel about
Ren
but also how w aissance,
e can make it
better. Send y
our letters to
renaissance@rt
o-ero.org.
— Simon Leibovitz, [email protected]
Winter 2014
1
Upfront | President’s Message
Your new RTO/ERO President
W h y i t i s g re a t t o s e r v e R T O / E R O ’s m e m b e r s
J u n e S z e m a n , D i s t r i c t 4 0 , B r a n t | p re s i d e n t @ r t o - e ro . o rg
2
photo : sakhorn, shutterstock
I
would like to take the opportunity,
first of all, to tell you how
delighted I am to have been
elected your Provincial President.
I consider it a great honour and
privilege to represent the more than
71,000 members of RTO/ERO. In
cooperation with the other members
of the Provincial Executive I will
serve you to the best of my ability.
Our organization is one of which
we can be rightfully proud. We offer
affordable group insurance plans to
our members. We provide a network
for our retired colleagues through
our 48 Districts of which you are
the heart and soul as you plan and
then participate in various local
events. We offer, in conjunction with
Johnson Inc., Retirement Planning
Workshops (RPWs) to assist those who
are contemplating retirement create
an informed plan for this rewarding
period of their lives. We lobby for
issues of interest to older adults; we
promote events of importance to us as
we attempt to age gracefully.
Provincially, we contribute $100,000
to Service To Others projects at the
District level, we grant $25,000
in scholarships for students, and
annually we donate $10,000 to a
District-nominated charity.
We support a Foundation which
contributed to the endowment of a
Chair in Geriatric Medicine at the
University of Toronto. This donation
will enable research that will benefit
all seniors. The RTO/ERO Foundation
One of the flowers June learned about in her flower
arrangement course, gypsophilia also known as baby's breath.
will continue to offer a presence in
philanthropy.
Added to all this, you, in your
Districts and units, also contribute
to local projects and volunteer in
many, many areas that benefit the
communities in which you live. I laud
you for your efforts and encourage you
to continue with the same zeal and
fervor that you now display. We can
truly say in our various communities
that RTO/ERO is “Here for you now ...
Here for your future”.
What dreams are made of
Jack Nicholson and Morgan Freeman
made the term “bucket list” famous
in their movie of the same name. In the
movie, they help each other to enjoy
and participate in activities that they
felt, as they approached the latter part
of their lives, were undone.
What would be on your bucket list?
Have you ever felt that life was
moving too fast and there were still
many, many trips you would like
to take, books you would like to
read, movies to see, things to learn,
adventures you would like to have,
foods you would like to try? In other
words there are still “places to go and
people to see.”
I know of people who actually
have a list of unfinished dreams and
cross these activities off a list as they
are achieved. There are wishes where
the “best before” date has passed
— such as becoming a millionaire.
But, then I rationalize and realize
that this term can be used for more
than money and most of us are truly
“millionaires” when we consider the
relationships we enjoy with family
and friends, in addition to our
general standard of health and life.
When I retired from my day time
job I decided that I would like to
learn more about flower arranging
so I enrolled in a course at Mohawk
College and after 60 classes I received
my certificate in Floral Techniques
Continued on page 42
Renaissance
Executive Director Update | Upfront
No bucket list, you say …
How not having the cliché bucket list sometimes works
b y H a r o l d B r a t h w a i t e | h b r a t h w a i t e @ r t o - e r o . o rg
S
upposedly, wisdom comes
with age and what little I
have learned after retiring for
the first time 12 years ago would
suggest that identifying a set of new
experiences or places to visit in
the future is probably not for me. I
have admiration for those who have
the discipline to set out a bucket
list and pursue it. When I retired
originally from the Peel Board in
2002, I had a list of about half a
dozen things I wanted to do; there
is no point in mentioning them as
I haven’t done a single one. Too
lazy and undisciplined, perhaps. A
more accurate answer is that life has
presented other opportunities I never
envisaged, and I am lucky to have
grasped them.
Learning journey
My brief experience on Premier
Dalton McGuinty’s transition team in
2003 when he came to power was an
eye-opener on the range of challenges
facing any government that runs
this large and diverse province. It
was also interesting to sit with a
group of influential people from a
range of backgrounds trying to reach
a consensus and offer advice on
priorities for the first 100 days while
looking beyond that timeframe.
My two year stint at Seneca
College beginning in January 2003
included co-chairing a project
committee for the establishment
of a new campus site in Markham.
Winter 2014
It was a fascinating experience
understanding how capital was
funded for a college project versus
that for a school board or university.
As someone without aspiration to
be a college president, I found that
people were far more candid in
sharing their opinions with me.
Working with RTO/ERO since
September 2004 has been far more
rewarding for me than the entire
bucket list I identified leading
up to my first retirement. I have
learned more than I could have
imagined about ageing, healthcare,
insurance, and small ‘p’ politics. I
have visited more places in Ontario
than I ever envisaged and met a
wider range of people than in my
earlier working career. I am far more
knowledgeable about our province
and country now because I had to be
in order to effectively carry out my
responsibilities. This would not have
been part of any bucket list I could
have developed.
Unexpected home
I have come to the conclusion that
good luck, chance experiences,
relationships, and a desire to learn
have been far more influential in my
life so far than any planned, intelligent
design I could have formulated. One
of the first books I read as a kid
growing up in Barbados was entitled
People and Homes in Many Lands by
F.G. Moss. After reading that book the
only place I wanted to see was Fiji.
By the time I completed sixth form
— the equivalent of Grade 13 — my
range had expanded to England, Italy,
Switzerland and Cambodia — the
latter to see Angkor Wat.
Canada was not on my list at that
time because all I had heard was
about cold, ice, logs in rivers on
their way to mills, and Aboriginal
people living in igloos. My reading
of Voltaire’s Candide in my sixth form
year included a less than flattering
reference to “Quelques arpentes
de neige vers le Canada” — a few
acres of snow”. Yet, it has been my
home for the last 46 years and I
think I am fortunate because it was a
chance encounter with a Canadian,
Wilf Lenz, in Lyon, France, and the
urging of a Jamaican friend from
my undergraduate years, Winston
Morrison, that brought me to Canada
and caused me to drop plans to
complete a law degree in England or
possibly go back to France.
Future adventures
So what am I looking forward to doing
after next July? To be precise I hope
to go back to things I enjoyed a lot —
fishing, listening to music and travelling
wherever and whenever the opportunity
arises. Perhaps to Japan, or to Brazil,
Peru and Argentina, or to Australia, the
only continent I haven’t visited. What
would be icing on the cake would
be to have my partner and daughters
accompany me. In the meantime, I’ll see
what Lady Luck brings.
3
Upfront | Senate Highlights
Senate Highlights
Past Presidents of RTO/ERO were honoured at the fall Senate banquet coming
from as close as the Greater Toronto Area to as far as British Columbia. (l-r) Back:
Ron Poste, Jim Sparrow, Margaret Couture, Jim Baker, Ron Stephen, Brian Kenny,
Arnold Hull. Front: Norbert Boudreau, Helen Biales, Leo Normandeau, Joan Murphy,
Eldred Cook, Bill Courtney, Muriel Hill and Val Alcock-Carter.
Distinguished Member Awards
Each year, Districts are invited to submit names of members to recognize
meritorious service at local District and provincial levels. Receiving
Distinguished Member Awards for 2014 were:
Thérèse Caron, District 5, Cochrane & Temiskaming, served on
the District Executive as President, Vice-President, Chair of the Goodwill
Committee and Newsletter Editor. In the latter role, she established the
District newsletter, Contact, publishing it for seven consecutive years. She
also participated actively in OTF retirement planning workshops as a
Francophone presenter, representing RTO/ERO and was a member on the
provincial Member Services Committee.
Dick Duffin, District 34, York Region, used his computer and
communication expertise honed as a teacher and principal to revolutionize
the format of the District’s newsletter, including the use of photography,
as well as to create the District website. Dick also served on the provincial
Communications Committee and during his three-year term maintained
email communication with 80 District newsletter editors and webmasters
providing them with information and individual support.
Cliff Huber, District 2, Thunder Bay, has worked enthusiastically and
energetically in a variety of roles: Chair of the District’s Political Action
Committee for the past eight years and a member for 12; member on
Thunder Bay’s Age-Friendly for Senior’s Committee, and committee member
on the Centre for Education and Research on Aging and Health at Lakehead
University. He also served on the provincial Political Advocacy Committee as
both member and Chair, organizing and presenting at provincial workshops.
4
New Provincial
Executive elected
For 2014-15, the following
were elected, effective
November 1, except for
the role of Past-President,
which is automatic upon the
election of the new President:
President
June Szeman
District 40, Brant
Past-President
Norbert Boudreau
District 27, Ottawa-Carleton
First Vice-President
Martin Higgs
District 36, Peterborough
Second Vice-President
Martha Foster
District 41, Elgin
Executive Member
David Kendall
District 20, Frontenac,
Lennox & Addington
Executive Member
Mark Tinkess
District 35, Dryden
Renaissance
Senate Highlights | Upfront
Senate Speaker retires
Taking a well-deserved break during the Senate meeting, (l-r) Norbert Boudreau,
President; Richard Moore, Speaker; Leo Normandeau, Past President and Harold
Brathwaite, Executive Director.
After 11 years in the position, and
after presiding over 20 Senates,
Richard Moore retired as Senate
Speaker. A member of District 5,
Cochrane-Temiskaming,
Richard has been a member
of the provincial Constitution
Committee for that period, and
in that capacity, served as one
of the Senate Speakers. He was
recognized for his years of service
at the fall Senate meeting.
Presentation by OTF President
Members having fun with the props at RTO/ERO's photo booth. (l-r) Gemma
Monaco. District 13, Hamilton-Wentworth, Haldimand; District 15, Halton
delegates Moira-Jane Plexman, Penny Hambly, Carolyn Hilton; and Maria
Hubbard of District 13, Hamilton-Wentworth, Haldimand.
Winter 2014
Suzanne Poudrette-Gagnon of
District 45, EstaRiO volunteers to
assist the magician Dan Trommater
at the Senate banquet dinner.
RTO/ERO budget for 2015
Senate approved the operating
budget for 2015, as prepared by
senior staff and recommended
by the Provincial Executive.
As always, the guiding
principle of the establishment
of the budget is to seek to
enhance quality service to
members while maintaining
modest expenditures.
The total budget, approved
for 2015, is $7.4 million.
All Senate Photos by Susannah Maxcy.
Rian McLaughlin, newly-elected President of the Ontario Teachers’ Federation
(OTF) and the only individual to hold the position twice, brought greetings
on behalf of OTF and shared a number of information items related to
pensions and about the Ontario College of Teachers.
Rian updated members on an initiative undertaken by OTF with respect to
children and youth mental health that she spoke about four years ago when
first at Senate. She commented, “I know that some of the RTO/ERO Districts
have since taken on issues surrounding mental health and are working
with community partners to advance support for the de-stigmatizing and
understanding of these timeless issues that will affect all of us in one way
or another. It is also my humble pleasure to let you know that through our
work at OTF and with many partners across the province, the Coalition for
Children and Youth Mental Health was established and has been garnering
more support and partners in each of the past three years. We have more
than 40 participating organizations from government, both provincial and
federal, from school boards, police associations, all of the federations, trustee
associations, community agencies, hospitals, and the list keeps growing.”
5
Upfront | Senate Reports
Communications Committee
Health Services and Insurance Committee
by Laurie Fountain, Chair
by Mark Tinkess, Chair
The committee continues
to support Districts and
explore new modes of
communication, with
the mandate to assist as
much as possible those
in our Districts who are responsible for
communication with our members including
Webmasters, Newsletter Editors and District
Communications Chairs. We shall, through
committee professional development
workshops, continue to learn about new
communications technology, and enhance
our understanding of traditional means of
mass communication.
Our committee members continue to
work closely with RTO/ERO’s Information
Technology (IT) staff to encourage and support
District webmasters. We work in cooperation
with IT staff so as new and improved versions
of web design solutions come available we
can support District webmasters by providing
workshops, remote interactive support and
print and electronic resources.
The committee presented a Newsletter
Editors’ Workshop in June 2014. With
two keynote speakers the workshop
leaders included all of the appointed
Communications Committee members.
The committee has developed a
Newsletter Guidelines document which
is available on in the Members’ Centre,
www.rto-ero.org/communications. As well, the
committee is in the process of making
available a guide to using Canada Post bulk
mailing services to reduce mailing costs.
Known by its version two acronym, RE-Net2
has proved valuable for sharing resource
documents that would be too large to email, and
has provided an area where various topics can
be discussed. Newsletter Editors and District
Webmasters and members of committees are
encouraged to contact the Communications
Chair to arrange access to this resource.
The mission statement for The Health Services and
Insurance Committee (HSIC) is that it will provide
a most cost-effective, high quality and competitive
Group Health Insurance Plan that meets the needs
of the majority of the membership. The priorities
for the committee over the past year were: monitor
the revised training program for committee members; review the
members’ Governance Policy Manual; plan and deliver the annual
District and Unit Health Representatives’ Workshop; review and
refine communications to Plan participants, to District Health
Representatives, and to District Executives; and determine initiatives
that will maintain and enhance our competitive position in the
marketplace.
Through Manulife Financial, a review was completed of the claims
and administrative procedures of Johnson Inc. The purpose of the
review was to:
• Ensure appropriate controls are in place with respect to the
administration of current and new business. Obtain assurance that
enrollment records are accurate and coverage for plan members is
maintained and updated appropriately.
• Ensure appropriate controls are in place to ensure the accurate
payment of claims.
• Ensure the coding on the Johnson claims payment system
matched the Plan Sponsor contract.
• Ensure appropriate financial controls are in place with respect to
storage of cheque stock, issuance of cheques, bank reconciliations
and appropriate back-ups etc.
• Ensure appropriate hiring practices and training programs exist.
• Ensure that accurate premium remittance is in place for all
benefits under the plan.
• Validate services and agreements in place for any third party providers.
• Perform a security risk assessment.
At its September 2014 meeting, the committee received the results of
the review.
Currently, the majority of claims for drugs, dental, vision,
physiotherapy, chiropractic, massage therapy, naturopathy and
acupuncture can be submitted electronically through the member’s
provider. The advantage to our members is reduced out-of-pocket
expenses.
In late 2014 Johnson will make available the ability for members
to submit claims directly online. The option will still be available for
members to submit paper claims, but this change is in keeping with
the movement of the health insurance industry towards more webbased administration capabilities.
6
Renaissance
Senate Reports | Upfront
Constitution Committee
by Leo Normandeau, Chair
The mandate of the Constitution Committee is to receive proposals
for changes in the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies from the Senate,
Provincial Executive, Districts, Standing and Executive Committees.
The committee may initiate changes to the Constitution, Bylaws and
Policies. As well, the committee prepares resolutions which may
affect the Constitution, Bylaws and Policies. Its members also serve
as Senate Speakers and on the Senate Resolutions Committee.
The committee met in February, April and September. During this time the
committee:
• Reviewed six of the District Constitutions received by the committee.
• Reviewed resolutions that were passed at the Annual 2013 and Spring 2014
Senates.
• Reviewed the summary of evaluations from the Spring 2014 Senate.
• Studied matters coming to the Annual 2014 Senate and advised the
Provincial Executive as appropriate.
• In collaboration with the Provincial Executive, studied the agenda and
content of the meeting of the 2014 Fall Senate in order to prepare effectively.
Pension and Retirement Concerns Committee
by David Cornwall, Chair
The Pension and Retirement Concerns Committee held two
meetings since the Sping Senate. Several Fact Sheets have been
reviewed and updated this year including two new ones, C14 –
Sleep, and H9, Online Privacy and Security. Looking to 2015,
Fact Sheets will continue to be reviewed and updated.
The committee continues to consider ways of using
webinars as a method of disseminating information with Districts. Rather than
reinventing the wheel, the Ontario Teachers’ Pension Plan (OTPP) website is
being investigated as a possible source of existing videos that can be accessed
by Districts and individuals. We hope to provide direct guidance to our District
Representatives to access some of the valuable information on the site.
The committee held its meeting at OTPP and toured their offices in June. We
were given an update on the recent IT innovations which included the mobile
device app to track the number of days taught by occasional teachers. On one
of the trading floors we learned about the process of how investments are made
from the research stage up to the actual purchase. This process includes numerous
checks and balances that ensure the integrity of the Plan. On the client service
floor we learned why OTPP receives such high ratings for its service to members.
The staff is highly trained, educated and motivated.
The committee has requested a workshop for its District representatives in
September 2015. The focus of the workshop will be pensions. It is the intention
of the committee to empower the representatives to understand and support
defined benefit pension plans. The workshop will be based upon the OTPP
specifically and other Ontario pension plans in general.
Winter 2014
Project — Service to
Others Committee
by Norm Renaud, Chair
Prior to their
meeting in
September,
committee members
individually
reviewed and rated
each application for a Service to
Others grant. When we met as a
full committee we reviewed every
application and determined the
amount of money each application
would receive. It was determined
that, in some cases, less than the
requested amount would still
provide substantial support and
also allow for more projects to be
funded. This year we approved
total funding of $98,100 to fully
or in part support 31 of the 33
projects that were submitted for
consideration. The committee
was impressed with the variety
of projects that the Districts have
chosen to sponsor.
We encourage Districts to
publicize the results to their
members and, using this
information as an incentive, begin
the process for their next project.
At our meeting in September the
committee began the process of
revising and updating the current
application. As soon as the process
is completed the new application
will be posted on the RTO/ERO
website. Please be sure to use the
updated application when applying
for your next project. Using
the wrong year of application
will result in your project being
rejected.
7
Upfront | Senate Reports
Political Advocacy Committee
by Dale Burley, Chair
Since Spring Senate, members of the
Political Advocacy Committee have
continued to research and monitor
a variety of issues which concern or
potentially impact upon RTO/ERO
members and their families. These issues
include: Trans Pacific Partnership (TPP), Comprehensive
Economic and Trade Agreement (CETA), elder abuse,
genetically modified organisms, Experimental Lakes Area,
Local Health Integration Networks, automobile insurance,
energy costs, and pensions. Acknowledging that it is a
national issue, the Canada Post decision to cancel doorto-door mail delivery was referred to The Canadian
Association of Retired Teachers, ACER-CART.
The TPP would create a free-trade zone among 12 nations
around the Pacific; interestingly, China is not included.
There remain several obstacles to completing the deal:
the environment, tariffs, rules for state-owned enterprises,
Member Services Committee
by Joanne Weeks, Chair
The Member Services Committee focuses
on goodwill, Retirement Planning
Workshops (RPWs), recruitment and travel.
We support our existing members while
striving to attract potential members. Our
main focus this year has been organizing
the recent provincial Recruitment Workshop. Themed “It’s
Worth Getting to Know us” the committee and Provincial
Office staff shared many of the available District and
provincial resources.
Marketing was the central focus of the workshop. We
wanted to share the many, varied reasons that The Retired
Teachers of Ontario is so attractive and beneficial to join.
Districts shared their best practices while learning how
to go about recruiting the different potential members.
We were pleased to have keynote speakers, Trish Krause
and Terry Fallis, who shared their marketing and public
relations expertise. Carousels hosted by committee
members and Provincial Office staff shared the latest
information about RTO/ERO. Presentations about
RTO/ERO’s Group Benefits Program and the Recruitment
Toolkit as well as a panel featuring District initiatives
rounded out the program.
Selfless acts of caring, compassion and celebration
are the hallmark of work being performed by District/
Unit Goodwill Committees. Volunteers continue to reach
out to members especially those unable to participate in
8
intellectual property, and agriculture. With regards to the
CETA with the European Economic Community (EEC),
there is a backgrounder on the RTO/ERO Members’ Centre
website from Spring Senate 2012 www.rto-ero.org/otherresources. Negotiations since then, at least so we are told,
have reached the final stages. Canadian cheese makers,
among other groups, are concerned about how the deal will
impact them and their markets.
In response to a motion from Spring Senate referred
to the committee dealing with the labelling of genetically
modified food products by provincial and federal
governments, a comprehensive report was developed
by a committee member and reviewed at the September
meeting. The report contains several pages of research and
comments on the issue, educating committee members and
providing an excellent background for further discussion
that took place at the committee’s meeting. At Senate, a
two-page summary of the report was shared.
RTO/ERO activities. Thank you cards and telephone calls
acknowledge the work being done by local committees.
We applaud these members and encourage them to
continue this meaningful work. Our District/Unit Goodwill
Guidelines have been revised since the Spring Senate.
Our RPWs are an excellent District recruitment tool
to attract both full and associate members. Thank you
to Districts that organize this event for these potential
members. For the 2014 year, 29 Districts scheduled a
total of 33 French and English workshops.
Provincial Office staff, with the assistance of Johnson
Inc., developed an online registration process to help
Districts and to provide a database of prospective
members. The pilot was initiated in April 2014 and has
been used by all Districts since. Districts have recently
received updated information on the registration process
for 2015. We look forward to another successful year.
Members of the committee have also had opportunities to
attend affiliate/union Annual General Meetings (AGMs) and
conferences of principals’ associations to share information
about RTO/ERO at display booths. Since Spring Senate we
have attended OECTA and ETFO AGMs.
Members continue to use the services of Merit Travel for
individual and group excursions, trips, tours, and cruises. As
well, they benefit from the 15% discount offered from Porter
Airlines on most flights, when they are booked through a
Merit Travel representative.
Renaissance
My first Senate
Sharing impressions of RTO/ERO’s Senate meeting
| Upfront
by Gwen Scriven,
District 23, North York
Photo: Susannah Maxcy
I
was fortunate to be part of District 23, North
York’s delegation to Fall Senate as an Observer.
After serving at the District Executive level as
treasurer for the past few years, I looked forward
to learning more about RTO/ERO at the provincial
level. What happens at Senate? Why?
The experience actually began a couple of
weeks prior to the Senate with the arrival of
the Senate Agenda package — over 200 pages
of pertinent material. Undaunted, I set about
reading, but not necessarily understanding,
the material. The week prior to the Senate we
attended a pre-Senate meeting during which a
member of the Provincial Executive briefed us
on the key issues upcoming at the Senate. The
Gwen Scriven (far right) enjoying
her first Senate with her fellow
beginning of wisdom. On the Monday afternoon prior to Senate, an orientation
members from District 23,
session was offered to new Senators and Observers. This was a crash course on
North York. (l-r) Jan Siegel,
parliamentary procedures and how the Senate would be conducted.
Margaret Lato, Courtney
Doldron, and Maureen
Knowing what the key issues were and how the meeting would be managed I now
Capotosto.
felt prepared for the meeting on Tuesday and Wednesday. As a new Observer, I could not
help but be impressed by the orderly and efficient manner that the business of RTO/ERO
was carried out. Motions were brought forward from Districts, debated and voted upon. The
motions covered a wide range of topics including: amount of fees given to Districts, reserve fund
uses, District excursions, travel expense guidelines, medical benefits and pension issues. Some
motions were more vigorously debated than others, but always in the spirit of the best interests of the
organization and its members. A balanced budget of over $7 million was presented and approved by the
Senators. Elections for Provincial Executive for 2015 were carried out. Reports from the Provincial Executive
as well as standing committees of Health Services and Insurance, Communications, Project – Service To Others,
Political Advocacy, Member Services and Pension and Retirement Concerns and Communications were presented.
There were social events which gave us an opportunity to interact with representatives from across the province.
Lots of ideas about what other Districts are doing for their members. Good food and good camaraderie! At the end of
two quite intense days my overall impression was that we have an exceptionally dedicated group of volunteers who
spend many hours working in the best interests of our members. Almost all of the attendees were volunteers and the
event was organized by RTO/ERO Provincial Office staff.
I am bringing back a better understanding of the many facets of RTO/ERO that compromise the big picture of
our organization and the impact of RTO/ERO on members and beyond. Senate was an enjoyable event and excellent
learning experience. I would encourage more members to get involved at the District or provincial level. Thank you
for the opportunity.
Winter 2014
9
Upfront | RTO/ERO Foundation
What's next for the Foundation?
b y Yo l a n d a B r o n s t e i n , D i r e c t o r o f A d v a n c e m e n t a n d F u n d r a i s i n g , R T O / E R O F o u n d a t i o n
New staff
I am honoured and excited to introduce myself to you as
the new RTO/ERO Foundation Director of Advancement
and Fundraising. I was immediately attracted to this
opportunity because of the Foundation’s unique and
urgent mission and vision: to leave a lasting legacy to
improve the quality of life of seniors across Canada.
I look forward to working with you, the membership
and our supporters to bring this vision to life. It is an exciting time for the Foundation as we
build on the momentum of the first major fundraising
campaign — the Chair in Geriatrics — and look forward
to fulfilling the other goals of the Foundation.
Since September, there has been a lot of activity. I
would like to highlight the following:
Survey
With the intention of obtaining feedback on the other goals
of the Foundation, a survey (in French and English) was
broadly distributed to over 2,900 donors and members in
early October — 72% via email and 28% via mail. Members
were selected randomly with each District represented via
email and mail. Results from the survey will be reviewed by
the Foundation Board of Directors in late November and
will help shape the Foundation’s next phase of fundraising
and granting. Highlights of the survey results and the Board’s
decisions will be shared in the next issue of Renaissance.
Board membership
A call for additional Foundation Board volunteers was
issued on September 25 to all District Presidents and
District Foundation representatives and re-sent, with an
Yolanda Bronstein and Joanne Murphy, Chair – District
Foundation Representatives in front of the Foundation
display at Fall Senate.
extended deadline of Oct. 31. At the time of printing this
article, the Foundation Board will be in the process of
reviewing all applicants and making its selection.
We can confirm that at the Fall Senate, the current Board
membership is: Valerie Mah — Chair, Harold Brathwaite —
Secretary, June Szeman, Norbert Boudreau, Martin Higgs,
Joanne Murphy.
Donor window
The Foundation gratefully appreciates the generous support
of donors and RTO/ERO members. In this recurring section
we hope to profile donor stories and words of support.
“The Charitable Foundation plays an important role
for our society. It continues the goal of all retired
teachers to be lifelong learners in creating pathways
of caring for the vulnerable and marginalized.” — M. A. Hubbard,
District 13, Hamilton-Wentworth & Haldimand
How To Donate:
Phone Yolanda:
416-962-9463 x 245 or 1-800-361-9888
Email:
[email protected]
Mail:
Donations payable to RTO/ERO Foundation
300-18, chemin Spadina Road, Toronto ON M5R 2S7
Online:
www.rto-ero.org/ways-give-0
Seeking to improve the quality of life of seniors across Canada.
10
Renaissance
Photo : Susannah Maxcy
T
he short answer – a lot! When the Foundation was
established in 2011, there were multiple goals (in
legal terms they are called objects) among them (to
paraphrase):
• Establish a Chair in Geriatrics
• Support research in geriatrics and/or gerontology at
post-secondary institutions
• Support to community projects/groups that enhance
the quality of life for seniors
We have only just begun to realize the tremendous impact
that the RTO/ERO Foundation can have on the overarching
goal of improving the quality of life of seniors.
Must-See Destinations
Unforgetable Experiences
Check off some amazing destinations from your
bucket list. Merit Travel can help you see the
world, one check mark at a time.
Save $200 per couple off
2015 Cosmos South America vacations*
THE BEST OF BRAZIL & ARGENTINA
Rio de Janeiro to Buenos Aires
BRAZIL, ARGENTINA & CHILE UNVEILED
Rio de Janeiro to Santiago
ULTIMATE SOUTH AMERICA
Rio de Janeiro to Lima
Highlights:
Rio de Janeiro | Buenos Aires |
Corcovado | Brazilian & Argentine sides
of Iguassu Falls | Recoleta cemetery |
Tango show
Highlights:
Rio de Janeiro | Buenos Aires | Santiago |
Corcovado | Brazilian & Argentine sides of
Iguassu Falls | Recoleta cemetery |
Tango show
Highlights:
Rio de Janeiro | Buenos Aires | Lima |
Cusco | Corcovado | Brazilian & Argentine
sides of Iguassu Falls | Recoleta Cemetery |
Tango Show | Sacred Valley | Machu
Picchu | Lake Titicaca
$2,039* p.p.
$2,419* p.p.
$3,849* p.p.
9 days
Departures: Jan. 25
to Jun. 28, 2015
12 days
Departures: Feb. 22 to
Jun. 28, 2015
19 days
Departures: Feb. 22 to
Jun. 28, 2015
Travel Bucket List
View the impressive Iguassu Falls from
both the Brazilian and Argentine sides
Go for a ride on an open-air ecological
jungle train through the rainforest
Visit Buenos Aires, the “Paris of South
America”, with its cafés and charming shops
Discover the sensuous dance
of Tango in Buenos Aires
Explore the sophisticated and
modern city of Santiago
Take a journey to fascinating Lake
Titicaca, a lake of floating islands
For tailored vacation experiences
exclusively for RTO/ERO members,
visit rtotravel.ca or call 1.877.872.3826
1.877.872.3826
CAD$ pp, land only, dbl occ, departure dates as indicated and reflect the $100 per person applicable discount offer. Other 2015 tours/dates available. International air, intra-vacation flights and
travel insurance are additional. Must mention ask and receive code: “RTO2014” to be applicable at time of booking. *Book a 2015 Cosmos South America vacation to receive $100 off per person.
Booking must be made, under deposit and discount applied between Dec. 29, 2014 and Feb. 10, 2015 for 2015 travel. Offer reliant on space availability and may be withdrawn at any time. Offer is
combinable with any other cosmos offer, including the journeys club repeat traveller benefit, if applicable. Applies to new 2015 bookings only. Offer will not be applied to pre-existing bookings.
Full cancellation penalties will apply. Additional restrictions may apply. ON-4499356/4499372 | BC-34799 | 111 Peter Street, Suite 200, Toronto ON M5V2H1 | Canadian owned
Upfront |
2016 Pocket Planner: Call for artwork submissions
L
ast year, for the first time, we approached members
to supply artwork for the cover of the Pocket
Planner. Your submissions were so beautiful and
well received by everyone. Therefore we have decided to
approach YOU again.
We are looking for your own photographs or paintings
to be featured, preferably with an abstract or nature theme.
Those that are not used may be featured in Renaissance,
Liaison (provincial newsletter), or on our website,
Facebook or Twitter and credited appropriately. All
submissions must be from members of RTO/ERO only.
How to submit artwork:
Send us your artwork, full name, membership number,
District number and District name, by March 20, 2015.
By email: send your digital artwork in addition to the
above information to [email protected]. By mail: send
your print artwork in addition to the above information
to The Retired Teachers of Ontario, Attn: Pocket Planner
Cover, 18 Spadina Rd., Suite 300, Toronto, ON M5R 2S7.
Questions? Call 416-962-9463, 1-800-361-9888 or email
[email protected].
Artwork guidelines:
3Artwork supplied must be proportional to the cover
l
size of 4.125” W x 7” H.
3
l An area of 3.5” W x 2” H should be allocated as free
space to house text and logo.
3
Original
or digital art can be submitted.
l
3
l If original art is submitted, RTO/ERO is not responsible
for loss or damaged art. Note that original artwork will
not be returned.
3If selected, the artist must sign a release, to give RTO/ERO
l
permission to use the artwork on the Pocket Planner cover.
3
l Digital art must be supplied in one of the following
formats: JPG, EPS, AI, or PDF (high resolution only).
No other format will be accepted.
3All digital art must be a minimum of 300 DPI at final
l
size (4.125” W x 7” H). Digital images smaller than
this will not be accepted.
3If artwork supplied does not meet the specifications
l
requested, RTO/ERO reserves the right to digitally modify
the art accordingly without prior permission from the artist.
3The chosen artist or photographer will receive a gift set
l
of RTO/ERO merchandise as a token of appreciation,
in addition to receiving full artwork credit.
2016
?
lanner
Pocket P
de poche
| Agenda
t here
Your ar
Depuis 1968
Since 1968
12
Renaissance
| Upfront
A facelift for RTO/ERO’s online store
Get the full service
one-stop shopping
experience to buy
all your RTO/ERO
merchandise online.
T
he new boutique is easy
to use. You simply click
on the product you want,
the quantity you require, and if
you’re ordering clothing, there’s
a section for colours and sizes
where applicable.
You’ll need to type in your
email and create a password,
then you’re off to the races. Next
visits to the boutique will require
that you enter your email and
password. The boutique accepts
credit card payments that are
firewall protected; in other words, very safe. You can also
choose to be invoiced, just let Souvenir Canada know on
the site. Shipping is simple, one item ships for $5.50, and
two or more items for $9.50. Delivery of your order is
usually 4 – 5 business days as we keep ample inventory
of most products.
New products
We’ve added a few new products, to name a few the
Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) men’s and ladies
wallets. RFID is the chip that contains your personal
and financial information on your debit and credit
Winter 2014
cards. These wallets have a protective shield that will
protect this information contained on your cards. This
technology is becoming more and more popular. Many of
you have purchased these unisex versions of the wallets
from the boutique in the past. Since they have been so
popular, we now have Men’s at $20.90 and Ladies at
$30.95 versions available.
We have also added the popular RTO/ERO Pocket
Planners to the boutique. Everyone is mailed one planner,
but due to their popularity people often want more than
one to give to family and friends, or simply to have a
spare. The planners have two different covers, one is
the Muskoka chairs scene and the other the country
school house. Both of these beautiful works of art have
been created by RTO/ERO members. They are $3/each,
shipping included.
The online store can be accessed by visiting http://rto-ero.org/
buy-rtoero-merchandise or http://storesouvenircanadainc.com/
category-s/1814.htm. So go ahead a give it a try.
We love doing business with the RTO/ERO members
and welcome all your feedback.
13
Upfront |
Renaissance
submissions
wanted!
With Renaissance themed issues, our aim is to tackle topics of interest to you. What issues and
trends are important to you? What topics and themes do you want to see featured in Renaissance?
Let us know what themes we should be focusing on in future issues of your magazine.
SUMMER 2015
Request our
Contributors’ Guidnew
renaissance@rto-eelines at
ro.org.
Fall 2015
Nurturing nature
Ageless spirit
Planting your own food and raising livestock, for
example chicken for eggs or goats for milk, was the
way of life before the big brand grocery stores were
established. This type of lifestyle is trending again
and so is supporting local farmers and farmers’
markets. Many people also enjoy cultivating flowers,
shrubbery and trees. Research shows that gardening
and animal husbandry have many health and
environmental benefits. Tell us about your experience
and knowledge about this topic.
Have you ever thought that you can do anything and
that it doesn’t matter how old you are? In this issue,
we are going to tackle ageism and common barriers
that some members may face. Focusing on how
your actions provide inspiration and suggestions on
how to break through the ageism stereotypes. As
older adults you have unmeasurable knowledge and
experience, and we would like to hear about your
stories of triumph, whether it is how you organized
a fitness class or games day for your community, or
how you have lobbied for better treatment of older
adults. Share your stories with us.
Perspectives to consider: Why do you garden/
take care of animals? What are the benefits? How
does it impact your life?
Deadline: February 20, 2015.
Perspectives to consider: What does having an
ageless spirit mean to you?
Deadline: May 8, 2015.
Senior Seniors and Magical Moments submissions wanted.
Do you know a special member of RTO/ERO who is over 80 years old, who enjoyed a great career in
education and lives life to its fullest? Have you experienced special moments during your career that you
would like to share with others? If, you’ve answered YES to either or both of these questions send a 300
word outline describing what you would like to share to [email protected].
How to contribute
As a member of RTO/ERO you are invited to send us a BRIEF outline
(300 word maximum) of your proposal summarizing the experiences and
opinions you’d like to share, as well as any related artwork or photography.
To submit proposals, photos, and artwork or to read our complete
Contributors’ Guidelines, email [email protected] or call
1-800-361-9888 ext. 224. Be sure to include your name, membership
number, and District number and name.
Submissions are reviewed by the editorial team before each issue.
Selected members will be contacted either to write a piece or to be
interviewed to be featured in Renaissance.
Note: We cannot guarantee that writing and images will be published as received.
We will endeavour to incorporate as many member viewpoints as we can.
14
Send us your
best shot...
We would love to use your best
photos in future publications such as
Renaissance, Liaison (the Provincial
news­letter), on RTO/ERO’s
website, Facebook page and in
other promotional materials for the
organization. All photo submissions
must be at least 5" x 7" in size
at 300 pixels per inch resolution
(minimum 1.2 MB file size).
Renaissance
| Upfront
SIGN UP FOR e-Renaissance
Get your copy of Renaissance electronically and view the issue
from the comfort of your computer or mobile devices.
Scan QR Code to
view the current issue
NEW! You are now able to enjoy e-Renaissance on your e-readers
(such as Barnes & Noble Nook, and Kobo, etc.) and your Apple
and Android mobile devices.
You will also be able to read e-Renaissance via an EPUB format,
from anywhere.
Send your name, District number, District name,
membership number and current email address to
[email protected] and register to start
receiving e-Renaissance.
To receive the upcoming spring issue, submit your email
by March 2, 2015.
"Great idea to be able to download on my Kobo. It's a major improvement in convenience!"
Linda Taberner, District 28, Region of Durham
Winter 2014
15
orn
to
B
Departments | Saluting Our Senior Seniors
The Borthwicks on the happy and memorable occasion of
John and Ruth’s 50th wedding anniversary, on August 26, 2000.
(l-r) Cathy, John Jr., Ruth, John and Barbara.
John proudly
dressed in his
winter RCAF
uniform in 1944.
The Delta
Secondary
School crest,
where John spent
many years teaching.
16
A family moment at son John's wedding in 1986.
(l-r) Cathy, Ruth, John, Barbara and John Jr., the groom.
Renaissance
All photos courtesy of Cathy Borthwick, District 14, Niagara; background image: Phase4Studios, shutterstock
A couple who inspired their family and
teach
Saluting Our Senior Seniors | Departments
former students to follow in their footsteps
by Cathy Bor thwi ck, District 14, Niagara, daughter of John and Ruth
T
“
he apple doesn’t fall far from
the tree”; the tree, in this case,
being John Walter Borthwick,
of District 13, Hamilton-Wentworth,
Haldimand who became a teacher
after serving in the Royal Canadian
Air Force during the Second World
War. After graduating from McMaster
University in 1948, John taught
secondary school in Hamilton, Ontario.
During his teaching career, he earned a
second degree, a Bachelor of Pedagogy
in 1954, which is the equivalent of
today’s Masters of Education. He
followed a line of teachers in his family
including his grandfather, Walter J.
Ferguson who enjoyed 47 years in
education, 25 of which he served as a
principal of Caledonia Public School,
and his aunt, Kathleen Spooner who
taught in Ontario and China.
Serving through education
Over the years, John was a dedicated
history, geography, world religions,
economics and English teacher who
taught at Central Collegiate Institute and
Delta Secondary School in the Hamilton
Board of Education. He was also
principal of Delta’s night school program
for many years. In addition, while
teaching, John assisted with the training
of the Royal Canadian Army Cadet
Corps, rising to the rank of captain.
Culminating his interest in Ontario
Secondary School Teachers’ Federation
Winter 2014
activities, he became president of
his local branch. One of the most
remarkable aspects of John’s demanding
career is that he missed only one day in
his entire 34 years of teaching!
This past August, when John
celebrated his 90th birthday, some
former students contacted their high
school teacher to wish him well and
to let him know that, because of his
influence and inspiration, they too
had entered the teaching profession.
Enjoying his retirement years with
him, is his wife Ruth Borthwick (née
Mitchell), who is also a McMaster
grad (1947). Ruth was an elementary
teacher in Hamilton at a time when
many women did not have a degree
when they began teaching. She recalls
that her first class of grade ones was
a challenging group of 41 children in
inner city Hamilton. This is a far cry
from the present pupil teacher ratios
of 20:1.
John and Ruth met at McMaster
when they were both history majors;
John had cornered the books on
Cardinal Wolsey, their essay topic.
Ruth tracked down the books and
John, and the rest is history. After 64
years of marriage, they are still sharing
their love of history with others. Both
took an active role volunteering as
presidents of the Burlington Historical
Society and also helped produce a
number of local history books. An
accomplishment that took many years
of hard work and persistence was the
publishing of a book and a companion
DVD on the Brant Inn, a well-known
Burlington entertainment mecca that
people flocked to in the 40s and 50s.
More apples from that tree
It’s unusual to have all your children
follow your career path, but that’s
indeed what happened with the
Borthwick children of Burlington,
Ontario. Both parents passed on their
love of teaching to all three children.
Barbara, the eldest of the three, retired
from the Halton District School Board
after many years of teaching primary
and special education. John and
Ruth’s middle child, Cathy, followed
in her parents’ footsteps and became
an elementary teacher of grades
one to eight and special education
in the Niagara area. This past June,
John Jr., the youngest of the three
Borthwick children, retired from the
Durham region after many years of
teaching, mainly the intermediate
grades and outdoor education. John
Jr.’s wife Vivianne continues to teach
at the high school level with the
Durham District School Board. John
Jr. and Vivianne’s daughters, John
and Ruth’s granddaughters, are now
making their marks in the teaching
profession. Emily is presently teaching
at the elementary level with Durham;
Laurel has just begun her Masters
of Education at Ontario Institute for
Studies in Education with her sights
set on becoming another Borthwick
“born to teach”.
It seemed as if teaching was a
natural choice for this family. There
were never any regrets and only
many happy memories for all of
them. For this family, teaching is
definitely in their genes; Walter J.
Ferguson would be proud!
17
On Trac
Departments | ConnectED nectED
with a little help from your
by Jamie Morris, District 18, Haliburton, Kawartha Lakes
I
n our teaching years we all led
busy, highly-structured lives. We
had timetables and schedules; our
days were punctuated by bells.
With retirement our family,
volunteering — perhaps even
second-career commitments — and
yes, those bucket-list projects, keep
us no less busy. But now our time is
less structured and for some of us,
that presents a new challenge.
Fortunately, many free, userfriendly digital tools can act as
our personal assistants — keeping
us organized, issuing reminders
and occasionally cajoling us. With
hundreds of thousands of apps
for Apple and Android devices,
the options are overwhelming
and sometimes more complicated
than necessary. Here are a few
recommendations to help you simplify
18
your life. All are available free from
iTunes or Google Play. All can be used
on any smartphone, tablet, or laptop,
whether Apple or Android-based.
Arranging get-togethers
Say you want to meet with extended
family to discuss that bucket list trip
to Iceland, arrange a meeting of your
Amnesty International group, or
just want to arrange a coffee klatch.
Doodle www.doodle.com is a musthave app. You just fill in possible
dates and times and location. Doodle
turns the information into a survey
and sends it to your friends. As each
person responds you’re notified
and each respondent can see each
others responses. When a consensus
emerges, just send an email to your
friends. Doodle is so much easier
than contacting each individual and
coordinating responses.
Calendars, to-do lists and
reminders
Many of us use Gmail, Google Maps,
and Google’s search engine. Less
well-known are three other Google
applications: Google Calendar,
Google Tasks and Google Now.
Google Calendar is the digital
answer to pocket planners and wallcalendars. You can create multiple
calendars (maybe one for a particular
project, another for financial items
or family birthdays) and can add
notes. You can view a day, four days,
a week, or a month at a time. With a
few clicks you can send invitations to
calendar events, share your calendar
with others or view calendars shared
with you. The app will also nudge
you with reminders, which can come
as either email or text messages sent
to your mobile phone.
Renaissance
ack
ConnectED | Departments
digital pals
Google Tasks lets you create a
Task List also known as a to-do list.
It’s accessible within your Gmail
account and even lets you add a task
directly from an email message using
a keyboard shortcut. The subject
line from the email appears as your
new task. As with Calendar, Tasks
allows you to create separate lists for
different projects and you can print a
hard copy.
Even easier to use for reminders is
one of the newest Google applications,
Google Now. Like Apple’s Siri it
responds to voice commands and like
Siri it can provide answers to all sorts
of questions like just how many active
volcanoes are there in Iceland anyway?
It also stores reminders, which will
come to you when you want. You
could, for example say, “OK Google,
remind me to change the furnace filter
Winter 2014
on Saturday” or “Remind me to call
for concert tickets when I get home.”
Using the suite of Google products
together reduces the learning curve
because they share features and work
well together.
It does take some time to really
feel comfortable with all this, but
you’ll be amazed by how userfriendly it all is. And, of course, any
time you’re stuck Google Help is
there to get you unstuck.
For health goals
Checking off bucket list items is
satisfying; deferring the proverbial
kicking of the bucket, priceless.
Fundamental to good health is a
commitment to be physically active
on a daily basis.
A good example of a device that
can both track activity and motivate
is the FitBit Flex wrist-band (just
under $100, available online or at
some electronics stores). Once you
enter your height and weight it
tracks your steps and converts that
into distance. The free FitBit App
includes a “Dashboard” with detailed
read-outs and sends congratulations
when you meet or exceed targets.
It can also monitor sleep, calorie
consumption and progress in weight
loss, altogether making it a great
introduction to the way technology
can help you track progress to
personal health goals.
So, there you have them, some
digital pals for a busy and productive
retirement. You may not want to
completely abandon your RTO/ERO
Pocket Planner, but all of these apps
and devices are worth exploring.
19
Save up to $250 per couple1
off select Collette tours
FLAVOURS OF THAILAND
Take in Thailand’s unique markets and spiritual sites, as well as
Bangkok’s eclectic flare on this culinary and cultural adventure.
Savour Every Moment
Experience another way of life as you savour the many
flavours of Thailand. Travel through the jungle to Maesa
Elephant Camp. Visit the amazing Mae Klong Market and the
Hall of Opium, an interactive museum. Enjoy a Khantoke
dinner and show that highlights hill tribe culture. Visit The
Golden Buddha, one of the world’s largest solid gold statues
and Wat Po, temple of The Reclining Buddha.
$1,6491 p.p.
14 days with 24 meals
Departs from Toronto: Apr. 24, 2015
12-DAY BALTIC CRUISE
HOSTED BY ANNI DE LIMA
MERIT
HOSTED
Sail round-trip from Copenhagen,
Denmark calling upon:
Kiel | Tallinn | St Petersburg (with an overnight stay!) |
Helsinki | Stockholm | Berlin | Germany | Denmark
Includes:
•
•
•
•
cocktail reception and Pinnacle Grill dinner
complimentary, shore excursion in Stockholm
$100 ship board credit
port taxes
$2,2992 p.p.
12 days
Eurodam departs: Aug. 26, 2015
Travel Bucket List
Wake before dawn to participate in the offering of alms
to hundreds of saffron-robed monks
Visit Amager Square in the heart of Copenhagen’s admired
gabled facades and see the famous Little Mermaid statue
Board a long-tail boat to explore Bangkok’s network of
canals and stop at the iconic Temple of the Dawn
Explore one of the world’s great museums, The Hermitage, view
work by Titian, Michelangelo, Matisse, and the Peacock Clock
For tailored vacation experiences
exclusively for RTO/ERO members,
visit rtotravel.ca or call 1.877.872.3826
1
CAD$ pp dbl occ. Offer is valid on new bookings only made between 12/1/14 – 2/28/15 for travel between 12/1/14 - 4/30/16. Offers can expire earlier due to space or inventory availability.
Space is on a first come, first served basis. Offer is not valid on group or existing bookings or combinable with any other offer. Offer savings of up to $250 per couple. Offers noted are valid
for single travellers at half the per couple rate. Other restrictions may apply; call for details. Use Promo Code: CZN0-AX1-918. 2 USD$ pp dbl occ. Cruise only. Inside stateroom category L.
Taxes, Fees & Port Expenses are an additional $196. ON-4499356/4499372 | BC-34799 | 111 Peter Street, Suite 200, Toronto ON M5V2H1 | Canadian owned
Where in the world is this?
Enter our contest by guessing the destination in the
photo and win a $500 travel voucher towards any
package with Merit Travel!
Go to MeritTravel.com/Contests to submit
your entry for a chance to win.
TREASURES OF THE ORIENT
PACIFIC DREAMS
Sail from Singapore to Shanghai calling upon some of the
most culturally rich destinations of the Orient.
Spend 10 nights sailing the South Pacific, round-trip from
Papeete, experiencing the magical lagoons, black
and white sand beaches, and volcanoes.
Sail through Singapore to:
Ko Samui | Sihanoukville | Bangkok | Saigon |
Hanoi | Hong Kong | Xiamen | Shanghai
Sail through French Polynesia to:
Papeete | Moorea | Raiatea | Bora Bora |
Nuku Hiva | Rangiroa
Includes:
FREE AIR | pre-paid gratuities | $100 spa or shipboard credit
Includes: FREE AIR!
$6,999* p.p.
$3,999* p.p.
20 days on board Nautica
Departs Mar. 22, 2015
10 nights on board Marina
Departs Mar. 15, 2015
Travel Bucket List
Visit the giant Buddha at Wat Phra Yai in Ko Samui, the
elephant camp where these intelligent animals display their work
skills, and a plantation where monkeys harvest coconut
Take a canoe ride through the lagoon in Moorea, snorkel, scuba
or helmet-dive the reefs, or hike up to the Afareaitu Waterfalls
Visit the entrancing Vaipo Waterfalls and Cascade Tevaipo,
one of the world’s tallest falls at over 1,100 feet
1.877.872.3826
*
US$ pp dbl occ. CAT G. Inside Stateroom. Round trip air is included from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Vancouver. Other gateways available at an additional charge. Government
taxes and fees are included. Offer is based on availability at time of booking, is capacity controlled and may be withdrawn without notice.
ON-4499356/4499372 | BC-34799 | 111 Peter Street, Suite 200, Toronto ON M5V2H1 | Canadian owned
Feature Story |
Daringunexpected
to dream:
bucket lists
Compiled by Susannah Maxcy
F
or every bucket list there is
a unique inspiration behind
it. From thrill-seeking to
soul-searching to rediscovering
old passions, fulfilling bucket
list dreams can be a life-changing
experience. We caught up with
members Paul Brown, Ann
Berman, Christina Doyle, and
Salvatore Amenta to find out how
they are making their dreams come
true before they kick the bucket.
Photo: courtesy of Ann Berman, District 17, Simcoe.
Bhutan dreams
A love for trekking is a must in
Bhutan which has some of the
most rugged terrain in the world.
22
by Ann Berman,
District 17, Simcoe
I prefer to think of this as my list
of life dreams and goals that I
have been pursuing since retiring
in 2009. I am continually adding
to the list, often with inspiration
from people, books, such as Jamie
Zeppa’s Beyond the Sky and the
Earth about teaching in Bhutan.
My first dream was to teach in
Bhutan, a dream I’d had for most of
my adult life. Serendipitously, the
month I retired, a new organization
was established: the Bhutan Canada
Foundation (BCF), with the goal
of sending Canadian volunteers
Renaissance
Daring to dream | Feature Story
Winter 2014
View from the top: tackling the EdgeWalk
by Paul Brown, District 33, Chatham-Kent
A
s I looked south from the
grating (strong mesh ledge)
of the CN Tour’s EdgeWalk, I
thought “This is really neat!”
I had just finished being an
Observer at the 2014 RTO/ERO
Spring Senate when I got my chance
to do the EdgeWalk. At a Jays game
the previous summer we’d seen redsuited groups out on the edge of the
CN Tower and I knew I wanted do it.
Now, here I was one level above
the 360 Restaurant watching one of
Porter Airline’s planes land far below at
the Billy Bishop Toronto City Airport
fulfilling one of my bucket list wishes.
Since graduating university I had
parachuted four times, gone up in a
hot air balloon, done several trips up in
a glider and gone ziplining numerous
times, so doing the EdgeWalk seemed
like the next thing to do.
The preparation for the walk
was quite intensive, with several
technicians getting us into our gear
and checking it several times. With
two young Ontarians and three
English tourists we travelled up in
our own elevator to the EdgeWalk
level where we were reassured that
the cable attached to us would hold
an elephant. As a fail-safe, we also
had another cable that would catch
us if the first one somehow let go.
There we met Josh, our tour guide
for the walk, ran through a few more
instructions and then I lead everyone
out onto the ledge since I was closest
to the door! The ledge we walked
out onto was actually grating, so we
could see the ground through it.
Once out on the ledge, I began
to feel more comfortable and was
able to enjoy the view. We did
Living on the edge: Paul shows no fear as he
leans out over Toronto during his EdgeWalk.
Photo: courtesy of Paul Brown.
to teach in Bhutan. Perfect! I was
their first applicant and one of six
Canadian teachers who taught in
Bhutan for the 2010 school year.
It was a fabulous year teaching in
this Himalayan Buddhist kingdom. The
Bhutanese are the warmest, kindest
people I have met anywhere in the
world. The students are very respectful
of their elders and of teachers in
particular. They take their education
very seriously with the main goal of
doing well to get a good job so they can
look after their parents in their old age.
When I returned from Bhutan I
started working on another dream:
hosting a bed and breakfast. I had
some doubts which were fuelled by
the comments from my family and
friends: “Aren’t you afraid of having
strangers in your house?” and “It
will be so much work!” In June, I
finally took the big leap and posted
my B&B on www.airbnb.ca, a website
that allows travellers to book unique
accommodations.
I had no idea what the response
would be, but it has far exceeded my
expectations. I have had wonderful,
interesting guests and only positive
experiences. It gives me the opportunity
to meet a diverse range of people who I
do not meet in my everyday life.
Yes, it is a lot of work running a
B&B, but it suits me and I love it! As
it is my first year, I am learning and
making changes to improve each visit.
Having dreams to fulfill and goals to
reach gives purpose to my life. I get
up in the morning with excitement
and enthusiasm for the day ahead.
Learn more: Check out Ann’s
Bhutan adventures on her blog,
www.annsadventures-ann.blogspot.com.
Visit The Bhutan Canada Foundation
for volunteer opportunities in Bhutan,
http://bhutancanada.org or email Ann,
[email protected].
23
Feature Story | Daring to dream
various things during our walk
around the 150 metres of ledge. My
favourite was leaning backwards out
over the ledge. The whole journey
took about 40 minutes and at
the end we received a folder with
commemorative photos and a video
of our walk taken by Josh using his
head cam.
I was surprised how at ease I
was once on the ledge. I have many
friends who think that I am crazy, but
it really was fun. My wife, Angela,
couldn’t get a spot in the group I
went with, but she wants to do the
EdgeWalk as well sometime soon.
Next to come, hopefully, we will
be going out on the Grand Canyon
Glass Skywalk.
Christina living life with love and light.
Living life in gratitude
My so-called bucket list didn’t even
exist prior to cancer. I was a happy
mom, teacher, daughter and friend;
life was simple. Then I was diagnosed
with Leiomyosarcoma, an extremely
rare form of bone cancer. When that
happened I began looking at life
by the hour, not by day or month,
each becoming more precious than
the last. To me, when cancer came
screeching like a train with all its
might, life stopped and creating a
bucket list was the furthest thing on
my mind.
Where does one go from that? I
began turning to my faith more and
more and looking at life through a
lens of gratitude. It was these two
things that pulled me through. One
must always count their blessings;
you can always find pearls among the
darkest sands.
So at the beginning of my healing,
I didn’t any waste time and began
24
Photo: courtesy of Christina Doyle.
by Christina Doyle,
District 34, York Region
working on the blueprint for turning
my dreams into reality. For me,
having a bucket list meant trying to
achieve my goals, big or small, since
time doesn’t stand still.
As a result, I became a professional
motivational speaker, and a country
music recording artist with my music
getting airplay on country music
stations in Canada and worldwide. I
even reached number one in Australia
and the Netherlands. I also produced
positive messages and got into voice
work leading to jobs with Rogers
television, the History and OLN
channels, and the cartoon Cailou.
Currently, I’m working on the TV show
Motives & Murders: Cracking the Case.
With all the amazing things
I’ve accomplished, there are still a
couple of things on my list one of
which is to have the opportunity
to do commercial radio. Through
the support of a large radio station
program director in Toronto, as of
today, there may be an opportunity to
use my voice in either television for a
children’s show or radio.
Looking forward, I continue to be
grateful for what I have and whatever
Renaissance
Daring to dream | Feature Story
A musical finale
by Salvatore Amenta, District 34,
York Region
Bucket list? I didn’t even know I
had one until it became fashionable:
learning how to make stained glass,
writing, cruising, returning to
Sicily — activities for which there
was never enough time. One item I
omitted, however, was playing my
accordion, which I had virtually
abandoned while teaching. Three
years ago my wife, Kathy, suggested
bringing it along to our annual family
reunion at Frankie Tomatto’s; her
inspired idea was life-changing.
When I started playing That’s
Amore the all diners soon started
singing! Afterwards, the manager
arranged an audition with the owner.
I’ve played there ever since.
My traditional accordion was
soon replaced with a digital one that
replicates other instruments too.
When I enter a room, my neon-red
beauty flashes “Let’s paar-tee!” Sizing
up my audience, I play nursery songs
for tots and their parents — I know
they’re happy since they clap their
hands. Kids follow me, teens do the
Chicken Dance, and older couples
love Bésame Mucho. Tangos and
polkas are my favourites though.
I’ve had many surprises, but one
stands out absolutely. A patron called
to make sure I was playing for her
father’s 85th birthday party. After
congratulating him, I played his
favourite songs as tears rolled down
his cheeks. Afterwards, we chatted
and discovered that we grew up in
nearby towns.
When I mentioned a bandleader I
once played for from his hometown
he shouted, “I played for him too!”
His name was Franco Carrubba and
we hadn’t seen each other since we
had disbanded 50 years ago — no
wonder we hadn’t recognized our
aged faces! It was a stunning, chance
surprise for both of us.
Even Frankie’s delicious food isn’t
as fulfilling as a treat like that. Or as
performing for appreciative audiences
— which comes effortlessly despite
decades of neglect. Only when I
started playing again at Frankie’s did
I heed my father’s wish to play more
often. Now I squeeze my scarlet
mistress so much that my wife Kathy
is sometimes jealous!
Playing again is the most
rejuvenating item on my bucket list,
for being a “troubadour reborn” gives
me a new lease on life. Since pleasing
others pleases me, I will continue
entertaining — for Frankie’s,
dances, weddings and receptions —
performing my finale with gusto until
I kick the bucket.
Photo: courtesy of Salvatore Amenta.
comes my way through speaking,
singing, thanking God each and
every day that I am here to encourage
others and to take care of my family
including my 82-year-old mom.
What more can one ask of life!
Sal (centre) and Franco Carrubba (to his right) with their band mates in 1963.
Winter 2014
25
Features |
Travel aspirations:
Don’t just think about it … go there.
Compiled by Kimberly Brathwaite
T
wo members, Harolyn Panetta and Sherel Purcell, share some of the trips they have scratched off of their bucket
lists and also a few places they are still dreaming about visiting. So relax in your most comfortable chair, read
and get inspired to add a few of these hot spots to your bucket list.
Desired destinations by Sherel Purcell, District 16, Toronto
My travelling dreams are inspired by a desire to learn new
languages while exploring a variety of regions, cuisines, and
cultures of Canada and elsewhere, and to pursue favourite
sports — all while enjoying a bit of luxury.
PHOTOS: SHEREL PURCELL, DISTRICT 16, TORONTO.
Mexico
When thinking about culture and luxury, Paraisus Resort
in Playa del Carmen, Mexico comes to mind. Here I can
practise my Spanish and, for fun and exercise, take poledancing and tennis lessons then experience a tasting
menu from Michelin-starred Chef Martin Berasategui at
Passion, one of 11 onsite restaurants.
An upgrade to La Perla Royal Service — adults only,
includes a personal butler who prepares a hot bath in a
double-sized tub. The large, contemporary rooms include
a swim up option or, on higher floors, hot tubs on the
balcony and ocean views. Playa del Carmen, which
Colourful sunset at Playa del Carmen in Mexico.
26
now includes high-end shopping along with lively bars
and restaurants, is a 20-minute walk starting from the
Paradisus’ private beach.
Quebec
In order to improve my French, I board Coopérative de
Transport Maritime et Aérien’s (CTMA) “Fine Cuisine
and Island Traditions”, a two-night cruise to the Îles-dela-Madeleine (Magdelen Islands) Quebéc. With chef-led
cooking classes, guides provide history lectures and the
talented crew perform local folk favourites. The rich
linguistic and cultural experience continues once we
reach the islands.
After sleeping in the tiny ship cabins, the luxurious
king beds of the Domaine du Vieux Couvent (Old
Convent) — Îles-de-la-Madeleine’s only boutique hotel,
are greatly appreciated. Here La Moulière Restaurant
Sherel's luxurious room while staying at the Paradisus Resort.
Renaissance
Photo: Sofiaworld, Shutterstock
Travel aspirations | Features
offers local goodies including fresh seafood, veal, boar,
cheese and beer.
The largest hotel on the islands, Chateau Madelinot,
is a scenic, 15-minute walk from the ferry terminal,
complete with indoor swimming pool, hot tub and dry
sauna and another good restaurant. Both properties
overlook the ocean and offer beautiful shoreline hikes.
Beautiful landscapes
To further explore the unique landforms, red sandy
beaches and protected coves and caves, I share a guided
bus tour aboard the Autobus les Sillons with the Four
Wings, a group of retired teachers from all over Canada.
Together, we check out sand sculptures, handmade glass
products, contemporary paintings (my favourite) and
top lunch spots. Exploring the islands by bike is another
possibility as the wide, paved shoulder along the main
The endless sandy beach at the Paradisus Resort.
Winter 2014
road is perfect for cycling. Andre at Veli-Velo
supplies good quality, multi-speed Trek bikes and
tandems.
Any destination that offers flat cycling routes and
great golf makes my travel dream list. No golf bucket list
would be complete without playing a round on the Old
Course at St. Andrews in Scotland, or closer to home,
the Silverado Golf Resort in the Napa Valley, owned
by former PGA tour member and wisecracking golf
announcer, Johnny Miller.
Celebrity status
Interesting North American hotels associated with
famous characters past and present make my list and
include: The Willows Historic Inn in Palm Springs —
a favourite retreat of Albert Einstein, the Biltmore in
Coral Gables with North America’s largest (and coldest)
hotel pool where actor Johnny Weissmuller (Tarzan)
taught swimming lessons, and The Fairmont Ghirardelli
— home of the chocolate baron. The Ritz-Carlton in
Fort Lauderdale, Florida makes the list for its brilliant
sommelier, Don Derocher, who offers private wine-paired
dinners — perfect after a long day of beach cruiser
cycling along the boardwalk.
To come
Further afield, high-tech Tokyo would be fun to explore as
would Shanghai — New York’s eastern counterpart. Speaking
of the East, a trip on the Venice Simplon-Orient-Express from
Paris to Istanbul has been on my list for years, as well as any
slow and relaxed journey by land or sea including our own
Via Rail first class service across the country.
27
Features | Travel aspirations
Travel dreams realized
by Harolyn Panetta, District 24, Scarborough and East York
Long before “bucket list” was a dictionary entry, my
desire as a young teacher was to do volunteer work
and to travel. The Project Overseas program of the
Canadian Teachers’ Federation (CTF) came to the rescue.
Developing countries contact the CTF and request
teachers to come and work with the local teachers for a
few weeks, usually in the summer when we Canadians
are on holiday. The Canadian teachers all volunteer their
time — no money changes hands.
Off to Africa
I taught in four African countries over the years and each
assignment was filled with delightful memories of those
keen teachers who were our students.
My first assignment was to Uganda. One day in class
the question of presenting a proposal to your school board
came up. I said, “When you are typing up the proposal ...?”
and the students replied, “Type? We can’t type!”
I searched the school campus and found a room full
of vintage typewriters. None of the typewriters had a full
set of key caps and the few caps that were there generally
were on the wrong keys. I told the students I would
give up half my lunch hour to teach those who wanted
to learn to type. We struggled through it and bless their
hearts, by the end of the summer they were typing
paragraphs and even setting up business letters.
Another memorable assignment was to Ghana. Usually
the team stayed in one city for the whole summer but
in Ghana they asked us to design courses of a week in
length so we could travel to a different city each week. Our
week of teaching ran from Monday morning through to
Saturday noon. In one location, on the Friday afternoon,
I told the class we had finished the content of the seminar
and on Saturday I would review what we had done and in
addition there would be time remaining when they would
be free to ask questions about Canada or CTF. Many of
Photos courtesy of Harolyn Panetta, District 24, Scarborough and East York.
Harolyn with two Laplanders, also known as Sami people,
in their traditional dress that is worn daily.
28
Renaissance
these teachers would love to be able to come to Canada,
but it is just not possible. One gentleman stood up and
asked, “Miss Harolyn, what would your Canadian Teachers’
Federation say if I married you and went to Canada with
you?” I replied that, “I wasn’t sure what the federation
would say but that my husband would say plenty.” It’s not
every day a girl gets a proposal.
After years of teaching, eventually, retirement and
RTO/ERO came into my life. I had the privilege of being
a tour leader for RTO/ERO for 15 years — a definite
highlight of my retirement. Teachers are excellent
travel companions. They are always on time and little
inconveniences such as a late bus do not upset them. All of
the tour leaders were also volunteers and we travelled all
over the world from Finland to Mount Everest.
Thank you RTO/ERO, for making everything possible
and providing most happy days with other retired teachers.
The picture was taken in Kaduna, Nigeria in 1972. See Harolyn
in the middle front row. All these students had worked for the
Nigerian government in different towns/cities throughout the
country for at least five years and were sent back to school for
a year for a refresher course in modern office practices.
Winter 2014
Photo: Allen.G, Shutterstock
Travel aspirations | Features
Harolyn’s dreamy trips
“Travel dreams are made of this. These were most
pleasant experiences providing memories that
will stay with me forever.” — Harolyn Panetta.
• Watching the sunrise on the Ganges River
while folks are bathing there in the early
morning.
• Reading outdoors at midnight in Iceland.
• Being welcomed into the tent home of a family
in Lapland, Finland or the mud hut of a family
in Kenya are precious — both of which were
similar with a cooking fire in the middle of the
one room dwelling.
• Dancing with the Maasai and getting up close
to elephants and lions on safari in Africa.
• Catching a glimpse of the Antarctic from Cape
Horn at the tip of South America.
• Climbing among the ruins of Macchu Picchu
in Peru.
• Watching Geisha ladies play musical instruments
in Japan.
• Being close enough to almost touch the terra
cotta warriors in China and walking along the
Great Wall.
• Visiting Stonehenge in the south of England
and later discovering similar stone circles
in the Orkney Islands in the far north of
Scotland; enjoying a Robbie Burns night in
Scotland.
• Being in the Kremlin when our group received
news of 9/11 in 2001.
• Gazing at the Corcovado (statue of Christ with
his arms outstretched), Sugar Loaf Mountain as
well as the flavellas (slums) of Rio de Janeiro.
• Spending time at the base of Mt. Everest.
29
Features |
Life
begins
at 60
by Linda Loder, District 27, Ottawa-Carleton
30
Renaissance
Life begins at 60 | Features
H
Photo: courtesy of Linda Loder.
aving a bucket list seems to
be the catch phrase of my
generation that has the time,
and likely the resources, to achieve
the goals on them. Having a bucket
list while in the throes of earning a
living, raising a family and building
a home would have been, for me, an
exercise in futility so I never made
one. In spite of this, I never lost track
of the things that I really wanted to
do and sought, whenever feasible, to
accomplish them.
Travel had always been on my
to-do list and whenever opportunity
presented itself, I made sure that my
family explored the world together.
Consequently, my family has a
kaleidoscope of memories shared and
revisited in our photo albums.
The personal bucket list is
something else. As we move through
the various life stages our tastes and
desires change. A bucket list made in
our 20s would look very different from
one made in our 60s. As we change, so
to do our desires and our objectives.
Happy trails: Linda and her
husband Trevor Whitwam,
on the South West Coast
Path, England.
Winter 2014
31
Photo: courtesy of Linda Loder.
Features | Life begins at 60
Linda and Trevor celebrate their trail
completion with certificates in hand.
To make a bucket list in our early
years can sometimes be a fruitless
exercise when viewed down the road.
It merely points to the fact that what
we wanted at 25, which we may not
have had the means to achieve, could
leave us with a sense of failure or lost
opportunity.
There is also the question of
external factors. As we move through
32
life, many of our choices are dictated
by circumstance so we become
reactors rather than initiators. We
respond to the needs of those around
us at home and at work and, in so
doing, we sometimes sacrifice our
goals in favour of the common good.
Only when the needs of those
around us are less pressing can
we look at our personal goals and
reinitiate them. This might not
happen until we retire when our
children have left home and our
parents’ needs have been met. Hence
the phrase “life begins at 60” begins
to take form.
Be realistic and flexible
Generally, it is considered healthier
and more motivational to have
Renaissance
Life begins at 60 | Features
things to look forward to and to plan
for. Whether goals are written in a
list or shaped in a mental attitude
depends upon the individual. It is my
experience that having a bucket list is
a moving target and if I write things
down then don’t achieve them, I have
somehow failed myself.
Rather, I would prefer to have
an open attitude and to seize
opportunities when presented with
them. Presently, there are only two
things on my bucket list: to travel and
to stay healthy, which my husband
and I focus our resources on.
With goals there are various
factors you have to consider. First,
it is necessary to have goals that are
achievable. If they aren’t or if they are
too large or extensive to be realistic,
then it is necessary to rearrange them
into manageable portions.
A personal example for Trevor
and I was hiking the South West
Coast Path in England. This goal was
not established until it was partially
completed when we knew it was
possible. We didn’t start the trail
with the intention of finishing it. We
started it for fun, found we enjoyed
the experience and determined much
later, that finishing it would become
a goal.
Another factor to consider is, are
the goals affordable? A goal that is
beyond the budget is not achievable
and leaves us with a feeling of
loss. When I retired I wanted to go
back to university. The reality was
that our financial situation did not
permit the expense so I recalculated,
and decided I could still learn
by choosing topics I enjoyed and
researching them to teach night
courses.
After 10 years, this goal has
provided much enrichment, resulted
in several “books” or course packs
Winter 2014
on history and travel, and provided
me with growth, which was the main
goal. It also pays me, instead of me
paying out from a finite budget.
The learning stretched to art and,
after taking a few painting courses
to get started, I married my travel
experiences to landscape painting,
eventually selling them. This opened
up a new group of associates in
the art world that increased when
I coordinated a yearly art show.
Though not a preplanned goal, it had
many positive effects and allowed me
develop my painting skills.
when it comes to travel. My husband
and I often make lists of things we
want to see and do when abroad. If
we plan to be in London, U.K. for
a few days, I make a mental list of
things we want to do knowing that
we may not achieve them or change
our minds later on, but at least we
have a roadmap to follow if we wish.
This need for spontaneity is
important since without it, the list
becomes just another “have-to” list
and our needs of the moment are
ignored in favour of the list. That
is why my husband and I prefer
I would prefer to have an open
attitude and to seize opportunities
when presented with them.
Enjoy yourself
Another take on bucket lists is to do
things you enjoy and perhaps a goal
will present itself along the way. In
creating your retirement goals, do
what you enjoy, mix with people you
enjoy and the journey will play out
in the best possible way.
If you choose this route, it’s
necessary to be flexible so that you
can divest yourself of non-productive
habits and ideas and embrace new
ones that will add interest and variety
to your life.
A bucket list? Perhaps a better
idea is to live life to the fullest and
take advantage of opportunities when
they present themselves. Follow your
instincts and your heart and keep
growing.
The one instance when I find
bucket lists very useful is for shortterm planning. This is especially true
independent travel since this need
to follow our hearts is paramount to
experiencing another country. Guided
holidays do not allow this flexibility
and so we avoid them.
A bucket list is a surefire way of
giving us something to look forward
to and focus our energy on, but it
should be viewed as another tool to
maximize our retirement. The main
idea is to listen to our hearts, follow
our passions, be flexible and realistic
in what we can achieve, and be open
to change. In other words: growth.
By opening our hearts to possibilities
we allow ourselves to revel in new
experiences on or off the list. It is
about making memories and trying
to put into effect the oft quoted:
“It is not about how many breaths you
take, but how many moments take your
breath away”. — Unknown.
33
Departments | Health Matters
inside
Music & memory.............................................35
Mindfulness and depression.............................36
PHOTO: kozirsky/Mihai Maxim, shutterstock
Mindfulness meditation....................................37
344
3
TravelMedic Mobile App..................................38
Check items off your bucket list —
boost brain power!...........................................39
Enhanced claims service.................................40
Be happier and healthier – volunteer...............41
R e Renaissance
naissance
Health Matters | Departments
xx
D
Music & memory
by Eliza Ives
an Cohen decided in 2006
to bring music into nursing
homes as a way to bring joy and
pleasure into the lives of those no longer
able to take care of themselves. Many
residents receive few or no visitors and
keeping them happy and engaged is a
problem for busy staff. Their physical
needs are met, but a lack of stimulation
and variety can cause withdrawal,
depression and difficult behaviour. For
those with Alzheimer’s disease or other
forms of dementia (ADOD), a lack of
activity can speed up the deterioration
of the brain.
There is a great deal of research
demonstrating that music can
reduce the agitation of dementia,
lessen anxiety, reduce pain, lower
blood pressure, help with sleep,
and increase cooperation. Dan’s idea
was simple and effective: to load
iPods with personalized playlists of
favourite music. Compared to other
therapies, using personalized music is
inexpensive, easy to administer and
can have astonishing and immediate
results, with very low risk. An iPod
loaded with favourite music can
soothe agitation, uplift spirits, and
may even reduce or eliminate the
need for antipsychotic medication.
Alive Inside
A fascinating documentary, Alive Inside,
follows Dan as he brings iPods loaded
with personalized playlists to nursing
home residents. The film captures
the astonishing transformative effect
that occurs when residents hear their
favourite music. Those who were
uncommunicative and unresponsive
become animated: some sing, some
dance, some reminisce, some shed
tears of happiness. If you’d like to take
a look, please visit the clips on the
website: http://musicandmemory.org.
Since 2008, a nonprofit
organization, Music & Memory,
has been established with its own
certification program, training
professionals in nursing homes and
other eldercare settings how to set
up a personalized music program
that integrates smoothly into the life
of the care organization. Over eighty
eldercare facilities in Ontario are
certified members of Music & Memory,
including all Extendicare homes within
Information contained in Health Matters is intended to be used for general
information and should not replace consultation with health care professionals.
Consult a qualified health care professional before making medical decisions or if
you have questions about your individual medical situation. RTO/ERO makes every
effort to ensure that the information in Health Matters is accurate and reliable, and
cannot guarantee that it is error-free or complete. RTO/ERO does not endorse
any product, treatment or therapy; neither does it evaluate the quality of services
operated by other organizations mentioned or linked to Health Matters.
Winter 2014
the province, but the project has yet to
catch on in the rest of the country.
Alzheimer Society of Toronto
The therapeutic effects of personalized
music can also benefit those cared
for at home. The Alzheimer Society
of Toronto began its iPod Project, in
collaboration with Music & Memory,
in early 2013 and aims to give a
total of 10,000 iPods loaded with
personalized music both to persons
with ADOD living at home and those
living in care facilities. The recipient,
caregivers and family members also
have access to a social worker for
support, group activities and other
services. The project is free of charge.
A project assessment in March
2014, conducted by a team of
researchers affiliated with the
University of Toronto and led by
Dr. Paul Williams, showed very
Continued on page 36
Scan this QR
code with your
smartphone
to view Health
Matters in the
Members’ Centre.
35
Departments | Health Matters
Music & memory
favourable results. The benefits
included “improved cognition,
communication, and quality of
life for older persons with ADOD;
reduced caregiver burden and
stress”, as well as “an improved
ability to manage behavioural and
psychological symptoms of dementia
(BPSD) such as depression, anxiety,
agitation and aggression.”
Relief comes for caregivers in
seeing their loved ones uplifted
by the music and sharing that
with them. In addition, while the
music calms and absorbs those
living with ADOD, they gain time
for themselves. Caregivers can
use the iPod during activities that
might otherwise cause agitation,
such as meals, travelling on
public transportation or during
Continued from page 35
therapies and physical restraints that
are often used to manage behavior.
Deborah Waas enjoying
her personalized playlist.
household tasks such as vacuuming.
When playing music is effective,
it is preferable to other forms of
intervention such as the drug
Photo: Alzheimer Society of Toronto.
Feature
Volunteer opportunities
While the Alzheimer Society of
Toronto’s (AST) project is currently
only available to Toronto residents,
you can access a guide to using
personalized music on the AST
website, free of charge. The simplicity
and relative inexpensiveness of
music therapy means that individuals
can make a huge difference. For
further information, to register for
the project, find out about volunteer
opportunities, or to donate an iPod (a
prepaid shipping label is available to
download), please go to the website:
www.alzheimertoronto.org/ipod.html.
SM is a registered service mark of Music & Memory
Sources: Music & Memory; Alzheimer Society of
Toronto
Mindfulness and depression
A
t the Centre for Addiction
and Mental Health in
Toronto, Dr. Zindel Segal
has developed a mindfulness-based
cognitive therapy (MBCT) that
provides patients in remission from
depression with strategies to avoid
negative thinking that can cause
them to relapse. Clinical studies
show that MBCT offers protection
against recurrence of depression
equivalent to that of antidepressant
medications. MBCT blends elements
of mindfulness meditation, involving
focusing attention on thoughts and
sensations in the present moment,
with cognitive behavioural therapy
to increase awareness of negative or
inaccurate thinking.
Dr. Segal developed MBCT in
collaboration with Dr. John Teasdale
of Cambridge University and Dr. Mark
36
Williams at Oxford University, and
in 2002 they co-authored the book
Mindfulness-Based Cognitive Therapy
for Depression. Their work was a
logical application of earlier theories
championed by the University of
Massachusetts’ Dr. Jon Kabat-Zinn,
founder of mindfulness-based stress
reduction therapy. The four also
co-authored the 2007 book The
Mindful Way Through Depression.
Although less than a decade old,
the therapy has taken firm root
in Western Europe, particularly
Switzerland, France, Belgium and
Germany, says Dr. Lucio Bizzini of
the University Hospitals of Geneva,
who became interested in MBCT in
2002 after attending a workshop
Dr. Segal led near Toronto.
In Canada, use of MBCT as a
treatment option is growing. Dr. Neil
Levitsky, a Toronto-based psychiatrist,
says, “I took a training course with
Dr. Segal about three years ago and I’ve
been running a group at North York
General Hospital in Toronto since then.
I’ve probably done about 20 groups,
so maybe 300 patients. I see a lot
of benefits.” Meanwhile, Dr. Steven
Selchen, who is offering a number of
groups based on MBCT at Toronto’s
Mount Sinai Hospital, believes the
therapy has other applications waiting
to be explored. “The original model
was designed for relapse prevention
in recurrent depression, but it has
branched out since then,” he says. “The
best research still addresses that initial
question; but it’s branching out into
chronic depression, anxiety and other
areas.”
Source: www.cihr-irsc.gc.ca/e/45254.html
Renaissance
Health Matters | Departments
Mindfulness meditation
M
indfulness meditation is
becoming increasingly
popular as a form of
complementary therapy. More and
more people are using it for simple
relaxation or to cope with stress and
anxiety. Evidence shows that it can
help with a number of problems
such as recurrent depression, anxiety
disorders, and addictive behaviour.
It can also be used by people with
physical conditions to help with
chronic pain. Meditation is also
recommended for cancer patients
because it can help them cope with
associated problems such as difficulty
sleeping, tiredness, feeling sick, pain,
and high blood pressure.
This form of meditation involves
techniques that increase awareness
of the present moment and it can be
useful for anyone who wants to live
a happier, healthier life. Meditation
improves ability to concentrate and
focus, as well as improving memory.
Practitioners are taught to be more
aware and this enables them to better
manage thoughts and emotions and
not become overwhelmed. They
can respond to different situations
Winter 2014
and make better choices. Significant
research has shown mindfulness to
increase attention and focus, fostering
well-being and less emotional
reactivity; it thickens the brain in
areas in charge of decision making,
emotional flexibility, and empathy.
Mindfulness meditation appears to be
an excellent antidote to the stresses
of contemporary life.
Dr. Danny Penman, an expert on
mindfulness meditation, explains its
history. “Mindfulness was originally
a Buddhist practice developed about
2,000 years ago. All religions practice
some form of meditation. It was
certainly very common in Christianity
until the late middle ages. Judaism and
Islam as well, all practice meditation,
but you don’t have to be religious to
practice it at all.” Dr. Penman says
mindfulness meditation can be selftaught, “If you are generally healthy and
just trying to cope with the stresses and
strains of daily life, you can learn it from
a book; you can learn it from a CD.”
The following meditation exercise
from Dr. Danny Penman’s book is
ideal for beginners and does not
require any special equipment. It
demonstrates the basic technique and
takes just a few minutes and it will
leave you profoundly relaxed.
If your condition allows it, sit
erect but relaxed in a straight-backed
chair with your feet on the floor. If
you cannot sit, then lie on a mat or
blanket on the floor or on your bed.
Allow your arms and hands to be as
relaxed as possible.
Gently close your eyes and focus
your awareness on the breath as it
flows into and out of your body. Feel
the sensations the air makes as it
flows in through your mouth or nose,
down your throat and into your lungs.
Feel the expansion and subsiding of
your chest and belly as you breathe.
Focus your awareness on where
the sensations are strongest. Stay in
contact with each in-breath and each
out-breath. Observe it without trying
to alter it in any way or expecting
anything special to happen.
When your mind wanders, gently
shepherd it back to the breath.
Try not to criticize yourself. Minds
wander. It’s what they do. The act
of realizing that your mind has
wandered — and encouraging it to
return to focus on the breath — is
central to the practice of mindfulness.
Your mind will eventually become
calm — or it may not. If it becomes
calm, then this may only be shortlived. Your mind may become
filled with thoughts or powerful
emotions such as fear, anger, stress
or love. These may also be fleeting.
Whatever happens, simply observe
as best you can without reacting
to your experience or trying to
change anything. Gently return your
awareness back to the sensations of
the breath again and again.
After a few minutes, or longer if
you prefer, gently open your eyes and
take in your surroundings.
The following websites give more
information about mindfulness
meditation and offer information to
help you get started:
More information: http://franticworld.com
Free guided meditations:
http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=22
www.mindfulnesscds.com
Online courses and fees to register:
http://marc.ucla.edu/body.cfm?id=112
Source: www.ageuk.org.uk/health-wellbeing/keeping-yourbody-healthy/can-meditation-improve-later-life
37
Departments | Health Matters
TravelMedic Mobile App
Allianz Global Assistance launched an app to help travelling members.
38
Photo: Hugh Wesley
Y
ou’ve arrived in paradise, but
have a splitting headache after
spending 12 hours on a plane.
If you forgot to pack medication,
would you know the international
name for Tylenol is Paracetamolum?
If not, Allianz Global Assistance’s
TravelMedic mobile app is for you!
Allianz Global Assistance, a
world leader in travel insurance
and assistance, has launched a
new smartphone app that provides
Canadian travellers with emergency
medical expertise at their fingertips.
The TravelMedic mobile app provides
important information on local
medical providers, medication and
first aid translations, emergency
phone numbers and more, providing
international travellers with critical
medical information.
Globally, Allianz Global Assistance
has helped millions of consumers
solve their travel problems over the
past 60 years and employs 13,224
associates speaking 58 languages
across five continents. Using the
extensive resources and experience
of the company’s medical assistance
teams in 34 countries around
the world, the TravelMedic app
includes Allianz Global Assistance’s
comprehensive list of 2,000 hospitals
in 129 countries. Each hospital listed
has been approved by the company
as appropriate for travellers and each
listing includes contact information
and one-touch dialing. A drug
dictionary includes internationally
recognized names for common drugs
while first aid term translations
are available in 17 languages.
Additionally, emergency services
phone numbers are available for 217
countries and can be reached through
one-touch dialing.
While the TravelMedic mobile
app is not a replacement for travel
medical insurance, its practical travel
assistance features can be accessed
immediately while travelling, offering
increased security should a medical
issue arise while out of the country.
Sandy Winfield, Vice President
of Operations at Allianz Global
Assistance in Canada, says dealing
with medical problems in foreign
countries is a major challenge when
travellers do not know where to
turn for help. “The TravelMedic app
addresses one of the key healthcare
problems that consumers face when
travelling abroad,” said Winfield. “The
ability to easily locate an appropriate
medical facility where you can be
confident you will receive quality
medical care, all via your smartphone,
is a significant benefit for travellers.”
The app also provides a stream
of the latest travel alerts from the
Government of Canada’s Travel
Advisory website. These alerts help
travellers stay updated in real-time on
any security risks that may affect their
destination. The TravelMedic app is
free to download in the Apple App
Store and in the Google Play store.
Allianz Global Assistance provides
the travel assistance for participants in
RTO/ERO’s Extended Health Care and
Supplemental Travel Plans. Before you
travel, make sure you know the country
code of your destination and take
your Out-of-Province/Canada Travel
Booklet with you. Contact information
for Allianz Global Assistance is on the
back page of this booklet. In a medical
emergency, make sure to contact Allianz
Global Assistance as soon as possible.
You must contact them within 48 hours
of the emergency.
Source: Allianz Global Assistance
Renaissance
Health Matters | Departments
Check items off your bucket list – boost brain power!
L
eisure activities that challenge
and engage you are not only fun,
if you participate in them often
they also maximize your brain health.
In recent years, there has
been accumulating evidence that
participating in activities that make
you think hard and learn new things
is good for your brain. People with
such active, engaged lifestyles tend
to do better on memory and other
cognitive tests than people who are
less engaged. Even more encouraging
is research showing these same
individuals are less likely to develop
dementia – such as Alzheimer’s disease
– than those with less active lifestyles.
6 Ways to Engage Your Brain
There are no “magic bullets” when
it comes to choosing activities to
participate in as part of an engaged
lifestyle. The important ingredients
are novelty – you should be learning
something new – and challenge – it’s
important to pick something that
makes you think a bit.
Leisure activities that provide
this kind of engagement are nearly
limitless. To get you started thinking
about your own interests, here are
our top 6 ways to engage your brain:
1.Nurture your inner artist. To do
this, you could re-connect with a
musical instrument that you used
to play, or learn how to play a new
one. Join a choir or start your own
musical group. Sign up for a class to
learn how to paint, draw, or sculpt.
Join a local theatre group and help
put on a play. Read up on the art of
photography, and see how you can
improve your camera skills. Write a
poem or essay, or start a journal.
2.Take up a new hobby. Are there
activities that you always thought
Winter 2014
would be fun to learn? You could
build model airplanes and learn how
to fly them. Join a knitting group
and learn how to make that chunky
wool sweater you’ve always wanted.
Buy a scrapbook-making kit and
organize all those new photos you’ve
been taking. Learn how to make
your own wine or beer. Join up with
a friend to play board or card games
that require strategic thinking or
memory, such as chess, bridge, mahjong, Scrabble, backgammon, or
even poker. 3.Explore cultural activities. These
may be right outside your door, or
half a world away. Depending on
your budget and ability to travel,
you may want to explore new places
and expose yourself to unfamiliar
languages, customs, and people.
You could travel closer to home and
discover local tourist attractions and
popular hot spots. Go to the theatre,
symphony, ballet, or opera. Visit a
museum or historical site.
4.Do old activities in new ways.
If you already have some favorite
activities, think about how you
could “shake them up” and make
them into novel, challenging
activities. If you like to cook, buy
a new cookbook or search the
internet for new recipes, then cook
up something you’ve never made
before. If you like to explore, look
at a map and figure out alternate
routes to get to familiar places,
using back roads or streets your
rarely use. Then walk or drive these
different routes from time to time. 5.Learn something new, just for
the fun of it. Learn how to play
logic games like Sudoku if you
haven’t already. If regular Sudoku
puzzles seem intimidating, start
with simpler versions designed for
youngsters. Once you master the
basic puzzle, move on to variations
like Kakuro, Killer Sudoku, and
Hypersudoku so that you are
continually learning and using
new strategies. If you are more
athletically inclined, think about
playing a sport that you have never
played before. Take a class or ask
a friend to teach you how to play
squash, lawn bowling, curling,
cricket, or something else that is
unfamiliar to you. You could decide
to pick up a self-study workbook
at a book store and learn a new
academic topic or re-acquaint
yourself with one of your favourite
subjects from school. Read up on
the rules of a sport that is new to
you, then attend a game or match
and see what you learn. Or, more
generally, think of some topic
that you’re interested in knowing
more about, and research it on the
internet.
6.Take the ultimate learning
challenge. The surest way to
engage your brain is to take
advantage of formal learning or
volunteer opportunities. You could
sign up for a course at your local
library, community centre, college,
or university. You might learn
how to speak a new language,
or brush up on a language you
used to know. Volunteer in a new
organization, doing something you
have never done before.
The most important things is to
explore new activities and ideas, choose
different things that are enjoyable to
you, and have some fun!
‘6 Ways to Engage Your Brain’ is excerpted
from the book Living with Mild Cognitive
Impairment by Anderson, Murphy, and Troyer.
39
Departments | Health Matters
Enhanced claims service
40
Photo: S_Photo, shutterstock
J
ohnson Inc.’s Plan Benefits Claims team is very proud
of the personalized service they provide to RTO/ERO
members. Regardless of the type or size of a claim,
the team is there to assist members. Johnson Inc. has
further enhanced this service with the creation of the
Complex Claims Unit.
The Complex Claims Unit is available to handle
situations that require more time, are sensitive in
nature or require a dedicated individual who will spend
whatever time is necessary, from the onset of the claim all
the way through to resolution. Moving the more complex
claims to this specialized team enables the rest of the Plan
Benefits Claims department to focus on incoming calls
and claims that are more straightforward.
The Complex Claims Unit can assist with authorization
form related claims and enquiries. This includes end-of-life
care, convalescent care, private duty nursing, as well as the
rental and purchase of medical equipment (for example,
hospital beds, wheelchairs). The team also handles
accidental dental claims, as well as electronic claims
submitted by certain paramedical practitioners, or by a
dentist. The team investigates and works with internal staff,
including the medical consultant, to confirm eligibility for
new medical items that are introduced to the market.
The unit initially began with four members. With the
increasing need, they have expanded to a team of six. All
Complex Claims Unit members are seasoned employees
with many years of experience and a wealth of knowledge
and expertise in handling complex claims.
Since its inception in February 2014, the Complex
Claims Unit has proved to be a very valuable service to
RTO/ERO members. Members truly enjoy working with
a dedicated individual who can spend as much time as
needed to help them through the process. The unit is
able to actively work on a member’s behalf by contacting
providers to obtain any necessary missing information.
This reduces the stress and inconvenience experienced
by members who are often dealing with difficult
circumstances.
A recent case involved an RTO/ERO member who
medically required the rental of a hospital bed mattress.
The Complex Claims Unit helped obtain medical
information supporting the rental by working with the
member’s occupational therapist, as well as the vendor.
The unit was able to quickly approve the rental so that
the member had a seamless transition from Community
Care Access Centre (CCAC) funding to payment under
the RTO/ERO Extended Health Care Plan. The member
was extremely pleased and feels that the personalized
service received is great for all members.
Another case involved a member’s spouse who was
coordinating benefits for a complex dental claim. Both the
member and the dental office required assistance with the
claim submission process. A Complex Claims Unit specialist
worked with them to obtain all the necessary information
and expedite the response. The member was very happy,
stating the service received was above and beyond the call of
duty of a claims specialist. She added, in a follow up email,
“It is indeed the extra service as stated that ensures that I will
continue to be an active member with RTO/ERO. I would
highly recommend to family and friends who seek private
health insurance to join RTO/ERO.”
You may contact Johnson Inc. Plan Benefits Claims via
email, [email protected]. This email address is also
used by RTO/ERO to forward any claims related emails
received that require Johnson Inc.’s attention. This email
address is monitored by the Complex Claims Unit.
Renaissance
Health Matters | Departments
Be happier and healthier – volunteer
O
To be included in the review, studies
had to measure psychosocial, physical
and/or cognitive outcomes associated
with formal volunteering – such as
happiness, physical health, depression,
cognitive functioning, feelings of social
support and life satisfaction.
“Our goal was to obtain a more
comprehensive view of the current
state of knowledge on the benefits of
volunteering among older adults,” said
Dr. Anderson, a senior scientist with
Baycrest’s Rotman Research Institute
and associate professor, University of
Toronto. “We discovered a number
of trends in the results that paint a
compelling picture of volunteering as
an important lifestyle component for
maintaining health and wellbeing in
later years.”
Photo: Hugh Wesley
lder adults who stay active
by volunteering are getting
more out of it than just an
altruistic feeling – they are receiving a
health boost! A new study, led by the
Rotman Research Institute at Baycrest
Health Sciences and published online
in Psychological Bulletin, is the first
to take a broad-brush look at all the
available peer-reviewed evidence
regarding the psychosocial health
benefits of formal volunteering for
older adults.
Lead investigator Dr. Nicole
Anderson, with scientists from
Canadian and American academic
centres, examined 73 studies
published over the last 45 years
involving adults aged 50-plus who
were in formal volunteering roles.
Winter 2014
Among the key findings:
• Volunteering is associated with
reductions in symptoms of
depression, better overall health,
fewer functional limitations, and
greater longevity.
• Health benefits may depend on
a moderate level of volunteering.
There appears to be a tipping
point after which greater benefits
no longer accrue. The “sweet spot”
appears to be at about 100 annual
hours, or 2-3 hours per week.
• More vulnerable seniors (i.e. those
with chronic health conditions) may
benefit the most from volunteering.
• Feeling appreciated or needed as
a volunteer appears to amplify the
relationship between volunteering
and psychosocial wellbeing.
“Taken together, these results suggest
that volunteering is associated with
health improvements and increased
physical activity – changes that one
would expect to offer protection against
a variety of health conditions,” said Dr.
Anderson. Indeed, a moderate amount
of volunteering has been shown to
be related to less hypertension and
fewer hip fractures among seniors who
volunteer compared to their matched
non-volunteering peers.
If you are interested in finding
out about volunteer opportunities,
please take a look at the volunteer
opportunities page — www.rto-ero.org/
volunteer-opportunities — on the
RTO/ERO website where you can
sign up for all kinds of programs and
activities. This is a free service which
is available to members and nonmembers. Anyone is welcome to post
volunteer opportunities they feel would
be of interest to RTO/ERO members
and to reply to any listings.
Source: Baycrest Health Sciences
41
Departments | Leisure Time
SoHuNu?
M a rg a r e t , P e g g y a n d M e g
by Frank McKen, District 47, Vancouver Island
T
he following questions ask you identify the surname
of each of the following, whose first name is Margaret,
Meg or Peggy. Write your answers in the spaces on the
grid which correspond to the number of the clue.
1
2
3
4
5
7
6
8
9
Trouble Hearing?
RTO/ERO members SAVE 10%
off all regular-priced hearing aids and earn
up to 1,000 AIR MILES® reward miles!
Don’t Worry, Be Happy Guarantee™
Hearing aids come with everything you need
for 3 years, even the batteries, lowest price and
satisfaction guaranteed!
Already wear hearing aids?
Join our Battery Club and get 3 months of
batteries for FREE – No purchase necessary!
ListenUP! Canada has over 100 locations
across Ontario. Call us today to book
your FREE, no obligation hearing test!
MAG-RTO
This offer cannot be combined with other promotions or discounts for hearing aids.
Hearing tests are provided free of charge for adults ages 18 and older.
Some conditions may apply. Please see clinic for details.
Across
2.Margaret ________ played the high society stooge in
several Marx Brothers films, often asking “Why are
they laughing?”
5. Peggy ________ sang Fever, Is That All There Is? and
Why Don’t you Do Right?
6. Margaret ________ was a famous anthropologist who
once said, “Fathers are biological necessities, but social
accidents.”
7. Margaret ________ became a titled peer in Britain and
was its first female Prime Minister.
9. Peggy ________ is (in 2005) a columnist for the
Wall Street Journal and has also been a presidential
speechwriter, whose memorable passages include,
“Read my lips; no new taxes”.
Down
1. Margaret ________ wrote The Handmaid’s Tale, The
Edible Woman and Alias Grace.
2. Margaret ________ is a British author who has written The
Witch of Exmoor, A Summer Bird Cage and The Waterfall.
3. Margaret ________ was a child actress who starred in
Meet Me in St. Louis (1944), The Canterville Ghost (1944)
and Babes on Broadway (1941)
4. Margaret ________, film actress who starred in Three
Comrades (1938), The Shopworn Angel (1938) and The
Shining Hour (1938)
8. Meg _______ starred in Sleepless in Seattle and When
Harry Met Sally.
See solution on pg. 49
President’s Message... Continued from page 2
and Design. I was one of the oldest people in the
class, but it was a lot of fun! I never did make use
of my knowledge to earn any extra cash, but I have
assisted family members and friends with party
arrangements, centerpieces and wedding bouquets.
I also know what gypsophilia and salal are. Pretty
satisfying in the long run!
I challenge YOU to cross off some items on
YOUR bucket list!
1-888-627-9064 | ListenUPcanada.com
42
Renaissance
FLY
IP
TR
NDROPE
U
RO EU
TO
E
E
FR
CANADIAN DOLLARS AT PAR! THE ISLES OF GREECE I HAVE SAILED THE
SEAS… TO THE HOLY
WHERE DELOS ROSE
CITY OF BYZANTIUM
15-Day Cruise-Tour
17-Day Cruise-Tour
Istanbul to Venice
Roundtrip Istanbul
April 27–May 11, 2015
4,945
$
INSIDE
5,625
$
OCEAN-VIEW
Istanbul, (2-night hotel stay),
Izmir (Ephesus) overnight on board,
Izmir (Pergamon), Kos, Heraklion
(Knossos), Santorini (Akrotiri), Athens,
Delos, Mykonos, Kavala (Philippi),
Canakkale (Troy or Gallipoli), Istanbul
Includes overnight stays in
Istanbul and on board in Izmir
5,495
INSIDE
6,195
$
ONLY
POMPEII IS
15%*
SOMETHING –
SO WONDERFUL,
SO FULL OF MYSTERY
17-Day Cruise-Tour
Rome to Venice
May 8-24, 2015
$
SINGLE
SUPPLEMENT
OCEAN-VIEW
Istanbul, (2-night hotel stay),
Thessalonica, Volos (Meteora),
Patmos, Athens, Gythion (Sparta
& Mystra), Preveza (Arta), Corfu,
Dubrovnik, Ravenna, Venice
(2-night hotel stay)
Includes overnight stays in
Istanbul and Venice
June 23–July 9, 2015
5,495
$
INSIDE
6,250
$
OCEAN-VIEW
Rome (2-night hotel stay), Sorrento
overnight, (Pompeii & Herculaneum),
Amalfi (Paestum), Taormina, Corfu,
Sarande (Butrint), Lecce, Dubrovnik,
Split, Urbino, Venice (2-night hotel stay)
Includes overnight stays in Rome,
Sorrento and Venice
At these special rates space will go quickly – CALL TODAY!
Aegean Odyssey –
in a class of her own
Aegean Odyssey combines the best of traditional
elegance with all the modern conveniences of a firstclass ship. Classically elegant, but far from stuffy or
formal, Aegean Odyssey also provides wonderful
service and an intimate atmosphere. Other advantages
of the ship’s size are that she is able to visit ports that
are too small for larger vessels, navigate close to scenic
islands and cruise along the spectacular coastlines of
Greece, Croatia and the French Riviera.
FARES INCLUDE:
• FREE roundtrip
airfare
• Excursions with
expert guides
• Pre- and/or Postcruise hotel stays
• Open seating dining
• Choice of restaurants
• Complimentary wine
with dinner
• Gratuities on board
• Expert guest speaker
program
• Single supplement
only 15%
M UST B E B O O K ED B EFO R E J ANUARY 31, 2015 – Q UOTE O F F E R AP 1
For tailored vacation experiences
exclusively for RTO/ERO members,
visit rtotravel.ca or call 1.877.872.3826
1.877.872.3826
ON-4499356/4499372 | BC-34799 | 111 Peter Street, Suite 200, Toronto ON M5V2H1 | Canadian owned
Prices are p/p dbl occ in U.S. dollars – BUT ARE CANADIAN AT PAR if booked before January 31, 2015, based on space available and include all port taxes in Cat M for inside and Cat J for
outside. *LOW single supplements are based on space available - we encourage booking early. Airfare (inclusive of all tax) is return in economy class from Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal, Halifax,
Vancouver, Edmonton, Calgary or Winnipeg and is applicable when booking the complete cruise-tour. Offer is capacity controlled. Ships registry: Malta.
Hosted Tours
Travelling the Globe with Ease
THE TREASURES OF VIETNAM & CAMBODIA
HOSTED BY CINDY TAYLOR & ANNI DE LIMA
Discover the Treasures of Vietnam and Cambodia on this
unique Merit Hosted Tour. Learn about the lost civilizations
and the unique cultures of this region, the charming riverside
towns and great local cuisine!
Highlights:
Hanoi | Halong Bay | Hoi an | Ho Chi Minh City | Cu Chi
Tunnels | Mỹ Tho | Siem Reap | Phnom Penh | Angkor Wat
PERU & THE INCA TRAIL
MERIT
Discover spectacular scenery, ancient civilizations, and HOSTED
modern people whose traditions are still very much
alive. This comprehensive tour is an inclusive cultural
immersion, with great food and comfortable accommodations.
Highlights:
Lima | Arequipa | Chivay | Puno | Lake Titicaca | Cusco | Sacred
Valley of the Incas | Machu Picchu | Aquas Calientes | Lima
Includes: return air, domestic air within Asia, 14 nights 4-star
accommodation, luxury air-conditioned coach transportation,
most meals, excursions, entrance fees, service charges, english
speaking local guides, taxes, premium lounge pass, Merit tour host
Includes: round-trip international and domestic air, overnight
and free time in Aquas Calientes, Vista Dome train to the Sacred
Valley from Aquas Calientes, Larco Museum in Lima, thermal
baths in the Colca Canyon, four-star accommodations, services
of a professional English speaking guide, most meals, Peru
destination guide, premium lounge pass, Merit tour host
$5,3501 p.p.
$4,4002 p.p.
16 days
Departs from Toronto: Nov. 13, 2015
15 days
Departs from Toronto: Apr. 11, 2015
Travel Bucket List
Discover Siem Reap where you will experience the ancient
Angkor City. Visit one of the wonders of the world, the
Angkor Wat Temples
Take a motor coach to Machu Picchu, the Lost City of the Incas and
UNESCO World Heritage site, composed of temples, palaces and
steep stair-like roads
For tailored vacation experiences
exclusively for RTO/ERO members,
visit rtotravel.ca or call 1.877.872.3826
CDN$ pp dbl occ. Return airfare is included from Toronto. Space is limited on this hosted departure. Contact a Merit Travel Specialist for full terms and conditions. 1 Single
supplement $995. Not Included: Any personal items such as gratuities, insurance or any items not mentioned. Vietnam & Cambodia Visa fees. 2 Single room supplement: $1,150 p.p .
ON-4499356/4499372 | BC-34799 | 111 Peter Street, Suite 200, Toronto ON M5V2H1 | Canadian owned
See the World
with Merit Longstays
SCOTLAND AND ENGLAND
HOSTED BY CINDY TAYLOR
MERIT
HOSTED
MERIT
HOSTED
MEDITERRANEAN VACATION IN CANNES
FRENCH RIVIERA
Follow in the footsteps of royalty, writers and
poets as we traverse these amazing countries.
Experience a journey back in time on this once
in a lifetime magical journey.
Includes: stay for a month at Villa Francia, one bedroom condo
with kitchen and balcony | bar, restaurant, tennis court, mini
market, shuttle to shopping | cultural excursions to Nice, Monte
Carlo, Grasse, & St. Paul de Vence | Merit tour host | transfers
Highlights:
Urquhart Castle | The Whiskey Trail | Balmoral Castle |
St. Andrews | Melrose Abbey | York Minster | Buckingham
Palace | Westminster Abbey | Tower of London | Stonehenge
$2,790* p.p.
Includes: round-trip air, transfers, local guides,
most meals, luxury accommodation, transportation
throughout the itinerary
ALGARVE ALTO DA COLINA
$5,299* p.p.
12 nights
Departs Toronto May 28, 2015
Travel Bucket List
Admire the beauty and history of York Minster, one of the world’s
most magnificent cathedrals, with foundations rooted in
England’s earliest history
+ $650 tax
28 nights
Departs Toronto Feb. 28, 2015
Includes: one bedroom apartment with kitchen, private
balcony | direct access to famous Santa Eulalia beach via the
Alfagar Village | indoor heated pool, gym, and sauna steam bath |
Loule Market excursion | services of a local representative |
premium lounge pass | transfers
$1,995* p.p.
28 nights
Departs Toronto Feb. 10, 2015
$2,059* p.p.
28 nights
Departs Toronto Feb. 24, 2015
+ $476 tax
+ $476 tax
1.877.872.3826
CDN$ pp dbl occ. Upgrades available. Round-trip air included from Toronto. Tourist Tax: 28 euros per person paid locally. For complete terms and conditions, please contact your
Merit Travel Consultant. ON-4499356/4499372 | BC-34799 | 111 Peter Street, Suite 200, Toronto ON M5V2H1 | Canadian owned
*
Departments | Members’ Bookshelf
Messala – The Return from Ruin – A Sequel to Ben-Hur
by Lois Scouten, District 24, East York, 445 pp, Published by BPS Books, 2011
Reviewed by Irene Beinarovics, District 24, Scarborough and East York
R
emember the
chariot race in
the 1959 movie,
Ben Hur, starring
Charlton Heston? The
main contenders were
Ben-Hur and Messala,
childhood friends turned
bitter enemies. Messala’s chariot crashes and in the movie
he dies. However, in her historical novel, Messala — The
Return from Ruin, Lois Scouten cleverly resurrects her
hero. Both her book and the movie are based on the
novel, Ben-Hur, written by Lew Wallace and published in
1880. It was set in Jerusalem and Rome in biblical times.
Lois has Messala recount his life story starting with
the ill-fated chariot race in Antioch. The horrific event
had left Messala crippled, bankrupt and shamed. For a
while, his only comfort was the admiration that Iras, the
18-year old Egyptian, had for him. She gave up Ben-Hur
for Messala, despite his misfortunes. They marry and set
out for Rome.
Messala is a paraplegic with no prospects for any status
in Roman society except one of ridicule, he starts writing
novels. Miserably impoverished, they end up living in a
slum neighbourhood. In her bitter disappointment, Iras
resorts to a life of prostitution.
Lois very artfully weaves her extensive knowledge of
Roman history, values, beliefs and lifestyle into her intriguing
plot where the characters grapple with challenges similar
to ours while the red carpet of Roman society of the day is
tantalizingly rolled out for us. We read of Messala’s tireless
efforts to regain his ability to walk, to regain his pride,
and to win the hand of the woman he truly loves. And
what of his relationship with his old enemy, Ben-Hur? Do
they become friends again? Do they race again? Does the
message of the Jewish prophet, Jesus, influence their actions?
Find out. Paperback or Kindle editions — available at
www.amazon.com or from the author at [email protected].
Port Dover’s Nursing Sisters of World War 1:
Memories of Minnie and Laurel Misner
by Harry B. Barrett, District 12 Norfolk, 118 pp., Patterson’s Creek Press, 2013,
ISBN 9780968608067
Reviewed by Barbara Hourigan, District 12 Norfolk
P
ort Dover’s Nursing Sisters of World War 1 by Harry
B. Barrett is a wonderfully written and illustrated
non-fiction story dedicated to the army and navy
sisters of the two Great Wars. This book follows the stories
of two nurses, called nursing sisters, from Canada during
First World War. Minnie Misner joined the Royal Canadian
Medical Corp in 1915. She was posted overseas with the
7th Canadian General Hospital (Queens), served in the
Special Services Hospital, Ramsgate, No. 7 Field Hospital,
France, and No. 10 Brighton. Minnie received the Royal
Red Cross medal from King George V. Her sister, Laurel
Misner, served in St. Andrews Hospital, Malta, in 1916,
and No. 10 Canadian General Hospital, Brighton.
The book is divided into four parts. Part I contains
over 100 photographs from Minnie’s albums. The images
document the working conditions and leisure activities of
nurses and patients in the field and convalescent hospitals.
46
Parts II and
III reproduce
over 180 pages
from the small diary-autograph books kept by Minnie
and Laurel. The many beautifully rendered drawings,
poems and autographs contributed by the patients are
an indication of the high regard in which nursing sisters
were held, and the optimism of the patients in the
hospitals during the Great War.
Part IV provides a brief history of the Misner family,
a prominent fishing family in the Lake Erie town of
Port Dover.
Harry B. Barrett is a practical naturalist, conservationist and
local historian with 12 other published books. Port Dover’s
Nursing Sisters costs $20.00 plus $5.00 shipping. To order
send a cheque to Harry B. Barrett to P.O. Box 29, Port Dover,
Ontario N0A 1N0 or email [email protected].
Renaissance
Members’ Bookshelf | Departments
Grace: A teacher’s life, one-room schools and a century of change in Ontario
by Millie Morton
Reviewed by Margaret Werkhoven, District 19, Hastings and Prince Edward
M
illie Morton is a sociologist
who grew up on a farm near
Stirling in Eastern Ontario.
Her first book, Grace, chronicles the
personal and professional life of her
mother — a remarkable woman who
was a farmer’s wife, an elementary
school teacher, a mother and
grandmother, a community leader
and an early President of District 19,
Hastings and Prince Edward.
The format of Millie’s book
makes for an easy and enjoyable
read. As Millie visited her mother
through her 90s in a retirement
home, she collected stories about
her mother’s long life in the way
that good teachers always have. She
asked many questions — and what
marvellous responses she got!
There are a number of books
available which describe life in rural
Ontario’s one-room schools, but this
one is different. Grace Morton had a
phenomenal memory and an incredible
zest for life. The reader is transported
back into the 1920s when only half
of Ontario’s 10 year olds were still in
school, when children really did walk
three miles to school and board in town
in the winter to attend high school, and
when “new homes” in the country had
no indoor electricity or plumbing. Four
decades later, the reader enjoys the story
about Grace’s school centennial year
planning in 1966 when she successfully
invited Liberal MP, John Matheson to
be the guest speaker. The book is full
of classroom tips which retired teachers
will remember with nostalgia and which
new teachers will still find useful.
Winter 2014
More than a history though, this
book is a love story. It captures the
author’s devotion to her mother and
her keen desire to remember and
share her mother’s life story. Grace is
the story of an ordinary woman who
lived to celebrate her 100th birthday
in the same community where she
was born, raised and worked; but
the reader comes away with a feeling
that Millie has shared the life of an
extraordinary teacher and human
being. There is a final lesson for the
reader too: our own lives are made
richer when we seek to discover our
parents’ stories.
Over 35 Locations
Across Ontario
Arnprior
Barrie*
Belleville
Bolton
Burlington
Campbellford
Collingwood
Essex
Etobicoke
Hawkesbury
Kingston*
Leamington
Lindsay
London*
Hear Now, Pay Later
For as little as $132 a month,
you will benefit from the newest
hearing aid technology and start
enjoying life to the fullest today!
**
Mississauga
Orillia
Orleans
Ottawa*
Perth
Peterborough*
Richmond Hill
Scarborough
Stittsville
Strathroy
Tecumseh
Trenton
Windsor*
We look forward to
hearing from you!
Contact Helix to book your appointment.
877-685-5327 I www.helixhca.com
SPECIAL
OFFER!
$700 OFF
A PAIR OF WIDEX
PREMIUM HEARING AIDS*
*Limited time offer. Offer expires March 31st, 2015. Not valid with any other offer or discount. Premium refers to the
highest level of hearing aid technology. Discounts may also be available for other levels of technology. Full details
available at Helix Hearing Care. Not applicable on third party orders.
* Multiple locations.
** Payment amount calculated after all applicable government grants and discounts.
47
Departments | Classifieds
FOR RENT
TRADITIONAL MUSKOKA COTTAGE on 200’
waterfront. Sleeps 6. 20 min from Port Carling.
Contact [email protected].
ALGARVE PORTUGAL. 2 br, 2 bath ocean view
apt. for long or short term stay. www.bosloe.com.
SCOTTSDALE, ARIZONA. Gorgeous condos,
1 or 2 br, resort setting, with everything
needed for a perfect holiday! Pictures, etc.,
www.29desertsunescape.com. Kathy 1-519-720-0267
(Brantford, ON), [email protected].
ST GEORGES CLUB BERMUDA. A studio or a 1
br apt avail. April 4, 2015 for 1 or 2 weeks. Email
[email protected] or call 226-664-0455.
ENJOY THE PLATINUM COAST OF BARBADOS
in our 1 br condo or our 2 br villa. For info. package,
contact us at 519-580-6314 or [email protected].
FOR RENT IN CALGARY. 1 br apt., sleeps 4,
close to downtown and transportation. Contact
Kim at [email protected] for more info.
BEAUTIFUL NEW SMYRNA BEACH – FLORIDA.
Ocean Trillium Suites, condo-tel. Full kitchens and
fully furnished 1 br condo suites, with views of the
Atlantic Ocean. Direct oceanfront pool. Located on
the east coast of Central Florida, 1 hr drive from
Orlando. Property founded by Ontario teachers.
www.oceantrilliumsuites.com or 877-428-9106.
SOUTHWEST FLORIDA BEACHFRONT CONDO.
Seven miles of stunning gulf beach on Little
Gasparilla Island. 1 br, pool, spectacular sunsets! January & March avail. [email protected].
FLORIDA VACATION POOL HOMES AND CONDOS. Gulf Coast and Orlando area. Call for winters and
off season Specials. 905-632-2352 or 800-619-9619,
[email protected], www.floridastays.com.
FOR SALE
ARUBA TIMESHARE FOR SALE. 2 br, 2
bath, full kitchen, dr, lr, balcony, on beach with
ocean view, sleeps 6. Newly renovated. Pics at
www.costalinda-aruba.com. Email [email protected].
BRUCE PENINSULA GEM. On the Bruce Trail and
steps to a Georgian Bay sand beach, this 11/2 acre
residential property in Hope Bay offers a wellmaintained, 3 storey home and 6 housekeeping
cottages. www.cedarholmebb.com, 519-534-3705.
PUZZLE AND TRIVIA BOOKS BY AN RTO/ERO
MEMBER: 20th C. trivia for party games or private
reading (SoHuNu?); American crosswords (MorningMaze); cryptic crosswords (CoffeeCryptic); and the
rarely seen double acrostics puzzles (Aggrostics).
Search “Fraser McKen” on amazon.com and have a
look at the detailed descriptions for each.
SERVICES AND OPPORTUNITIES
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITiES at the Toronto
Kiwanis Music Festival in February. Contact
[email protected].
RELOCATING TO VANCOUVER ISLAND? Join District 47 of RTO/ERO. 1. Make new friends. 2. Keep all
your health benefits. 3. Become involved in your new
community. Contact Darrell Grande, District President, [email protected]. Website, district47.rto-ero.org.
Teach in China for 2 or 4 weeks in July 2015.
Interested? Check us out at www.china-connection.ca.
48
BUSINESS OPPORTUNITY. Retired teacher looking for business partners to promote an amazing
new anti-aging skincare line developed by dermatologists Rodan and Fields (creators of Proactiv®).
Contact [email protected], 519-436-3347.
TRAVEL CONSULTANT — IDEAL FOR RETIREES.
Expedia CruiseShipCenters, Canada’s #1 cruise specialist is seeking motivated self-starters, eager to reap
the rewards of managing your own business. Our independent, commission-based cruise sales consultants
work their own hours, selling dream vacations, while
enjoying travel perks. Contact Mary at 905-274-7447
or email [email protected].
NOW IS THE TIME TO ENJOY MASSAGES. Jacek
Cygan, experienced registered massage therapist
available. 416-255-7490, website: jacekc.com.
ENGLISH TEACHING IN CHINA. Retired? Seeking adventure and change? Six cities to choose
from: Beijing, Nanchang, Yantai, Dalian, Chongqing
and Zhengzhou. Benefits package includes airfare
allowance, visa documents, free accommodation,
free internet (office) and paid vacation. Curriculum
provided and full staff support. Chance to travel.
Contact [email protected].
TRAVEL
FRANCE ALSACE. Wine route near Strasbourg,
large 2 br apt. Balcony overlooking river, beamed
ceilings, much charm. Contact [email protected].
GREECE. Charming 1 br self-catering apt (sleeps
3) on Mediterranean Sea. Fully equipped, including
air conditioning. Contact [email protected].
FRANCE, RIVIERA. Seaview studio, steps from beach
and market. http://bandolstudiorental.blogspot.com,
[email protected].
SOUTHERN FRANCE – NARBONNE. Spacious
2 br furnished apt. on canal. Old world charm. Modern conveniences. Centrally located. Parking. From
$725/wk. 416-690-8622, [email protected],
http://larobineapartment.com.
OK CYCLE & ADVENTURE TOURS. Follow your
dreams. Since 1995, fabulous cycling and vacations worldwide (incl. many bike/barge), guided
and self-guided, for all levels of abilities. Exclusive
and custom tours also avail. Share the passion!
www.okcycletours.com.
JAPAN, LAND OF THE RISING SUN. Discover
this venerable culture on a 10 or 18 day tour during the Sakura Cherry Blossom Festival. Segment
one: March 28 – April 6. Add greater depth by
adding Segment two: April 7 – 14 2015. Garry
Burns, TICO #T711984, ERTO District 40 Travel
Chairperson, [email protected].
TUSCANY. Beautifully restored farmhouse set on a
hilltop surrounded by award winning vineyard. Fully
equipped, 2 br, 2 en suite baths. Stunning views.
Near Montepulciano, Cortona, Siena. Travel info.
package with detailed itineraries incl. RTO/ERO
discount. 416-588-1954, www.tuscany-villa.com.
TRAVEL WITH TEACHERS/FRIENDS. Fully hosted
by experienced RTO/ERO travel leaders (Districts
20/48) and Merit Group Travel, TICO #50017676.
Our 2015 itineraries: Cuba cruise/land, Jan 25 –
Feb. 9. Ecuador/Galapagos, March 5 – 16). Wales &
Scotland May 27 – June 11. Fall colours cruise, late
Sept. Morocco, Oct. 14 – Nov 2. John, 613-546-6378,
[email protected], www.rtoero20.com/travel.html.
CUBA – ‘SPANISH STUDIES IN CUBA’ (HAVANA).
$2,500 CAD for 4 wks. Hotel with breakfast and
dinner, tuition fee (airfare not incl.). 250-478-0494,
[email protected], http://spanishstudiesincuba.ca.
COSTA RICA FOR NATURE LOVERS. Private
luxury Ocean side Villa, jungle pool view, RTO/ERO
members at 50%. www.villacostarica.info, Joan
416-578-5640.
NAMIBIA. Join retired Peel teacher Janet Williams as she escorts you through some of the
finest game viewing in Etosha. From prehistoric
rock paintings to the Bushmen of the Kalahari
Desert, immerse yourself in the wonders of
Africa on Sept. 29, 2015 for 18 days. Call
1-800-387-8890 or visit www.craigtravel.com. TICO
#1498987.
LADIES HIT THE WORLD. Travel groups: New
Orleans April 2 – 7, 2015; AMA Rhine Christmas
Markets Nov 22 – Dec. 2, 2015; Crystal Cruises
Monte Carlo to Venice April 7 – 17, 2016. All
booking now for best rates. TICO #1258982.
[email protected], 1-877-846-6885.
CROATIA DALMATION COAST. First class Globus coach group tour Sept. 14 – 27, 2015.
Air from any gateway airport. TICO #1258982.
[email protected], 1-877-846-6885.
2015 RIVER CRUISE GROUP DEALS. Avalon
Blue Danube Discovery July 12; Viking portraits of
Southern France Aug. 19; Viking Elegant Elbe Oct.
8. We specialize in river cruising! TICO #1258982.
[email protected], 1-877-846-6885.
CHINA and YANGTZE RIVER CRUISE. Spend
sixteen days in the Giant of the East, Oct. 6, 2015.
Visiting Beijing, Xi’an, Shanghai and Guilin, see the
magnificent highlights and set sail on a delightful cruise through the Three Gorges. Escorted
by retired Niagara teacher Pam Cannon. Call
1-800-387-8890 or visit www.craigtravel.com.
EXTRA SAVINGS ON 2015 BEST VALUE AVALON EUROPEAN RIVER CRUISES. 2 days
only — must book on Jan. 28 & Jan 29. Extend
the cruise with a healing spa treatment for rheumatic and circular problems for another wk in
Budapest? I am from Budapest. TICO #50018498.
[email protected] or 905-318-0289.
AZAMARA CLUB CRUISES. Only 680 participants, all inclusive onboard ship, AzAmazing
evenings on Europe, South Pacific, Asia sailings — with choice of offers, plus onboard credit
and/or tour on select sailings. Book between Jan.
19 – 26, 2015 and receive additional shipboard
credit. TICO #50018498. [email protected]
or 905-318-0289.
WINTER IN SUNNY FLORIDA. Clearwater Cascade is an active resident-owned adult mobile home
community in the heart of Tampa-St. Petersburg.
Close to shopping, beaches, golf, hockey, baseball, live theatre, bike trails and more. New and
pre-owned homes and vacant lots for sale. Share
financing available. www.clearwatercascade.com,
727-544-8111.
Renaissance
Reunions | Departments
CALLING ALL CENTRAL TECH ALUMNI, former teachers and friends.
Central Technical School will be celebrating its 100th Anniversary in 2015.
The CTS Alumni Association is planning many events and activities leading
up to our Gala Event in October, 2015. For more information please visit our
website at www.ctsalumni.com or call us at 647-693-2013.
THE FOREST CITY PROGRAM, is celebrating its 45th year. Join us on
April 11, 2015, at Winks Eatery, 12-551 Richmond St., London, ON from
2 – 4 p.m. Tom Telfer, [email protected].
STRATFORD TEACHERS’ COLLEGE CLASSES of ’55-’56 reunion luncheon
on May 13, 2015. Contact Carl Leybourne at [email protected]
or 519-843-3562.
SIR WILFRID LAURIER C.I. (Scarborough) is celebrating its 50th anniversary reunion on May 8 – 9, 2015. Former staff and students are welcome to
attend. www.lauriercollegiatereunion.ca for more information. Staff alumni may
also call 416-306-6822 ext. 20032.
Email your ad to [email protected] or fax to 416-962-1061.
RATES
MAX WORD COUNT**
Classifieds Members: $2.80/word*
Non-members: $3.55/word*
50
Reunions
60
Free
2015 SUBMISSION DEADLINES***
Spring: January 12; Summer: April, 13;
Fall: July, 13, Winter: October, 15.
New! Full year ad reservations. Save 10% off when you book a full year of advertising.
* Plus HST. Classifieds must be paid in full upon approval prior to publication.
*** Ads received after the submission deadline are subject to a $10 late fee.
Please note that deadlines depend on
the number of submissions received for
the issue. Submissions are accepted
starting one month prior to the
deadline. Publication of an advertisement
does not constitute an endorsement by
RTO/ERO of any product or service.
** Contact information is counted as one word each.
New 2015 advertising opportunities and rates!
New full-year ad reservation
option and discount
Get 10% off when you book all
four 2015 issues of Renaissance by
January 12, 2015.
What you need to know:
• Rates. Based on 2015 classified ad
rates.
• Availability. Full year classified
ad reservations are available for
calendar year advertising only –
spring, summer, fall, and winter
issues. Reservations must be made
by January 12, 2015 to receive
the discounted rate. Reservations
received after this date are subject
to late fees and approval.
• Cancellations and refunds.
While full-year classified ad
reservations are cancellable, they
are NOT refundable.
• Ad changes. Ad changes for a
given issue must be submitted by
that issue’s reservation deadline.
Ad changes must not exceed
the limit paid for. It is up to the
advertiser to ensure ads are up-todate and accurate for a given issue.
RTO/ERO is not liable for any errors
Winter 2014
or problems resulting from ads or ad
changes submitted after the deadlines
listed in its current Media Kit.
New e-Renaissance pop-up
image option
Reaching over 4,000 members
and available in multiple formats,
e-Renaissance pop-up ads are a great
way to promote your opportunity.
For mechanical specifications see the
2015 Media Kit.
• Rates: Members: $50. Non
members: $75. Plus HST.
Why the increase?
The cost to produce Renaissance has
increased, necessitating a resultant
increase in the cost for members placing
a classified ad, while still maintaining
a discount for our members. As
production costs have increased over the
past several years, RTO/ERO continues
to be fiscally responsible to expect
members, who ostensibly derive benefit
from advertising to other members, to
help with this increase.
Late fees
To account for the time and effort it
takes to process late ad submissions,
RTO/ERO will be levying a $10 fee
on classified ads submitted after the
ad deadline for a given issue.
New 2015 Media Kit
Each year RTO/ERO publishes an
updated Media Kit which includes ad
opportunities, rates, and deadlines.
To read or download the 2015 Media
Kit, visit www.rto-ero.org/advertise-rtoero.
Questions? Contact Susannah
Maxcy, [email protected] or call
1-800-361-9888, ext. 244.
SoHuNu?
Ma rga re t, Pe ggy a n d M e g
SOLUTION for puzzle on page 42.
1
a
2
d
u m o
N t
r
b
w
s
a
r
o
u
b
i
o
m e
a d
4
5
l
e
e
t
H a
t
c
6
b
l
7
3
l
h
e
n
8
r
v
y
a
a
9
n
o o
n
a
n
49
BAHAMAS
TRIP foR
Two
$5,000
CASH
Visit www.johnson.ca/MORE for details.
À votre service...pour le soin de votre avenir. Depuis 1968.
Here for you now ... Here for your future. Since 1968.
300 – 18 chemin Spadina Road, Toronto, Ontario M5R 2S7
416-962-9463  •  1-800-361-9888  •  www.rto-ero.org  •  [email protected]
40014127