News

Happy Holidays and December

December brings the holiday season that fills our homes with warmth. This time of the year offers a special opportunity for us to connect, celebrate, and express gratitude for the experiences and people who enrich our lives.

For those of us who dedicated our careers and lives to help shape young minds, this season brings us pride at the role that we played as an educator. Though the daily rhythm of teaching may now be behind us, the spirit of education and forming a community continues to be engrained within us.

December 2024 brings exciting news from RTAM.

• We had an online AGM with an amazing 165 people in attendance. That’s the largest on-line AGM presence in RTAM history. What phenomenal members we have! Moving the AGM to an online platform allowed many more members to participate that would normally not have attended. An important highlight of the AGM was the approval of the Education Community Member classification. This lays a path for continued success of RTAM over many years to come.
• RTAM maintains a non-partisan relationship with Manitoba political parties. We sponsored a townhall with MLA Cindy Lamoureux, Interim Leader of the Liberal Party on September 16, 2024. On November 5, 2024, RTAM hosted a townhall with MLA Wayne Ewasko, Interim Leader of the PC party, MLA Grant Jackson, and Mathew Prepost, Director of Communications from the PC Party. We will host a townhall with the Minister of Education for the NDP, MLA Nello Altomare, when he returns back to the legislature.
• Through Trip Merchant, RTAM hosted a trip to Croatia with Betty-Jean Checkley, a Board Member, hosting on behalf of RTAM. There were 20 retired teachers on this trip, and they had a tremendous vacation. Some comments from participants about the trip: "best trip I have been on", "tour awakened and enticed all of the senses … a truly unique and magical experience", "exceeded expectations", "fantastic wine tasting and delicious food", "guides were very knowledgeable and cared for clients’ comforts", "so many wonderful experiences … scenery was stunning and interesting", and "we loved the food and the wine".
• RTAM is hosting another trip with Trip Merchant, RTAM: Long Stay in Sunny Portugal, from April 6, 2025, to May 2, 2025. This tour is full with 34 retired teachers participating. RTAM is also working with Trip Merchant to host more tours. Please watch for our announcements in the future, including the newest announcement, about our trip to Turkey.

As we approach the holidays, let us take a moment to honour the spirit of giving. Many of you have continued to contribute to your communities, whether through volunteering, mentoring, or being there for those around you. Your efforts make a difference and reflect the heart of what it means to be an educator. You’ve shown that teaching doesn’t stop at the classroom door; it’s a lifelong commitment to making the world a better place for all its inhabitants.

This season is also a time to remember those who may no longer be with us. We carry the memories of our friends and colleagues in our hearts, cherishing the impact they had on our lives and the lives of countless students. Let us honour their legacy by continuing to support one another and celebrate the joys of life.

Your contributions to education and society are deeply valued, and we are proud to count you as part of our RTAM family. Let us look forward to another year of connection, growth, and shared experiences.

From all the Board of Directors, staff, and members of the Retired Teachers’ Association of Manitoba, we wish you and your loved ones a joyous holiday season. May your days be merry and bright and may the friendships we’ve built continue to light our way.

Warmest wishes for health and happiness,

On behalf of the Board of Directors,

Jayesh Maniar

Vice-President