Announcements

New Partnership Announcement

We are excited to announce a new member benefit and partnership for our RTAM members! Please join us in welcoming the Winnipeg Blue Bombers and Valour Football Club who will be offering select games and seating for RTAM members this year and into next year! Starting this season, RTAM members can use the code below and attend either of two CFL games with the red hot Winnipeg Blue Bombers. 

The first game RTAM members can purchase tickets for is Friday September 27th game vs Edmonton Elks. This is the Manitoba Teacher Society game and has been offered to their community, we will be taking part in their seating and ticket group.

The second game is Friday October 11th vs the Toronto Argonaughts. This game is a lower bowl seating event and only being offered to RTAM members at this time at a discount of 25%!

For the 2025 season's, RTAM members will have a broader choice of games and packages to both sports teams. Prices, seating and packages will be available in the spring of 2025 ahead of the pre-season for Valour and the Bombers.

Manitoba School Staff 2 game Offer

Friday September 27th vs Edmonton   

  Retired Teachers Association of Manitoba 1

Friday October 11th vs Toronto

 

Bienvenue sur la page d'accueil du club de lecture francophone!

“La lecture, une porte ouverte sur un monde enchanté.”  - François Mauriac 

Nous espérons reprendre les activités de lecture et de discussion avant la fin du mois de septembre, 2024. En ce moment, on est à la recherche des suggestions de notre prochain roman.  Tout le monde est invité à y participer!  

Veuillez envoyer un courriel à Dianne (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) et à Trent (This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.) pour vous inscrire au club d'automne et pour faire part d’un roman que vous aimeriez lire.

Livres déjà commentés:

 "La part de l'autre" by Éric-Emmanuel Schmitt

Prochains romans:

Le lien ci-dessous mettra en évidence les livres que la Bibliothèque de Saint-Boniface a en inventaire. Nous ne nous limitons pas à cette liste, elle est uniquement à titre informatif:

Instructions pour accéder à un livre de la Bibliothèque publique de Saint-Boniface ou de RTAM :

1. Les membres sont encouragés à se procurer leur propre exemplaire du livre. Cela permettra d’éviter les dates limites pour les retours de livres.

2. Si vous habitez à l’extérieur de la ville et que vous souhaitez obtenir un exemplaire du livre que RTAM a signé à la bibliothèque de Saint-Boniface, veuillez envoyer un courriel à This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. et lui demander de vous en envoyer un exemplaire par la poste.

  • Elle vous enverra un exemplaire du livre par la poste, n’importe où au Manitoba.

  • Vous êtes responsable de payer et de renvoyer le livre à RTAM avant la date de retour.

  • Tous les frais de retard dus au retour tardif du livre seront facturés au membre.

3. Si vous habitez dans la ville de Winnipeg et que vous souhaitez emprunter un exemplaire gratuit du livre, vous pouvez prendre rendez-vous pour le récupérer au bureau du RTAM, situé au 1780, avenue Wellington.

  • Veuillez envoyer un courriel à Dianne à This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. pour obtenir un rendez-vous et réserver.

  • Les membres sont responsables de retourner le livre avant la date d’échéance.

  • Les membres seront facturés si le livre n’est pas retourné à temps.

University of Winnipeg Opportunity (please click here for the U of W PDF)

Position: Contract Instructor
PACE Program: Educational Assistant Diploma Program
Stipend: Varies depending on course
Location: Winnipeg, Manitoba
Deadline: Ongoing until positions are filled

PACE is currently accepting applications for contract instructors in the Educational Assistant Diploma Program. Teaching the next generation of professionals is a rewarding opportunity for you to share your knowledge and past experiences to help others learn and grow in your field. Work with a great team of highly dedicated and skilled educators and student support staff.

About PACE:
Since 1972, The University of Winnipeg Professional, Applied and Continuing Education (PACE) has been nurturing minds and advancing careers with high quality, dynamic and innovative programs. PACE's unique education model blends university-level academics with practical hands-on experience to fully expand the potential of our students.

About the Educational Assistant Diploma Program:
This innovative program provides valuable training to educational assistants in our school system. The program focuses on the role of the educational assistant within the learning system and provides a practical understanding of exceptional children and how to help them. Since its inception in 1987, this program has provided the theoretical and practical knowledge students need to become a confident and effective presence in the classroom. This program has two cohorts each beginning in September – online to adult learners in the full time PACE program and in-person to high school students in the WSD Build from Within program.

Course Openings:
Online to Adult Learners in Full Time PACE Program (Courses facilitated online via Zoom)

  • Helping the EAL Child in the Classroom (Oct 2024)
  • Human Development (Nov-Dec 2024)

In Person to High School Students in WSD Build from Within Program (Courses facilitated in-person in a WSD classroom)

  • Language & Learning (Mar 2025)
  • Learning Disabilities I (Jan 2025)
  • Learning Disabilities II (Apr-May 2025)
  • Working with Challenging Behaviours (Apr 2025)

Minimum Qualifications for Contract Instructors:
• Bachelor of Education/Certified Manitoba Teacher (Master’s degree an asset)
• Engaging and dynamic presenter
• 8+ years of progressive experience in the Education field, including:
     o Teaching in a school environment
     o Working with Support Staff including Educational Assistants
• Industry designations (desired)

Job Posting - UW PACE Educational Assistant Diploma Program – Contract Instructor July 2024 (Additional Details)

Delivery Method:
This program is offered in two delivery formats both beginning in September each year:
1. Online to adult learners: Classes are delivered online via Zoom. Program runs September to April on Mon to Fri between 9:00am to 4:00pm.
2. In person to high school students: Classes are delivered in person in a WSD high school classroom.
Program runs September to May/June on Mon, Tue, Thu, and Fri from 9:00am to 12:00pm.
Please note: The EAD Program does not have any courses in the summer months (July & August), on weekends, or evenings.

Time Commitment:
Instructors are hired on a contract basis for a specific course(s). Time commitment varies depending on program cohort:
1. Online to adult learners: Classes take place from 9am-4pm, 9am-12pm, or 1pm-4pm over a period of 5 or 10 classes between Mon-Fri. Course durations range from 1 to 5 weeks.
2. In person to high school students: Classes take place from 9am-12pm over a period of 5 or 10 classes on Mon, Tue, Thu, or Fri. Course durations range from 1 to 2 weeks.
Courses in the EAD Program are offered 1-2 times per year. Instructors hired would be considered for opportunities on an ongoing basis.

Course Materials:
All courses in the EAD Program are instructor developed. PACE provides the course name and learning outcomes, and the instructor develops and facilitates the course materials.

Stipend:
Instructors receive a stipend for each course they teach. This stipend covers course development, delivery of course materials, grading assignments (with feedback where appropriate), and submission of final grades.

Instructor Support:
New instructors are provided with supports from a variety of staff members at PACE including an Instructor Support Specialist who works directly with onboarding instructors. As well, PACE recently launched a new mandatory Instructor Excellence Training Course to help our instructors enhance their teaching skills.

How to Apply:
Please email your application (cover letter, resume, and course(s) interested in teaching) to
This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. Applications will be accepted on an ongoing basis until positions are filled

Actuarial Valuation of the
Pension Adjustment Account as at
December 31, 2023 to
Determine the Cost of Living Adjustment
Effective July 1, 2024

Dear RTAM Members,

Please be advised that TRAF has now received the actuarial valuation of the Pension Adjustment Account (PAA) as at December 31, 2023. Based on this valuation, which is attached, the Board has approved the grant of a 2.20% cost of living adjustment (COLA) effective July 1, 2024.

The 2024 COLA is set at the lesser of the maximum percentage the PAA can support and the change in the Consumer Price Index (CPI) for Canada from December 2022 to December 2023. The funds in the PAA were sufficient to support a COLA in the amount of 2.20%, while the change in CPI was 3.40%. Therefore, the COLA that can be granted is 2.20%.

Please contact us if you have any questions or would like to discuss this matter further. You can access the full report here.

Sincerely,

Brad Prokop, FSA, FCIA
Chief Operating Officer

Direct: 204.975.4573
Cell: 204.291.1846

Teachers' Retirement Allowances Fund
330-25 Forks Market Road, Winnipeg, MB R3C 4S8
Phone: 204.949.0048 • Toll-free: 800.782.0714
Fax: 204.944.0361

RTAM: A Sustainable Future?

RTAM offers programing and products for our members’ health and mental well-being. Currently, we have a little over 10,000 members.

Statistics Canada estimated that 21.8 % of the current workforce is between 55 and 64, and therefor on the verge of retirement. As they retire, they will draw more on extended health and dental benefits. As the demand increases, costs will outstrip premiums being paid and the rate of health care insurance will increase.

RTAM offers health, dental, and travel group insurance through Johnson Insurance. The premiums for these services depend on several factors:

  • Member Count: An increase in membership will decrease the overall cost of premiums as more members are contributing.
  • Demographics of Members: All though our members’ ages range from age 55 to 100 plus, the number of persons aged over 85 years is significantly increasing. As we age, our heath needs increase and we use more of our extended health benefits. As we use more benefits, our group insurance premiums go up.
  • Prescription Drug and Health Services Costs: Annually, health services and prescription drug prices increase. In addition, as Health Canada approves more drugs in the marketplace, clients’ claims increase and costs of extended health claims for medications and services increases. In 2022, overall drug plan spent per member went up by about 4.3% and in 2023, about 5.2%. However, there was a 2.6% reduction in the number of people claims.

In 2022-2023, Retired Teachers Association of Ontario (RTAO) reported a membership of just over 80,000 compared to about 10,500 for RTAM. Because of the numbers of members, RTAO can offer cheaper health, dental, and travel insurance rates. To continue to increase their size, they are actively welcoming retired teachers from other jurisdictions such as RTAM. RTAM will lose members if there are cheaper insurance plans elsewhere. If our membership decreases, our premiums will go up. As our premiums go up, more members will leave for cheaper premiums. So, it becomes a spiralling downwards scenario. How long can RTAM survive as our membership keeps decreasing?

To break this cycle of downward spiral, the Board of Directors would like to work actively to increase our membership and thus assure the long-term viability of RTAM. To mitigate this, another classification of RTAM membership is needed. The Board of Directors propose that we introduce Community Membership for non-Kindergarten-Grade 12 teachers. Here is what our membership may look line:

  1. Full Members: Retired teachers. These members can vote and sit as RTAM Board members. This membership solely controls the direction and the future of RTAM.
  1. Associate Members: These are spouses of deceased RTAM members who wish to continue with RTAM as well teachers from other jurisdictions from outside of Manitoba. They can not vote nor can they sit on any RTAM Board position. Thus, they do not have a say in the future of RTAM.
  1. Community Members: These are interested parties wishing to join RTAM. They do not have to be educators but need to have worked in an educational setting. They are non-voting members and can not sit on the RTAM Board. They can not influence the direction and the future of RTAM.

Retired teacher associations in other provinces accept non-teacher members as long as they were employed in an educational institution. By allowing Community Members, the cost of health care insurance for our members may decrease and RTAM can maintain to be a sustainable and a vibrant organization.

Sources:

Express Scripts Canada 2024 Drug Trend Report:

Drug Trend Reports | Express Scripts Canada (express-scripts.ca)

Statistics Canada Demograhpic Division

Population and demography statistics (statcan.gc.ca)

Welcome to the hub and home page for Money and You: seniors edition, the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE) and the Retired Teachers' Association of Manitoba. This will be the home for all your Money and You updates, access points and information!

RTAM and The Canadian Foundation for Economic Education have partnered through Money and You: Seniors Edition to bring new workshops, seminars and supports to RTAM members. We hope to deliver several seminars in hybrid formats over the Spring and the Summer months. Please visit the RTAM Events Page for all the upcoming Money and You presentations being offered.

Who are Money and You and the CFEE?: The Canadian Foundation for Economic Education(CFEE) is a national non-profit founded in 1974 that works to help Canadians prepare for their financial futures. They offer programs and resources for all stages of life to help you keep up with our evolving world and feel comfortable and confident with your financial decisions. CFEE is proud to offer all programs and services for free.

The CFEE, Money and You with partnership from RTAM will be offering monthly seminars and access to their monthly newsletter for RTAM Members! Please check back often as we provide new links to the monthly newsletter (available the 15th of each month, with contributions from the New Yorker) and new monthly videos from our RTAM seminars (which can also be found on the RTAM YouTube channel).

Money and You (CFEE) Monthly Newsletter:

The CFEE Seniors Newsletter March 1

CFEE Money and You March 2024

The CFEE Seniors Newsletter April 2024 1

CFEE Money and You April 2024 

Money and You with RTAM online presentations:

March Seminar - Money and You: Seniors "Introduction" This video highlights the first steps between the CFEE, Money and You and RTAM as Kevin and Linda sign into agreement a multi year partnership between both groups. An introduction to Money and You, the Canadian Foundation for Economic Education and the start our series follow suit.(video coming soon).

April Seminar - Money and You: Seniors "Empower YOUR Future" Join host Kevin Maynard from Toronto as Money and You: Seniors talk about how to set plans now that will benefit us in our future and the implications of planning, budgeting and saving ahead of time.

 

 

Check out some of the Money and You free programs available for seniors:

Money and You: Seniors Edition – www.moneyandyouseniorsedition.com

  • MYSE is a comprehensive financial planning and management guide before and during retirement. 14 modules cover topics from decision-making to navigating pension income, travel, borrowing money in retirement, and even planning for the end of your life or someone close to you.

Let’s Talk Money: Seniors - www.letstalkmoneyseniors.com

  • LTMS is designed to help seniors and adult children navigate intergenerational conversations about money, planning, and life decisions. It allows users to watch senior “champions” as they reflect on their conversations and access an extensive list of prompts and resources to support their own conversations.

See all programs at www.cfee.org/our-programs/ 

MYSE  Red