Windsor-Essex

The 80+ Tea 2026 was held at Seasons in LaSalle.

By:- Kathy Gallagher
Email:- inniaudi@gmail.com

Chatham-Kent

Three of our 90 year ladies attended Thursday’s special convention luncheon, Barbara Rose, Jean Elliott and Joan Anderson.

2nd photo – Congratulating our 90 year honourees were Nancy Hrytzak, Joanne Chrysler, special ladies- Barbara Rose, Jean Elliott, Joan Anderson with Jane Cartier and Lynn Sulman.

By:- Lynn Russell
Email:- lynndr@gmail.com

Chatham-Kent

The ladies who attended from Chatham-Kent certainly enjoyed convention events in a new venue at Clare Hall, Brescia College, London.
Before attending staycations and hearing from interesting speakers on aging, we were reminded about the necessity of exercising as we tried out our WU activity balls. After Wednesday evening dinner, we enjoyed the vocal contributions of London- Middlesex choir.

By:- Lynn Russell
Email:- lynndr@gmail.com

Chatham-Kent

The ladies who attended from Chatham-Kent certainly enjoyed convention events in a new venue at Clare Hall, Brescia College, London.

Attending from CK were Lynn Sulman, delegate, Mary Douglas, Nancy Hrytzak, delegate, JoAnne Chrysler, delegate, Lynn Russell, Jane Cartier, parliamentarian.

By:- Lynn Russell
Email:- lynndr@gmail.com

Ottawa-Carleton

As always the Ottawa-Carleton Branch sent a delegate of executive members to this year’s Provincial Convention and as always they had a great time. We won the Barbara Bain award for increasing our membership by 7 this year. We are always looking for new members, so please reach out if you are interested in joining our local chapter. Here are a few photos of our members at the convention.

By:- Laura Quirk
Email:- quirkymom33@gmail.com

London-Middlesex

The Annual Convention was held June 2- 4 at Clare Hall, Western University, convened by the Board of Directors, with a great deal of assistance from London-Middlesex Branch members.
Tuesday was check in day for delegates, a Wellness Fair and Silent Auction to peruse continued until Wednesday evening, (each Branch was asked to contribute two items as a fund-raiser for the Convention), an evening banquet with entertainment which included our very own town crier played by Sandy O’Brien in a costume created by Sharon Lunau; and karaoke after the meal.
On Wednesday morning, the AGM delegates began considering and voting on the motions previously announced in “Connections”. The AGM business continued on Thursday morning.
On Wednesday afternoon, attendees had the choice of going on a regional tour to Port Stanley, Heeman’s Nursery Pinecroft or London Charm. For those preferring a staycation there was a choice of three talks or Guided Walking/Hiking around the extensive Western grounds. Fortunately, the weather was good and not too hot in early June.
In the evening, there was a banquet preceded by greetings from the Dean of Education and a surprise parade of women dressed in early 20th century costumes demonstrating, “Votes for Women”, this group was led by our member Jean Hewitt. All meals at this Convention were served buffet style and the Wednesday Awards Night banquet was no exception.
Our Branch choir gave an exceptional performance of the songs they performed for our own May banquet, and the choir members were individually thanked for their performance by Provincial President, Linda Sargeant.
Our Branch won the two provincial Awards we were hoping to win, and both came with a financial reward for the Branch – first the Barbara Bain Award for membership recruitment; Linda Freeman assisted her mother Barbara Bain in announcing the Branches in the 3 categories who won this award and Lynda Faulkner, our treasurer received our award; – second our Branch won the Feather in Your Hat Award, also received by Lynda Faulkner with Linda Freeman at her side.
The pictures attached were taken by both Michele Specht and Anita Renders.
They are Sandy O’Brien, Lynda and Linda for Feather in Your hat Award, Linda and Barbara for the Barbara Bain Award, a display of the AGM papers, the table decor made by our own crafters, and some of our Branch members singing karaoke – Dianne Heatherington, Maureen Tipping, Michele Specht and Helen Bobyk.

By:- Janice Thielenhaus
Email:- jthielenhaus@hotmail.com

Northumberland-South Durham

We gathered at the Brownsdale Community Centre in Newcastle on June 23rd to enjoy an afternoon of friendship, delicious strawberry shortcake and toe-tapping entertainment from the musical duo, Good to Go! Thank you to the members of the executive who worked so hard to plan this special event. From the photos and memorabilia from years past, to the strawberry themed table décor and dessert (not to mention the fancy teacups!) – it was a memorable experience for all who attended

By:- Elizabeth Gibson
Email:- lizgibson62@yahoo.ca

Ottawa-Carleton

Wow, what a difference it makes when you walk the same trail in a different season. We opted to visit Mud Lake again, but this time in the spring. We didn’t have a lot of luck with chickadees like in the fall, but we did see turtles, very large snakes – thankfully they were enjoying a bath in the sun and did not bother us AND we saw a whole family of wild turkeys. The weather was gorgeous and the company was even better. We visited a local cafe afterwards for coffee and treats.

By:- Laura Quirk
Email:- quirkymom33@gmail.com

Owen Sound and Area

The Owen Sound and Area had a wonderful celebration to commemorate the 70th anniversary of the founding of RWTO/OERO. Our Area Director, Nancy Strutt was able to join us. Nancy gave us her first hand experience of using our health care benefits after she broke her arm and her husband had hip surgery. She also told us of upcoming changes at the provincial level. Due to a reduction of new members, provincial is looking at ways to be more cost effective. The provincial presidents will only be visiting Branches every three years. Our next presidential visit will be in 2028, and executive meetings will be over Zoom. Provincial is encouraging members to opt for the online edition of the Connections newsletter to reduce the cost of printing and mailing to members. Nancy will serve a second term and will then be looking for a replacement.
We had a touching memorial service honouring the life of Joan Vassella who died on Feb. 1, 2026. Roses were also given to Donna Steinacher and Joan Downie who are over 90.
Our treasurer, Mary Hall was given the Cora Bailey award. She joined RWTO/OERO in 2019 and has been our treasurer for 5 years.
After a delicious meal, with anniversary cake, the Shoreline Chorus, straight from their singing tour of France, sang for us. Rebecca Hlynialuk

By:- Rebecca Hlynialuk
Email:- rebeccahlynialuk@gmail.com

London-Middlesex

Before the start of the luncheon, Linda Freeman directed our attention to the slide show on the screen at the front of room, beautifully created by Dianne Heatherington, illustrating the “70 Sisters Project”. The project description and pictures have been submitted to the Provincial office for consideration as a “Feather in Your Cap” Award.
Our Banquet meal of 3 courses was very well received (especially the black forest cake dessert!) by the attendees.
Our entertainment was our choir singing their Spring selection of songs which was a preview of their program for the Convention Banquet on Wednesday, June 3rd. On behalf of the choir members, Michele Specht thanked Johanna Hurd and Tracey McIntyre, with flowers, for their work in rehearsals and in the concert; Michele also recommended to our membership the value and enjoyment of joining the choir and hoped more would join for 2026-27.
The Cora Bailey Award (a certificate and special pin from the provincial office) was presented to Irene Gauvin (table decorations), introduced by Rosanne Wadsworth; and Janice Thielenhaus (publications), introduced by Kathryn Patton, for their many years of service.
The membership was asked to approve the Budget for 2026-27, which was presented at the April Luncheon meeting, and was unanimously passed with thanks to treasurer Lynda Faulkner.

Mary Maxwell (Past president) presented the In Memoriam for 10 members who have passed since the last ceremony in May 2025. Their pictures were shown on the screen, and a brief obituary was spoken. A carnation was placed in a vase, by a member who had known them, as a token of our remembrance.

Four different Draws were made – for the members aged 80+; for the members who had introduced a new member; for the completed Rewards cards for the 2025-26 year; and finally for the Share the Wealth in which 2 members won $112.00 each.

In lieu of the core executive for 2026-27 posing for a group picture, Linda Freeman asked those members to stand in place and then all the supporting committee members present were also asked to stand and be acknowledged by the membership.

By:- Janice Thielenhaus
Email:- jthielenhaus@hotmail.com