Haldimand Branch News
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Haldimand is a rural county on the Niagara penninsula in southern Ontario, located on the north shore of Lake Erie and on the Grand River. Our largest towns are Caledonia, Cayuga, Dunnville, Jarvis and Hagersville.
The Haldimand Branch of RWTO/OERO has over 92 members and 2 life members. Our branch has met faithfully for many years at a Spring Luncheon (May), a Fall Luncheon (October) and a Christmas Luncheon (December).
Watch this space for news about other events throughout the year including a Friendship Tea in February.
The Haldimand Branch President is Joanne Weeks (289 )442 5730 or email weeksj13jrw33@gmail.com. For more information about joining our group, upcoming events, arranging transportation to Haldimand Branch events or for other inquiries from any retired women teachers contact Roberta Bridge at (905) 765-3351 or Betsy McBurney at (905) 772-3296.
FOR MORE INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT:
| Past President | Sandra Salerno | 905-765-0201 | smsalemo@rogers.com |
| President | Joanne Weeks | 289-442-5730 | weeksj13jrw33@gmail.com |
| 1st Vice President | Anne Mageran | 905-774-1055 | a.mageran@rogers.com |
| 2nd Vice President/Goodwill | Kate Head | 905 807 9213 | katehead13@gmail.com |
| Membership | Roberta Bridge | 905-765-3351 | rebridge49@#rogers.com |
| Insurance | Susanne Austin | 905-774-6150 |
Ringing Their Bells
Compliments of the Caledonia Sachem Newspaper.
“RWTO/OERO Haldimand Branch met outdoors at Caledonia Kinsmen Park to celebrate the first day of school. All attendees brought their own significant bell and stories were shared. At noon we rang our bells. What fun!
Lots of conversation and celebration!”
Haldimand Norfolk Vaccination Clinic Volunteers
Fall Luncheon October, 2019
The HRWTO met for our fall luncheon on Monday, October 7, 2019 at Knox Presbyterian Church in Jarvis. Over seventy women attended and were served a delicious luncheon – chicken, potatoes, veggies and lemon filled angel cake. After lunch we learned lots about the great work done by Zachary’s Paws for Healing (zacharyspawsforhealing.com and/or their Facebook page), a family pet foster program. We had a message from our RWTO/OERO President, Karen Clark-Lauzon, followed by good news from the Insurance Convener, our own Anne Wilde, about the open window existing for a few more weeks for those interested in enrolling in the RWTO/OERO Insurance program.
- Lots of catching up to do.
- Lots of visiting to do!
- Our honoured Presidents – for RWTO/OERO, Karen Clark-Lauzon and for Haldimand, Sandy Salerno and RWTO/OERO Insurance Convener, our Anne Wilde
- Ready for lunch!
Nine quilters gathered at Peggy Taylor’s home again as part of our regular bees to complete Touch Quilts. Haldimand RWTO members suggest names and places for quilt recipients. Thanks as always to Peggy Taylor for initiating this project and opening her home to the quilters monthly throughout the year.
Fall Luncheon
Over seventy retired women teachers gathered at noon at South Cayuga Community Church on Monday, October 1, 2017.
Linda Enns Pitt led in the singing of O Canada and our traditional Blessing. Members of the church served a delicious lunch. President Sandy Salerno presented Evelyn Martin with her Past President pin. Betsy McBurney was surprised and very honoured when Evelyn Martin presented the Cora Bailey Award to her. A representative of the local Women’s Shelter spoke, thanking us for past donations and offering ways that we could continue to support this group. Many of those attending made donations to the Scarf initiative – purchasing scarves designed as a fundraiser. The scarves will then be passed on to women using the Women’s Shelter – a sign of solidarity, women to women.
Several members attended the RWTO/OERO Convention in June. The accommodations at the Nottawasaga Inn were lovely. We supported our Haldimand President Evelyn Martin as she praised outgoing RWTO /OERO President, our own Lois Lockhart for an impressive year in office. Lois moves to the position of RWTO/OERO Past President for the 2018-2019 term.
“Lois Lockhart, a Haldimand Branch Past President served as RWTO/OERO Provincial President in 2017-2018. What an incredible accomplishment! Haldimand Branch is so very proud.”
February 5, 2018
Second Annual Creative Hands Friendship Tea
On a sunny afternoon members of Haldimand RWTO/OERO
met in Dunnville. Several women set up displays of their crafts and special interests. After a delightful tea, RWTO/OERO President, our own Lois Lockhart and RWTO/OERO Provincial Insurance Convenor, our own Anne Wilde led all in a very enjoyable game of Quarter Frenzy. The prizes were donated by our executive members.
Christmas 2017
Creative Hands Friendship Tea – February 2017
This new event for the Haldimand Branch was held at the Grace United Church in Caledonia. Those who attended, if they chose to, could put on display something they have created as a hobby or business. The displays were impressive and included Karen Walton showcasing the Touch Quilts that are made by women from our branch under Peggy Taylor’s direction. These lap quilts are donated to members and others who would appreciate a warm blanket with lots of tactile and colourful squares. This event was enjoyed by all and plans are being made to repeat the Friendship Tea in February 2018.
Christmas 2016
The Haldimand RWTO/OERO Christmas Luncheon 2016 was held at Grace United Church, Caledonia, Ontario. We welcomed two members of the executive of the Hamilton RWTO/OERO to this luncheon. Following a delicious turkey dinner
Linda Enns-Pitts led our group in a Christmas Carol Sing Along. There were many happy recipients of lovely gifts in the Christmas Raffle and many generous donations were made to the Haldimand-Norfolk Women’s Shelter.
Christmas 2015
The Haldimand RWTO/OERO Christmas Luncheon 2015 was held at Grace United Church, Caledonia, Ontario on Monday, December 7, 2015. Following a delicious turkey dinner we participated in a (short!) One Room School Chistmas Concert.
Several Form One “students” even made recitations like these ones:
The Traditional
The funniest face looked out at me
From a silver ball on the Christmas tree.
At first I thought it was Santa’s elf,
But I looked again and it was just myself!
The Not-So-Traditional
I’ve been preparing for Christmas,
I’m revving up for that great day.
My credit card’s cracked and my freezer is packed,
‘Cause I started getting ready in May!
There were many happy recipients of lovely gifts in the Christmas raffle and generous donations were made to the Haldimand-Norfolk Women’s Shelter.
Fall Luncheon 2015
The Haldimand RWTO/OERO 2015 Fall Luncheon was held in the Coach House at Ruthven Park near Cayuga, Ontario. The young lady who was awarded the Haldimand RWTO/OERO prize at the local historical fair shared her project about Celia Franca. Thanks to Sue Devereux for these photos.
Spring Luncheon 2015
The Haldimand RWTO/OERO 2015 Spring Luncheon was held on May 4 in Dunnville at the Hunter and Anglers Hall. Those present enjoyed lots of visiting and a delicious lunch. Some of our lucky draw prize winners are pictures below!
Christmas Luncheon 2014
On December 1, 2014 retirees from Haldimand met at the Grace United Church in Caledonia, Ontario for our annual Christmas Luncheon. Members of the church catered a delicious turkey dinner. Following dinner a group of enthusiastic music students from McKinnon Secondary School in Caledonia under the direction of their teacher, Ms R. Amos, played several songs of the season.
Most songs became sing-alongs! Some Caledonia retirees were thrilled to see former students in the band.
Christmas Luncheon 2013
Ninety women met in the beautifully decorated Dunnville Communtiy Lifespan Centre in the new Dunnville Arena for the Haldimand RWTO/OERO annual Christmas Luncheon on December 2, 2013.
Our president Jackie Large welcomed everyone including several new retirees. Each place at the tables was decorated with Christmas favours lovingly made by President Jackie! After a traditional turkey dinner and toffee pudding dessert, we were entertained by the Free Spirits, a fun loving musical chorus who shared their wonderful Christmas repertoire. Of course, whenever possible, the retired teachers sang along!
The afternoon closed with a Christmas gift draw and our 50/50 draw. The lucky winners were thrilled! At this luncheon many of the Haldimand RWTO donated generously to the Haldimand Norfolk Women’s Shelter. Heather Gross was our Christmas Luncheon photographer. Thank you Heather!
Fall Luncheon 2014
Seventy-eight retirees attended the Fall Luncheon held at the Coach House in Ruthven Park, near Cayuga, Ontario. More information about Ruthven Park, Haldimand County’s only National Historic Site can be found at ruthvenpark.ca.
Special guests were Provincial President Marilyn Emmett, Area 4 Director Lois Lockhart and Provincial Insurance Convenor Nancy Iunnuzzi. Delights Catering provided a great roast beef lunch.
Following lunch Provincial President Marilyn Emmett led the installation of the new executive: Past President: Jackie Large, President: Peggy Taylor, First Vice President: Evelyn Martin, Second Vice President: Sandra Salerno, Treasurer: Vivian McCreight, Recording Secretary: Vicki Duxbury, Event Planning: Sue Devereux, RTO Rep: Karen Walton, New Membership Convener: Roberta Bridge, Archivists: Anne Wilde and Linda Hart, Web Site Convener: Betsy McBurney.
There were door prize draws and a Share the Wealth draw.
Following lunch there were two more activities planned for those who were interested. One group met with a guide from the site to tour the Ruthven Mansion. A second group traveled to the Haldimand County Museum in Cayuga where Curator Karen Richardson led a workshop about preservation and storage of paper and photos.
Touch Quilt Bee Jan. 2014
Touch quilts provide comfort, calming and stimulation for people with late-mid- to late-stage Alzheimer’s disease and related dementias. They are small, 30 to 36 inches square, with many textures to intrigue the sense of touch. Peggy Taylor has completed the first six Touch Quilts that this talented group of Haldimand Branch RWTO/OERO assembled in the Spring of 2014. These quilts can be seen at the Fall Luncheon. Please make suggestions for their distribution! Peggy will continue to host Quilting Bees at her home once a month in the Waterford area to construct more Touch Quilts. All are welcome! Contributions of textured fabrics and cotton backings and other quilting supplies are always appreciated.
Call Betsy (905-772-3296)
Working together at a Touch Quilt Bee – January 2014
Spring Luncheon Meeting 2014
The Spring Luncheon was held at the Fisherville Trinity Lutheran Chruch. There were several special guests including Provincial RWTO/OERO President Anne Graham and the young lady who received the $100 Haldimand Branch bursary award at the Heritage Fair held in Dunnville. Her interesting project about Laura Secord was there for all to appreciate!
After a delicious lunch there was a very special event for the Haldimand Branch.
Provincial President Anne Graham and Linda Hart, Archivist, presented long time RWTO member Margaret Clause with the Cora Bailey Award, given to a member who exemplifies our “Caring and Sharing” motto. Margaret was involved with the HRWT Executive Committee from 1989 to 2001 as Secretary. A terrific organizer, she was responsible for the luncheon planning as well as the minutes. Even after retirement from this position, Margaret still volunteers as a phone convenor for the Jarvis area. After the Provincial President presented the award, Margaret thanked everyone for the nomination and spoke about how much she enjoyed her years on the executive committee. Margaret lead a genealogy group for several years recently and stated that she could always count on teachers to help her when needed!
Spring Luncheon 2013
On Monday, May 6, 2013 the Haldimand Branch of RWTO/OERO gathered for our Spring Luncheon. We met in Caledonia and had a great turnout of retired women teachers. We were thrilled to have two new retirees join our group. President Jackie Large welcomed everyone. We enjoyed a delicious lunch
October 4, 2021
Wesley United Church
19 Church St. Jarvis N0A1J0
“Haldimand Branch is holding two outdoor events in October for socialization but also to contribute in a caring way to our communities.
Wednesday October 13th Dunnville Lions Park
Meet in the parking lot 10:00 am
Food drive for Dunnville Food Bank. We will have the trunk of a car open to gather non perishable food donations. School snacks, cookies, juice boxes, Mr. Noodle plus the regular donations of cereal, peanut butter, jams. No pasta at this time.
Bring your lawn chair and we will visit outdoors for a while. A surprise is involved as well.
Thursday October 14th. Hagersville Park (corner of Alma and Laidlaw).
Meet in the parking lot.10:00 am
Food drive for Hagersville Food Bank. We will have the trunk of a car open to gather non perishable food donations. Regular food items as above but also pasta sauce needed.
Bring your lawn chair and we will visit outdoors for a while. A surprise is involved as well.
Looking forward to seeing you! Come to one or both.
Remembrance Day Services:
RWTO Haldimand Remembrance Day wreaths have been created to lay at November 11th services in Caledonia, Dunnville, Hagersville, Cayuga and Jarvis. if public health guidance prohibits having formal services we will still lay the wreaths. Please join us at services. It is important to honour those who served or are serving now.
Contact Joanne Weeks if you are able to assist at any of the above services. 289 442 5730
Christmas Decor Workshops: Grand Erie Home Hardware
Arrangements have been made to have both a Zoom workshop and an in person workshop in their huge greenhouse. Safety protocols in place.
Dates: November 22nd. 1:00 p.m. November 23rd. 1:00 p.m.
Flyer about registration coming out. Register directly with Grand Erie Home Hardware.
Detailed Information about the decor items is on the flyer.
December 6, 2021
Grace United Church
174 Caithness St. Caledonia
February 7, 2022
Hagersville United Church
34 Main St. S Hagersville (Friendship Tea)
May 2, 2022
Fisherville Trinity Lutheran Church
30 Erie Ave. N Fisherville
Celebrating with Grace McBride April 2015
Recently Sandra Salerno from the Haldimand RWTO Executive had the pleasure of attending a celebration for the 103rd birthday of Grace McBride. Sandra presented flowers to Grace at a Haldimand-Norfolk Community Senior Support Services event. Rebecca Bailey, who runs the program in Caledonia and Sandra Salerno posed for a photo with Grace who is a very active centenarian!
Grace McBride
Grace McBride, who is now 102, was an elementary teacher in Haldimand County. When she finished high school in Cayuga where she grew up, she was too young to attend Hamilton Normal School. With a friend’s help, she taught herself to type in order to work in a lawyer’s office for two years. She had been an outstanding student and would have liked to attend university, but as she was the oldest of four children, the family could not afford the expense.
After teacher’s training, she taught in one-room schoolhouses in Haldimand County for the next ten years, driving out from Cayuga in a very old car with no heater and ising-glass curtains for windows. Her father gave her a pair of old buffalo skin mittens to keep her hands from freezing, and hand-carved some beautiful wooden pointers to bring her luck. She enjoyed teaching and tried to give her students something special to look forward to including literary evenings (featuring recitations and a play) Christmas concerts, picnics and sports events. She taught the girls to knit and sew and the boys how to use a jig-saw to make wooden animals and birds. When the weather was not good, they all learned the basics of Scottish country dancing.
During the summers, she took courses at McMaster and Western to achieve a year of university. When the war came, she and the whole class made a quilt which was donated to the war effort. She had met her husband-to-be when they were both sixteen, but he worked for a bank which forbade their young employees to marry and as a teacher she would not be allowed to teach if she married. Finally they were able to marry and she stayed home to look after the children John, Robert and Mary Jean. They lived in several towns as the bank moved the family around in Southern Ontario. Occasionally she was asked to supply teach when people learned she was a teacher. Grace discovered that she was only one year away from a small pension, so when her children were in high school, she went back to teach long enough to achieve her goal.
At the age of 51, she took a course in watercolour painting and found that she was a natural artist. Many friends and acquaintances have requested her paintings. Another hobby over the years was Scottish country dancing which she enjoyed until she was 88! When her husband retired, they settled in Dunnville. He died several years ago. Now Grace lives with her daughter Mary Jean Folinsbee in a house on the shore of Lake Erie.
She is proud of her children (two became teachers) her six grandchildren and four great-grandchildren. As well as her art, she enjoys reading, television, attending community events and watching the birds. What is the secret of her long life? She says she has always had a strong faith. Her daughter says Grace has the gift of enjoying the moment and looking forward to the future. Beware if you visit – with a twinkle she may try some mental arithmetic on you! Her parents named her “Grace”, a name that certainly suits Grace McBride.
Jackie Carson
Barbara Bain Award
Feather In The Cap Award
Nine quilters gathered at Peggy Taylor’s home again as part of our regular bees to complete Touch Quilts. Haldimand RWTO members suggest names and places for quilt recipients. Thanks as always to Peggy Taylor for initiating this project and opening her home to the quilters monthly throughout the year.
Retired Women Teachers of Ontario gives annual gift to Haldimand and Norfolk Women’s Services
‘The response was amazing’
More than just a chance for friends and colleagues to get together, though, it was a chance for the group’s members to bring in donations for the Haldimand and Norfolk Women’s Services shelter; things like toiletries, sheets, pyjamas and winter wear.
“But, in this year, when we were not able to meet in person, we invited our members to donate cheques and gift cards,” said branch president Joanne Weeks. “The response was amazing.”
Left to Right: Sandra Salerno Past President, Joanne weeks President, Anne Mageran 1st Vice President, and a representative of the staff at the Haldimand Norfolk Women’s Services.
The Haldimand Branch of the Retired Women Teacher of Ontario (RWTO) has initiated an
Outreach Program to assist a local woman in her educational journey. Once a year, a deserving
candidate, whose information and application has been submitted by one of our members, will
receive a one-time donation of $500 to help with her educational needs. To be eligible,
submissions must meet the following criteria: •
• Be needed for educational purposes, i.e. computer needs, tuition, books or tools,
transportation to course, babysitting, other needs linked to improving education
• Be for a local woman
• Be for someone in financial need
• Be recommended by a community agency (optional)
• Be submitted by an RWTO/Haldimand member
• Be received by a committee member no later than Dec. 31, 2021
Please click on the file below to open up the form and the follow the instructions:
RWTO HALDIMAND OUTREACH PROJECT APPLICATION FORM
Caring And Sharing
Throughout the year those attending Haldimand Branch of RWTO/OERO events make donations to charities and special projects including the following:
- Haldimand- Norfolk Women’s Shelter
- Grand Erie Regional Heritage Fair
- School Breakfast Programs
- Local Animal Shelters
- Haldimand Food Banks
- Grandview Lodge Christmas Stocking Program