Haldimand Branch News

Cora Bailey Award

Wyn Overend was presented with a Cora Bailey Award at the May 2, 2022 luncheon at Jarvis Community Church.

RWTO Haldimand Zoom Creating Chicken Samosas and Date Chutney

What great fun we had learning to cook Chicken Samosas and Date Chutney from Caledonia’s chef: Rabi (Rabi’s Grand Kitchen)!  A fun way to gather over Zoom.

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