​South Bruce retired women teachers open their eyes and hearts at Christmas

The South Bruce Retired Women Teachers of Ontario/Organization des enseignantes retraitées de l’Ontario (RWTO/OERO) gathered Nov. 21 at the Kincardine United Church to launch the festive season.

President Frances Nixon welcomed 32 members and two guests: RWTO Area 1 director Nancy Strutt and Francesca Dobbyn, executive director of the United Way of Bruce Grey.

Dobbyn explained that the agency works on policy and system issues to help struggling members of the community, as well as tackling the day-to-day realities of hunger and homelessness.

It supports OSHaRE, a non-profit community organization in Owen Sound, serving meals for those in need. In 2020, the group served a total of 20,000 meals. In October of this year, alone, 25,000 meal were served.

Dobbyn reflected on the fall backpack program which provided bags and school supplies for more than 2,600 children in 2024 and asked members to support the Coldest Night of the Year fund-raiser in February, 2025.

As she concluded her review of the agency’s programs, Nixon thanked her for opening the members’ eyes to the need in the community and, in turn, asked the ladies to open their hearts which they did, with a donation of more than $700.

Strutt of Dundalk Flesherton and District RWTO branch, brought greetings from the provincial board and touched on a number of topics, including a soon-to-be-released social justice paper dealing with women in nursing homes, the June, 2025, convention in Brantford, and an upcoming member survey regarding a possible name change of the organization.

She presented RWTO pins to members who recently joined the South Bruce branch: Daphne Crouchman, Deb Marion and Anne Roppel.

Following a delicious meal of roast turkey with all the trimmings, provided by Karen McLelland-Seal and her cheery kitchen crew, it was time for some entertainment.

Nixon first challenged the group’s knowledge of Christmas trivia and then introduced her granddaughter, Nyla Nixon, an accomplished Irish dancer. The retired teachers loved the lively music and were amazed by the young dancer’s grace and athleticism.

The South Bruce RWTO/OERO branch will meet next in the spring. Details will be posted on the rwto.org website on the branch’s page: rwto.org/branch-new/south-bruce/ under Coming Events.

The South Bruce branch of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario welcomes any retired women teachers, audiologists, child and youth workers/counsellors, early childhood educators, educational assistants, office support staff, psychologists, social workers and speech and language pathologists living in southern Bruce County. Contact information can be found by visiting the branch’s web page.