Nanaimo Ladysmith Retired Teachers’ Association
The Nanaimo-Ladysmith Retired Teachers Association is a branch of the British Columbia Retired Teachers Association and provides a venue for retired teachers to continue to meet with former colleagues or make new like-minded friends.
The idea of organizing an official BCRTA branch was done not only so that retired teachers could have the opportunity to continue to be in contact with other retired teachers; but also as a way to preserve the rich educational history of the mid-island region. The Skipsey Educational Heritage Collection is overseen by our Heritage Committee.
Visit the the Nanaimo Ladysmith Retired Teachers’ Association Heritage Collections and Branch News Website.
Our History
The Nanaimo-Ladysmith Retired Teachers Association received its official charter in 1984. The formation of a local branch of the provincial Association was the idea of a small group of local retired teachers led by Gavin Halkett, with finding out about how such a group could be set up being left to Fred Bevis. The first chair of the newly formed Executive was Les Skipsey. Among the other members of that original group, were Doris Nash, Secretary and Ron Jones, Patricia Cambray, George Johnson, Bert Kropp and Christine Hartley. Over the years the NLRTA membership has grown from the original twenty-nine people to a group of over five hundred members.
What We Do
The Branch advocates for public education locally and provincially, as well as, for the welfare of retired teachers and seniors. NLRTA members are extremely active and volunteer for a variety of groups, both in the local area and overseas. Our Branch has a regular newsletter and a List Serve for the dissemination of important information. The Executive meet every second month. Four catered lunches are held throughout the year giving members the opportunity to visit with former colleagues and new friends, while being entertained by a wide variety of groups. It’s a pleasant, relaxed group and any retired educator is welcome to attend the lunches.
Upcoming Events
NLRTA Calendar 2024-2025
Executive Meetings
- August 26, 2024
- November 2, 2024
- February 3, 2025
- May 5, 2025
Annual General Meeting (AGM)
- June 10, 2025
Branch Luncheons
- The Hell With the Bell – September 3, 2024
- October 1, 2024
- December 3, 2024
- March 2, 2025
- June 10, 2025
Our Newsletter
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Our Executive
Title | Name |
President | Sylvia Malthouse |
Past- President | Les Ellis |
Vice-President | Suzanne Yost |
Secretary | Geri Sumner |
Treasurer | Mike Ireland |
Heritage | Janet Christianson Watt |
Website | Mike Ireland |
Sunshine | Cheryle Sosnowski |
Newsletter Editor | Les Ellis |
Membership | Ellen Ellis |
Catering | Tricia Barnes |
Programs | Jacque Thompson |
Well Being | Carol Baird |
Latest News
Read the latest news and event articles from the BCRTA.