Current News

Fundraising for Ukrainian Education Needs

As the war in Ukraine continues, devasting reports indicate over ten million Ukrainians are on the move. This means an increasing number of school-aged children and youth are displaced and living in the countries bordering their homeland. Parents and teachers are doing their best to find ways for children to continue their schooling, but there are still many without access to education. The Canadian Ukrainian Foundation (CUF) has been active both in Ukraine and in surrounding countries, working to ensure displaced children are able to continue their studies by accessing books, school supplies, and proper instruction. If you’d like to... Read More

Support pension protection. We need your help again!

Pension protection is sadly lacking and much needed in Canada. Since 1982, more than 250,000 Canadian vulnerable seniors have suffered the loss of pension income for the rest of their lives due to corporate insolvency. There are still over 4 million Canadians counting on their defined-benefit pensions. There has been progress, In the last Parliament, thanks in part to the efforts of people like you, the Bloc’s pension protection bill made it through committee before the election was called and it died on the order paper. This is much further than any similar bill in the past, one step away... Read More

ACER-CART letter to Seniors’ Minister Khera (President Tiede)

February 20, 2022 Honourable Kamal Khera Minister of Seniors Government of Canada   Dear Honourable Minister Khera: As part of our ongoing commitment to the well-being of seniors, ACER-CART (Association canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants retraités/Canadian Association of Retired Teachers) reviewed your 2021 mandate letter from the Prime Minister. Your mandate as Minister of Health includes many items important to the 165,000 individuals who belong to our provincial and territorial associations, as well as to all seniors across Canada. The members of our Association are particularly concerned about the provision of services to seniors in or near their own... Read More

ACER-CART letter to Health Minister Duclos (President Tiede)

February 20, 2022 Honorable Jean-Yves Duclos Minister of Health Government of Canada   Dear Honourable Minister Duclos: As part of our ongoing commitment to the well-being of seniors, ACER-CART (Association canadienne des enseignantes et des enseignants retraités/Canadian Association of Retired Teachers) reviewed your 2021 mandate letter from the Prime Minister. Your mandate as Minister of Health includes many items important to the 165,000 individuals who belong to our provincial and territorial associations, as well as to all seniors across Canada. The members of our Association are particularly concerned about the provision of services to seniors in or near their own... Read More

Calls to Action for the year 2021

2021 Federal Election Brochure Questions for our candidates Join Our Call for a National Seniors’ Strategy Letter Campaign Letter from ACER-CART President Gerry Tiede to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – Jan.10, 2021 Letter from ACER-CART President Gerry Tiede to Minister of Seniors Deb Schulte – Jan.22, 2021 Letter from ACER-CART President Gerry Tiede to Prime Minister Justin Trudeau – Apr.12, 2021 HSO survey collecting Long-term care information Letter from ACER-CART President Gerry Tiede to Minister of Seniors Kamal Khera – Nov.10, 2021

ACER-CART letter To Seniors’ Minister Khera (President Tiede)

Dear Minister Khera: As ACER-CART, the Association canadienne des enseignantes et enseignants retraites – Canadian Association of Retired Teachers, we offer you our warmest congratulations upon the assumption of your responsibilities as Minister of Seniors. ACER-CART, founded in 1991, represents 13 retired teachers’ associations located in every province and Yukon, with a total membership of 165,000 members. We work in cooperation and collaboration with our Provincial Associations to promote the welfare and interests of retired teachers. The priority of our members this year is to work towards the development of a National Seniors’ Strategy. By 2030 one in four of... Read More

Canadian Photo Gallery

Through the camera lens of ACER-CART members Do you enjoy taking photos of our beautiful Canadian landscape? ACER-CART invites you to share your photos on our webpage. A great opportunity for any aspiring photographer with the dream of sharing your photos from coast to coast! Photo Submission Choices: Choose up to 5 of your favourite Canadian photos – landmarks, scenery, or nature but no identifiable people Image upload Criteria: Email as an attachment under 5 MB per photo Identification for the Photo Gallery: Name of the photographer e.g. John Doe Location of photo e.g. Niagara Falls, Ontario eg.) John-Doe_Niagara-falls_Ontario.jpg   Consent Agreement:... Read More

Retiree Health Event

On June 3, Dr. Samir Sinha and Dr. Steve Morgan gave presentations at an ACER-CART Retiree Health Event on Zoom. Please find below details and downloads of their presentations. A National Seniors’ Strategy Could Mean Healthy Aging in Your Own Home Dr. Samir Sinha Director of Geriatrics at Sinai Health System and the University Health Network in Toronto With 40,000 Canadians on waiting lists for Long Term Care, Dr. Sinha will explain how clear policy options exist that would enable ageing in place and the overall sustainability of our health care system. But will those policies be enacted? A Powerful Case for Pharmacare... Read More

HSO survey collecting Long-term care information

HSO (Health Standards Organization) is sharing a survey with the intent to collect information that can be used to develop National standards for Canadian Long-term care homes. One of the 2020-21 ACER-CART priorities is to advocate for regulations governing Retirement and Long-Term Care Homes with emphasis on improving patient respect, working conditions, staff training and staff wages. With that in mind, two links are provided for your convenience: Click to participate in the HSO survey that will take 15-30 minutes Click to learn more about HSO

General Vaccination Information for Seniors

Seniors can be a vulnerable population and vaccines need to be current.  Consult with your medical professional to review your vaccination records. In making decisions about vaccines, it is important to gather information about the efficacy and potential side effects relative to your individual circumstances and especially so if there is more than one vaccine option available. Following are those recommended in the Canadian Immunization Guide. Those who travel out of the country, whether to warmer climates or more exotic locations, need to determine recommended vaccinations for the destination and consider travel advisories. Vaccine Medication /Brand Name Population Recommended Frequency Flu... Read More

Health Survey Results

The ACER-CART Health Services Committee appreciates the responses of Member Associations in completing the survey. The results provided the committee, and trust they provide you, with useful information. In reviewing the survey results, and in discussion with some Members, variations in availability and insurance coverage – whether through Medicare or group plans – were evident. Of particular note was that the high dose flu vaccine was either not available or hard to access.  Subsequent to the results being compiled some provinces have indicated it will be provided in 2021. For some Members completing the survey was a learning experience as... Read More

Medication Safety and Deprescribing

Medication Safety and Deprescribing is a 25-minute video prepared by the Canadian Deprescribing Network. Narrated by Camille Gagnon, Clinical Pharmacist Assistant Director, Canadian Deprescribing Network, it deals with the most fundamental questions about medication and aging. Specifically prepared for Nova Scotians, this video was shared with Branch Presidents to either share in person or virtually with their members. Download Video A toolkit full of materials is also available. Download Toolkit As the Canadian Deprescribing Network is a research organization, for tracking purposes they ask to be informed when the video is shared by your representatives. Permission to use it is... Read More