Various meetings were held in Lethbridge as well as in Calgary and Edmonton, between 1961 and the official formation of ARTA in 1963. On Sept. 3, 1963, an application was made to have the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association incorporated under the Societies Act. A charter was issued on November 14, 1963. SWARTA is listed as an originating branch in A History of the Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (1963-1993) by R.L. Rhine.