March 2026 Wolf Creek Retired Teachers’ Association Communication

Monday, June 1, 2026 –

     Spring Into Summer Luncheon and ARTA Heart and Sole Wellness Walk

     This will also be our final recognition event for the 50th anniversary of

     the branch.  1975/76 – 2025/26

Monday, August 24, 2026 –

     Welcome To Retirement/To Hell With The Bell Brunch

     *Note – We are going to try this event as a brunch instead of breakfast.

Monday, November 30, 2026 –

     Christmas Luncheon

All events will be held at the Ponoka Drop In Centre.  As always spouses,

partners, or anyone that accompanies you is welcome at our events.  Watch

for details and RSVP information a few weeks ahead of each event.

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Get your walking shoes ready.  ARTA is again sponsoring wellness walks in the branches. The Heart and Sole Wellness Walk for our Wolf Creek branch will take place on  Monday, June 1, 2026 starting at 10:30 am from the Ponoka Drop In Centre and making use of the Battle River Trail System which is close by.  Our Spring Luncheon will take place after the walk.  Bring a donation for the Rimbey Food Bank.  (In 2024 we supported the Lacombe Food Bank and in 2025 we supported the Ponoka Food Bank.)  Please register directly with ARTA for the walk here.  Choose WCRTA on the drop down menu and whatever swag you wish.  Register for the walk by May 1, 2026.  We will be looking for a volunteer from Rimbey to take back the food bank donations.  If you can help out let us know.

For those not walking there will be two options.  The auditorium will be open for those wishing to play cards and games or just socialize or you can come in time for the luncheon.

Watch for details and RSVP information for the luncheon at the beginning of May.

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WCRTA Updates

Our 2025 Christmas luncheon was a great success with 91 in attendance.

We raised $3785 for the Alberta Retired Teachers Charitable Foundation at the event. We were treated to great entertainment by Terry, Luc, Gerry, and Glen from the Educators. The Wolf Creek Public Schools Admin team and the ARTA office brought congratulations for the 50th anniversary of our branch.

Maria Lentz was awarded an ARTA Volunteer Award for her dedication.

We welcomed Marg Brookwell as a new retiree.

For those that wish there are several pictures and documents associated with the anniversary now on the WCRTA website.  artabranches.net/wcrta/

History is found under the About WCRTA tab and Photo Gallery is found under the Branch Information tab.

Doug Gill, Lawrence Hrycan, and Frank Tschabold assisted the ARTA staff at the booth at teacher’s convention in February.

ARTA branches have been receiving the ARTA branch subsidy grant each year to help with expenses and programs.  WCRTA has used this grant for a variety of things including subsidizing the cost of our events for members.  We receive this grant based on the number of branch members that are also ARTA members.  Each year we submit a list of our branch members with pertinent information like addresses, emails, and phone numbers for ARTA to verify against their data base.  Then the branch receives a grant based on the number of WCRTA members that are also ARTA members.  Please keep us informed of any changes in your information. We appreciate you keeping your branch

membership up to date.  The branch activity fee for your membership is only $5 a year or better yet $20 for five years, unless you are a lifetime member.  Normally the branch activity fee is paid when you attend an event, but can also be done by going on the WCRTA website, filling out and submitting the membership form, and mailing a cheque to the address shown.  Thanks for your help with this.

We are looking for suggestions for entertainment for our Christmas luncheon.  If you have a suggestion please let us know.  We are able to pay a reasonable fee or make a donation in kind for this service.

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ARTA Updates

ARTAfacts, the News & Views magazine, and the ARTA website provide lots of information to keep track of the various opportunities for involvement with ARTA.

Some ARTA opportunities and deadlines to be aware of:

– The ARTA Photo Contest deadline is May 31, 2026.

– Keep in mind the deadline of July 31, 2026 for ARTA scholarships.

– At the May ARTA Board of Directors meeting there will be an election for trustees for the ARTA Benefits Plan Trust.  Check out this committee on the ARTA website if this opportunity is something that may interest you.  I can forward the trust nomination package to anyone

that is interested.  Deadline is May 11.

– Registration deadline for the Alberta Retired Teachers Charitable Foundation golf tournament is May 8 but space is limited.

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Looking forward to seeing many of you at the Wellness Walk and/or Spring Luncheon on June 1, 2026 in Ponoka.