THE 50 YEAR EVOLUTION OF ARTA WOLF CREEK RETIRED TEACHERS’ ASSOCIATION (WCRTA)

The initial vision of an ARTA branch for Ponoka retired teachers was formulated around Vi Somshor’s kitchen table in September of 1975.  It was formally recognized by ARTA on October 22, 1975 with 26 charter members and the Ponoka County Retired Teachers’ Association (PCRTA) constitution was adopted Feb. 6, 1976.  President Twig Taylor, our first branch president, attended the October 1976 ARTA AGM in Edmonton.

Edna Stretch Cerveny was the last living charter member in Ponoka, passed away in 2012 at 103; she’d retired 40 years earlier.

Our branch name has gone through several evolutions (iterations) over the past 50 years.

The 1985 ARTA AGM report referred to us as PCRTA and the 1986 ARTA AGM report, as the Ponoka Retired Teachers’ Association (PRTA).  No specific information could be located about this change.  PRTA usage continued through 1996.

Following the 1994 provincial government boards of education amalgamation, the Counties of Lacombe and Ponoka became the Wolf Creek School Division, there were concerns about which branch Lacombe retired teachers should belong to.  There wasn’t a retired teacher’s branch in Lacombe so some had gone to Red Deer.

On September 17, 1997, Mary Jones moved, Gerald Dahms seconded to approve a constitution revision changing our name to Ponoka and District Retired Teachers’ Association (PDRTA), pending ARTA Board of Directors approval.  Motion carried at both levels.

October 2001 our branch name and Lacombe retirees resurfaced again.  Ervan Stobbe moved, Doris Tompkins seconded, that steps be taken to look into the possibility of changing the name of our branch to Wolf Creek Retired Teachers’ Association (WCRTA) from PDRTA.  The motion carried.  Then in December 2001 a motion was made to formally change our name.  The motion was tabled.  In June 2002 the motion was defeated, but with the understanding that teachers from other jurisdictions would be welcome.  There were lingering concerns about avoiding conflict with the Red Deer branch (CARTA).

The branch name issue formally resurfaced in 2013 as the branch name didn’t match the reality of the branch membership.  June 2013 Eldred Stamp moved and Nellie Finnell seconded, that we rename our branch to Wolf Creek Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association (WCARTA).  The unanimous motion was forwarded to the November ARTA Board of Directors Meeting for approval.  The October 2013 ARTA AGM report still used the PDRTA acronym as approval for the change didn’t happen until November.

June 2015, Frank Tschabold moved and Dorothy Houghton seconded, that the branch name be shortened by removing ‘Alberta’.  Motion carried.  We became the Wolf Creek Retired Teachers’ Association (WCRTA).

In December 2024, the WCRTA executive presented a revised constitution which was subsequently approved in June 2025 for the start of the 2025/2026 season and the 50^th anniversary of the branch.

Some current day retirees will recall participating in the bitter 38 day Battle River Teachers’ Strike in 1992 that included teachers from Ponoka County, the Oct. 4, 1997 “Get The Message” teacher rally that saw an estimated 20,000 march on the Alberta Legislature, and the 2002 strike with the ATA march on the provincial legislature by thousands of Alberta teachers.

Many members worked on a project proposed by Laura Wierzba for Alberta’s Centennial in 2005, by placing markers at the site of former rural schools in Ponoka County.  Discussion about the school markers started in 2001 with the final one installed in 2007.  The steel pipe signs show the name, school district number and years of operation.  They honour pioneers who were dedicated to their children’s education and strengthening of our society.  From this project came Laura’s book, Rural Schools of Ponoka County.

Our members have played an active role in the provincial Alberta Retired Teachers’ Association.  Eldred Stamp, Juanita Knight, and Lawrence Hrycan have served on the ARTA executive and many, many more have given their time, expertise and passion and served on ARTA committees, the Trust, and in other capacities.

In 2009 ARTA created the Public Sector of the ARTA Health Benefits plan.  This allowed us to accept affiliate retirees as members of our Branch, who are welcome at all of our events.

Over the past 50 years, members and guests have met in several locations, enjoyed a variety of speakers, information sessions, entertainment, kept in touch with our colleagues, and participated in many activities.  Currently we hold three events a year at the Ponoka Drop In Centre.

We’ve come a long way from the initial proposal around Vi’s kitchen table in 1975 and today we pay tribute to the 26 Charter members.

We are thankful for their vision and actions.  Fifty years later we have 157 ARTA/WCRTA members and 329 on our contact list.