{"id":33,"date":"2019-07-12T15:16:49","date_gmt":"2019-07-12T19:16:49","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/artabranches.net\/demo-frta\/?page_id=33"},"modified":"2026-03-16T17:12:43","modified_gmt":"2026-03-16T21:12:43","slug":"history","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/artabranches.net\/wcrta\/history\/","title":{"rendered":"History"},"content":{"rendered":"

[vc_row][vc_column width=”2\/3″][vc_new_content h=”2″ title=”Wolf Creek Retired Teachers\u2019 Association (WCRTA) History” attach_image=”411″]THE 50 YEAR EVOLUTION OF ARTA WOLF CREEK RETIRED TEACHERS\u2019 ASSOCIATION (WCRTA)<\/strong><\/p>\n

The initial vision of an ARTA branch for Ponoka retired teachers was formulated around Vi Somshor\u2019s kitchen table in September of 1975.\u00a0 It was formally recognized by ARTA on October 22, 1975 with 26 charter members and the Ponoka County Retired Teachers\u2019 Association (PCRTA) constitution was adopted Feb. 6, 1976.\u00a0 President Twig Taylor, our first branch president, attended the October 1976 ARTA AGM in Edmonton.<\/p>\n

Edna Stretch Cerveny was the last living charter member in Ponoka, passed away in 2012 at 103; she\u2019d retired 40 years earlier.<\/p>\n

Our branch name has gone through several evolutions (iterations) over the past 50 years.<\/p>\n

The 1985 ARTA AGM report referred to us as PCRTA and the 1986 ARTA AGM report, as the Ponoka Retired Teachers\u2019 Association (PRTA).\u00a0 No specific information could be located about this change.\u00a0 PRTA usage continued through 1996.<\/p>\n

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. \u00a0There wasn\u2019t a retired teacher\u2019s branch in Lacombe so some had gone to Red Deer.<\/p>\n

On September 17, 1997, Mary Jones moved, Gerald Dahms seconded to approve a constitution revision changing our name to Ponoka and District Retired Teachers\u2019 Association (PDRTA), pending ARTA Board of Directors approval.\u00a0 Motion carried at both levels.<\/p>\n

October 2001 our branch name and Lacombe retirees resurfaced again.\u00a0 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\u2019 Association (WCRTA) from PDRTA.\u00a0 The motion carried.\u00a0 Then in December 2001 a motion was made to formally change our name.\u00a0 The motion was tabled.\u00a0 In June 2002 the motion was defeated, but with the understanding that teachers from other jurisdictions would be welcome.\u00a0 There were lingering concerns about avoiding conflict with the Red Deer branch (CARTA).<\/p>\n

The branch name issue formally resurfaced in 2013 as the branch name didn\u2019t match the reality of the branch membership.\u00a0 June 2013 Eldred Stamp moved and Nellie Finnell seconded, that we rename our branch to Wolf Creek Alberta Retired Teachers\u2019 Association (WCARTA).\u00a0 The unanimous motion was forwarded to the November ARTA Board of Directors Meeting for approval.\u00a0 The October 2013 ARTA AGM report still used the PDRTA acronym as approval for the change didn\u2019t happen until November.<\/p>\n

June 2015, Frank Tschabold moved and Dorothy Houghton seconded, that the branch name be shortened by removing \u2018Alberta\u2019.\u00a0 Motion carried.\u00a0 We became the Wolf Creek Retired Teachers\u2019 Association (WCRTA).<\/p>\n

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 50th<\/sup> anniversary of the branch.<\/p>\n

Some current day retirees will recall participating in the bitter 38 day Battle River Teachers\u2019 Strike in 1992 that included teachers from Ponoka County, the Oct. 4, 1997 \u201cGet The Message\u201d 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.<\/p>\n

Many members worked on a project proposed by Laura Wierzba for Alberta\u2019s Centennial in 2005, by placing markers at the site of former rural schools in Ponoka County.\u00a0 Discussion about the school markers started in 2001 with the final one installed in 2007.\u00a0 The steel pipe signs show the name, school district number and years of operation.\u00a0 They honour pioneers who were dedicated to their children\u2019s education and strengthening of our society.\u00a0 From this project came Laura\u2019s book, Rural Schools of Ponoka County.<\/p>\n

Our members have played an active role in the provincial Alberta Retired Teachers\u2019 Association.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n

In 2009 ARTA created the Public Sector of the ARTA Health Benefits plan.\u00a0 This allowed us to accept affiliate retirees as members of our Branch, who are welcome at all of our events.<\/p>\n

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.\u00a0 Currently we hold three events a year at the Ponoka Drop In Centre.<\/p>\n

We\u2019ve come a long way from the initial proposal around Vi\u2019s kitchen table in 1975 and today we pay tribute to the 26 Charter members.<\/p>\n

We are thankful for their vision and actions.\u00a0 Fifty years later we have 157 ARTA\/WCRTA members and 329 on our contact list.<\/p>\n

Charter Members 1975<\/a><\/p>\n

50 years of Branch Executive<\/a>[\/vc_new_content][vc_campaign_ad1][\/vc_column][vc_column width=”1\/3″][vc_new_content h=”2″ txt_transform=”uppercase” title=”About WCRTA”][\/vc_new_content]\t

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