UWRA Monthly Bulletin for April
This is the monthly bulletin for the University of 蓝莓视频 Retirees Association, sent to all UW retirees. Here鈥檚 what you鈥檒l find in this issue:
UWRA events: Back Pain and Sciatic Workshop, Happiness in Retirement, our AGM, UWRA calendar of events.
UWRA news: Tax slips, Proposed bylaw changes, Join our board.
UWRA travel survey: How about a couple of weeks in Portugal or Spain?
New discount partner: Save with Specsavers.
Taking courses at UW? Updated website.
Community events: CURAC national conference, Symposium on Aging Research (SoAR).
Resource of the month: How music and art support healthy aging.
Feedback: We鈥檒l take it.
UWRA EVENTS:
A Back Pain and Sciatic Workshop is being presented by SOS Physiotherapy at their Northfield location on Saturday, April 12 at 10:00 am. This session will cover the top three causes of low back injury and sciatic nerve entrapment, the biggest mistake people with back pain make, and what proper low back treatment looks like. There will also be three or four simple exercises to help address your tight areas and lower back aches and pains. These workshops typically run approximately one hour and ample time for questions and discussions at the end.
Happiness in Retirement workshop: What is happiness in retirement? How do the usual components of most people鈥檚 happiness鈥攚ork, relationships, pleasure, meaning鈥攃hange during retirement compared to previous eras of one鈥檚 life? How does the well-being of the body change and impact one鈥檚 experience of happiness in retirement? How does one鈥檚 mind-set鈥攊ncluding optimism versus pessimism鈥攁lter during the transition into retirement? Join us on Monday, April 14 from 3 p.m. to 5 p.m. at The Village of University Gates for an exploration of these vital subjects of interest to us all. Speaker Brian Orend has been a philosophy professor at the University of 蓝莓视频 since 1998. He鈥檚 the author of 8 books, and editor of 2 more. He teaches a course on happiness at the University and has written an acclaimed book about being happy while having a chronic health condition. Register today.
The UWRA 2025 AGM is scheduled for Wednesday, May 14, when new governance documents will be presented for members鈥 approval. Please plan to attend.
Visit the UWRA Events Calendar for all of our events, activities and presentations. We will be ramping up the walks and outdoor activities as the weather improves.
UWRA News
Spring鈥檚 blooming beauty meets the reality of tax season. Most retirees should receive two UW-related T-slips, both by postal mail. Since pensions are actually paid by the trustee, the slip for pension income will come from CIBC Mellon. The University pays a premium for life insurance, on behalf of the retiree. That slip, which will be for a very small amount, comes from the University. Like other tax-information slips, these can be accessed electronically on the CRA web site, which for most people is probably the easiest approach if you haven鈥檛 received them in the mail by the time you need them for completing your income-tax form. The tax filing deadline for your 2024 tax return is April 30, 2025.
Rewards available: Consider serving your fellow retirees by joining the UWRA Board of Directors. New directors typically begin as a 鈥渕ember at large,鈥 offering input while learning the ropes and getting a feel for the UWRA鈥檚 activities. We meet monthly, except in July and August, on the third Wednesday morning. Do what you find interesting, commit as few as three hours a month, and help your fellow retirees to thrive in retirement! Want to know more? Contact any member of the board.
How about a couple of weeks in Portugal next February or March? Or maybe three? Or maybe Spain? The UWRA will ask one of our travel partners to design a custom vacation for UW retirees, with something for everyone: a combination of lazing on the beach and seeing the sights, going out with the gang or doing your own thing, touring museums or visiting shops, keeping busy or doing nothing 鈥 you get the picture. Complete a short survey to tell us what you think of the idea. If there鈥檚 enough interest, we鈥檒l flesh out the details.
蓝莓视频 retirees save with Specsavers. UWRA is a member of CURAC/ARUCC. They just welcomed Specsavers as a new affinity partner, which means UW retirees are now eligible for savings on eye exams and a 60% discount on lens upgrades. To quality, retirees will visit a Specsavers store, quote the CURAC/ARUCC membership code 202401, and show evidence of membership in our retiree association.
Pursuing a degree or wanting to take a course or two? UW has updated the tuition benefits webpage to reflect that retirees 65+ receive the Seniors Tuition Discount, allowing them to take the standard number of courses per term (4) with tuition charges related to their course(s) or program covered. Retirees under age 65, which is a bit of a gray area, will be directed to enrol as per normal and connect with Student Financial Services for support about their course load and the benefit. For more information, contact Mark Lisetto-Smith.
COMMUNITY EVENTS:
Spaces are limited for this year鈥檚 , which will be held in Montreal, May 21-23, and hosted by McGill. Early Bird registration closes on April 25. Regular registration is April 26 - May 12. This will be the first CURAC conference that will offer simultaneous translation and the opportunity to join virtually.
Check out CURAC鈥檚 for their other upcoming activities.
The Symposium on Aging Research (SoAR) is back! Mark your calendars鈥擲oAR 2025 will take place on April 29, bringing together students, faculty, retirees and community members to share groundbreaking research on aging. This year鈥檚 keynote speaker is Dr. Soo Chan Carusone. SoAR has proven itself as an event that not only showcases current aging research at the University of 蓝莓视频, but also one that heightens awareness on potential areas for future research and connects those with similar interests in service and teaching. Past attendees have
seen this event as an opportunity to bring together diverse groups from across the University of 蓝莓视频 who are passionate and dedicated about aging research.
Resource of the month:
The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) explores how music and art support healthy aging. Their research suggests that incorporating art or participating in a music therapy program as we age can support our overall health and well-being. We all know that eating well, staying active, drinking plenty of water, and getting enough sleep is essential for staying healthy. But so is creativity, an often-overlooked key factor in healthy aging.
Feedback
Here鈥檚 to another month of growth, connection and thriving in retirement. If you have any feedback for this bulletin or would like to contribute to the next edition, please email uwracomm@uwaterloo.ca