From the Branches
Maxine Maxwell | Secretary, NWARTA
NWARTA’s New Frontiers Retiree Conference
A
NW RT
Northwestern Alberta
Retired Teachers’ Association
On May 13, 2019, NWARTA held its sixth annual New Frontiers
Retiree Conference filled with inspiring and relevant sessions
designed to address the goal of an engaged lifestyle in retirement
by focusing on social, physical, emotional, intellectual, economic,
and spiritual wellness.
Sixty-three retirees arrived at the Stonebridge Hotel
early to hear greetings from Grande Prairie’s mayor,
Bill Given, and a keynote address called “Getting Over
Getting Older” by Calgary’s spunky senior, Patricia
Morgan. Using humorous and familiar examples,
she encouraged conference attendees not to take
themselves too seriously and to build their personal
resilience by taking good care of their vintage bodies.
Patricia’s second session called “Be a People
Booster” was an equally encouraging message.
Other wellness sessions included “Mindful Aging,”
“What About Financial Wellness,” and “Planning
for Physical Wellness.”
The highlight of the day was an afternoon session
led by the Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir called “Music:
A Prescription for Wellness.”
Forty boys were paired with conference participants
to teach and encourage them to perform specific
musical exercises as instructed by their director.
Wonderful workout with our choir buddies.
With thanks to the Grande Prairie Boys’ Choir.
Vocal cords and body coordination were challenged and
exercised by singing musical scales, memory sequences,
and segments of familiar songs, many accompanied by
body movements. It was a wonderful mental workout
with our talented and lovable little ‘choir buddies.’
Concurrent with the conference, six NWARTA artists
displayed their works of art, using various painting
styles, books intended to inspire, stylish wooden
birdhouses, and brightly coloured and sparkly costumes
designed for Grande Prairie’s live theatre’s production
of Mamma Mia!
The New Frontiers Retiree Conference offered
attendees an opportunity to learn, laugh, enjoy,
appreciate, renew friendships, and connect with each
other and their community.
It was a very successful event organized to celebrate
community and recognize NWARTA’s forty-fifth
anniversary year. ●
news&views AUTUMN 2019 | 23