The ARTA 50 th anniversary celebrations were launched at the first annual Recognition Banquet held on the evening of October 3 .

The festivities began with a happy hour in the ATA cafeteria . ARTA delegates , past presidents , and past executive secretaries along with their guests were greeted in the Barnett House Auditorium , transformed for the occasion , by the master of ceremonies for the evening , the CBC ’ s Mark Connolly . ARTA President , Gordon Cumming , welcomed banquet attendees , and Paul Boisvert delivered a soul-stirring blessing . A delectable prime rib dinner ,

topped off by a dish of tiramisu , was followed by the presentation of brass school bells to retiring board members .

Entertainment was provided by Bill and Myrna Lasecki who sang three songs : “ The One-Room School ,” a folksong from Newfoundland ; “ What a Wonderful World ,” by Bob Thiele ; and “ ARTA and Retired Teachers ’ Tribute ,” an original work by NEARTA members .

Chuck Rose shared a brief timeline of events that led to the formation of the Alberta Retired Teachers ’ Association in 1963 . Dean McMullen followed Chuck ’ s

presentation with an invitation to retired teachers throughout the province to participate in one or more activities planned to celebrate the anniversary at the provincial or branch level .

The evening concluded with the screening of a six-minute video produced in recognition of ARTA ’ s golden jubilee .

Thanks to the hard work of members of the office staff , ARTA Executive , Human Resources Committee and the 50 th Anniversary Ad Hoc Committee , the kick-off of ARTA ’ s anniversary celebrations was a memorable occasion .

ALBERTA RETIRED TEACHERS ’ ASSOCIATION News & Views Volume 19 21 , No . 32