Retired Teachers Fund Environmental Education

To launch a new field-based environmental program, the Comox Valley Project Watershed Society has received a $5,000 donation from the Retired Teachers of Ontario/Enseignantes et enseignants retraités de l’Ontario (RTOERO) national office in Toronto and their District 47 Vancouver Island. The program, called Stewardship in Place, is being developed in response to requests from local educators. It aims to equip students with a comprehensive toolkit of skills, including observation, data collection, restoration practices and scientific methodologies.

The District 47 funding is part of RTOERO’s annual community grants program. Since 1968, RTOERO has been a voice for teachers, school and board administrators, educational support staff and college and university faculty in their retirement.

Their mission is to improve the lives of members and seniors. RTOERO members also share a desire to give back. Each year, districts apply for grants to support community projects. For 2024, RTOERO funded 31 projects for a total of $122,252.

This Stewardship in Place seed project, developed in collaboration with Caila Holbrook of Project Watershed and Dr. E. Lisbeth Donaldson of District 47 RTOERO, will involve collaborative development by community groups with common environmental goals.

“We share the objectives of the Project Watershed Society, to foster a strong sense of place and connection to the community, while promoting environmental stewardship and awareness among students,” says Bill Huzar, President, District 47 Vancouver Island, RTOERO.

Each year, a committee of RTOERO members assesses the merits of each grant submission. Projects touch on everything from environmental sustainability, to healthy and accessible communities. Since the inception of the community grants program 24 years ago, RTOERO has donated almost $2.1 million to more than 600 programs and projects.

“Our members are active in contributing to the well-being of the places where they live, all across Canada. By partnering with local organizations, with grants and practical support, RTOERO districts engage in grassroots community building,” says John Cappelletti, chair of the board at RTOERO.

District 47 Vancouver Island includes about 900 members, covering the Greater Victoria area, communities north and south of the Malahat, the southern Gulf Islands, and the Gulf Islands from north of Salt Spring Island. The district plays a key role in helping members stay engaged and connected, with each other and the community.

RTOERO is a bilingual trusted voice on healthy, active living in the retirement journey for the broader education community. With 85,000+ members in 51 districts across Canada, we are the largest national provider of non-profit group health benefits for education retirees. We welcome members who work in or are retired from the early years, schools and school boards, post-secondary and any other capacity in education. We believe in a better future, together!

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