Message From Your Local Branch President

There are times when we need a reminder that we are ahead of ourselves. The shorts and flip flops disappeared in a hurry ten days ago when winter’s blast whipped in again. It’s joyous to think that spring will be upon us in a few short weeks but don’t hang up the parkas just yet. My cat is just as mystified by the weather changes as we are.

Many of you have been travelling lately. I’m out on highways frequently and when I’m driving through rural areas I often see abandoned farmyards. I think of the families that once lived and loved through the hardships of building a life on the land. We might see a crumbling house or barn, an old dried-up dugout, and even discarded machinery. Throughout the yards, however, the lilac trees continue to spread their glory every spring!

I remember seeing what was left of my grandfather’s homestead at White Bear. He had lived in a boxcar but when he married my grandmother he built a small house because she deserved more than a cold boxcar. My maternal grandparents homesteaded at Dubuc and I once saw their sagging little remnant of a house where they raised eight children. Do you think our great grandchildren will drive past our former houses and say, “That’s where Grandma and Grandpa had their families and lived through happy and sad times…?”

🎉 Did You Join Us at the Trivia Social?

We had a great afternoon of fun, socializing, and plenty of laughs at our Canadian TRIVIA, TRIVIA, TRIVIA from the 1960s, 1970s, and 1980s on Wednesday, February 25/26!

Norbert Fries did a terrific job as host and event planner. Teams of four or five were set up, and we had a short time limit for each question. In my group, it usually went like this: we’d listen to the question, stare blankly at each other, and say, “I should know this!” Then we’d start tossing out ideas, which somehow jogged our memories until we landed on what we thought was a pretty good answer.

There were great snacks, lots of laughter, and wonderful camaraderie.

PLUS — surprise! — we also had the opportunity to dance. Marquita Neufeld and Val Trudel from the Métis Thunder Creek Region shared some history with us and taught two Métis dances. We thoroughly enjoyed learning the Duck and Rabbit dances.

🍽️ Get Ready for the Next Luncheon

STS Moose Jaw Superannuated Teachers LUNCHEON
Wednesday, March 18, 2026

10:30 – 11:00 Coffee and Table Game with Janie Fries
11:00 - Program: RCMP - Online Fraud
12:00 - Turkey Dinner - Catered by Charlottes
12:45 - Meeting for those of you who wish to stay

Cost: $20.00 per STS member and spouse. $25.00 for non-members

Please RSVP to Rosalie by Saturday, March 14, 2026, at 306-691-0696, email: stsmoosejaw@gmail.com, or click the link in your latest STSMJ Newsletter.

Come and Enjoy!

Location: Masonic Temple Hall, Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan

🚶Let’s Take a Walk for Warmth

We are looking forward to supporting SQUARE ONE COMMUNITY again this year. Please join members of our Executive for the 2026 WALK FOR WARMTH on Saturday, March 14th at 1:30 pm
We have registered as a group using the name “Moose Jaw Superannuated Teachers.”

Dalelene Yelland (our Treasurer) has the pledge form for the Moose Jaw Superannuated Teachers. You may make your donation to her by cash or by cheque payable to Square One Community Inc. She would require your full name, home address, and your Email address so a Tax receipt can be issued to you. If you cannot participate in the walk, your donation would also be most welcome.

Contact information for Dalelene:
Phone: 306 960 9360
Email: dalelene@sasktel.net

All of our pledges need to be in by March 12th to enable them to be checked and totaled with those collected by Square One Community (as indicated below) and reconciled.

If you would like to donate using an online option, using debit or credit cards, please do so through the following link (Square One Community Impact Fund) and be sure to put our team name, Moose Jaw Superannuated Teachers, in the "Donation Message" section.

https://saskfoundation.ca/funds/square-one-community-impact-fund/walk-for-warmth-2026/

⚕️Did You Know?: More Great Health Info from Sunil Pandila

Beginning January 1, 2026, all maximums get reset back to $0. In other words, you have full access to drugs, para-medical expenses and all health expenses including vaccines until such time later in the year when you may reach maximum levels. Also remember to make sure you use your Health Spending Account funds to offset any health related expenses or take the cash back for your premiums. The deadline for the HAS is December 31 but please use before this date.

📖The Spring 2026 Outreach is Here

The Spring 2026 issue of Outreach is now available on the STS website: https://www.sts.sk.ca/outreach. There is a great article, Planning for the Future: Health Care Directive, plus an article on Understanding Artificial Intelligence.

☀️ Tell Someone How Great They Are

WHO IN YOUR LIFE HAS A SUPERPOWER YOU ADMIRE?

Brighten their day and tell them!

📢 ANNOUNCEMENTS 📢

🎺Volunteer for the MJ Band and Choral Festival

From Janie Fries:

We would love to add more people to our list of volunteers to help with the Moose Jaw Band and Choral Festival. May 11 -14, 2026. We currently have 102 groups registered from Saskatchewan, Alberta, and Manitoba. We have T-shirts for sale, free concerts - Moosic in the Park. See our website for details.

Like us on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/mjbandfestival

Check out our website: mjbandandchoral.org