Volume 06 | June 2020


GBCRA Monthly News and Updates
QUICK LINKS

GBCRA Sponsored Events and Clubs
Book Club
The Book Club meets virtually on the last Friday of each month. This month's book is "The Innocents" by Michael Crummey. Click here to join in the discussion
Bridge Club
The Bridge Club continues meeting virtually each week for lessons and practice. Novice players welcome. Click here to join the group.
Classical Music Club
Joseph Sharon is offering his classical music workshops virtually. Click here to send Joseph an email so he know you want to attend. There is an $8.00 fee
Theatre Club
All live theatre has been cancelled , but you can see fabulous productions by the Stratford Company for free. Click here to access.
Message from the Co-Chairs

Greetings! Here we are in June, with summer almost fully upon us after a long, cool spring. The tulips and daffodils have gone, and the peonies, irises and other flowers are now blooming enthusiastically. It has been an unprecedented three months. We hope that you are well and that you have been enjoying this time despite the constraints.
 
Many of us are carrying out a range of activities “virtually,” a word that used to mean “nearly” or “almost” (e.g., the project is virtually complete) and now means “using a computer to do or see something instead of doing it directly with that person or in that place.” We all know language evolves but this transition has been unusually quick and evident. Most people seem to have found ways to stay connected with family and friends, to enjoy at least some of their normal pastimes, and to find interesting new activities. Cooking and gardening have apparently become unusually popular pursuits among people who did not do them much before, while those of us who have long enjoyed them have continued to do so, along with many other hobbies and interests.
 
The GBCRA board usually suspends its meeting schedule in the summer, as we do not offer events then, but we are discussing how best to proceed over the next while. We have begun to think about the AGM and other things the association normally does in the fall. Given the obvious uncertainty, we will watch, wait, make tentative plans, and see what seems to make sense as we get closer. Be assured that we will let you know – once we know – but that is not likely to be very soon. 
Meanwhile, the bridge club is going strong, with regular meetings and lessons via Zoom. We think they will have improved their skills dramatically by the time they are able to meet in person again. They are certainly using this time to advantage, and it sounds like they are having a lot of fun in the process.

At its June meeting, the book club usually has a celebratory lunch and chooses the next year’s books based on members’ suggestions. This year, members have emailed their suggestions and weighed in electronically about the resulting list, a process organized by Marilyn Grant and Laura Lothian-Bryant. A conversation about possible choices, easily done in someone’s living room, seemed a little too daunting over Zoom! Instead, the club will have a virtual regular meeting on June 26 th and will be reading Michael Crummey’s  The Innocents . Both the bridge and book clubs are considering whether and how often they may want to meet over the summer. Look for updates about this in your email.

At its June meeting, the book club usually has a celebratory lunch and chooses the next year’s books based on members’ suggestions. This year, members have emailed their suggestions and weighed in electronically about the resulting list, a process organized by Marilyn Grant and Laura Lothian-Bryant. A conversation about possible choices, easily done in someone’s living room, seemed a little too daunting over Zoom! Instead, the club will have a virtual regular meeting on June 26 th and will be reading Michael Crummey’s The Innocents . Both the bridge and book clubs are considering whether and how often they may want to meet over the summer. Look for updates about this in your email.
 
As always, we hope that you enjoy this newsletter and remind you that we welcome reminiscences and other contributions from members, either about your time at the college or about things you are doing now. Please write. Shorter pieces can often be included in the newsletter in their entirety. We will endeavour to post longer ones on our website, which also has other information and photos. If you haven’t looked at the website recently, please take a few minutes to check it out at www.gbcra.org

Georgia and Dianne

About Your Pension

The CAAT Pension Plan

If you are curious about the state of our CAAT pension plan, you can watch the recording of the CAAT Annual webinar, by clicking here


Derek Dobson, CEO of the CAAT Pension Plan

Members Speak Out!
This month three GBCRA members wrote articles for this newsletter. We are very pleased to be able to share these with you.

Until The New Normal: How Serendipity, Social Enterprise and Innovation Prepared Me for This Time.
by
Rick Kelly

Rick Kelly was a Professor in the Child and Youth Worker Program from 2000 - 2016. He has a particular interest in Restorative Justice.

While this time of crisis is certainly challenging and to some degree much more than many people can respond to, I have found it to be a somewhat paradoxical time. As I approached retirement, in fact two years prior, and in anticipation of that heralded event I set up my own practice “Just Us : A Centre for Restorative Practices”. 

I was capitalizing on the networks and credibility I had garnered over the years at the College through developing and enhancing the focus on restorative principles and practices through student generated projects, research, training, consultation and innovative placements. My last year culminated in assisting with the Social Innovation Hub set up by Natalie Wood and Zuby Saloojee. This was a radically different approach to student placements and internships. It provided the opportunity for College students to take a passion of theirs and convert it into a product or initiative focused on social justice. I was asked to contribute and oversee a Restorative component to support students developing their passion for restorative justice and practices into a purpose.

To read more of Rick's article click here .
To hear Rick's recent Podcast click here.




We Remember Letter
by Glen Fraser


Glen Fraser began his career at George Brown in 1970 as a Professor in the Faculty of Business and in the Faculty of Information Technology. Glen retired in 2001


Hello Everyone
We are slowly coming out of a major pandemic. Everyone is expecting our world to return to normal but it will take time. Please proceed carefully along the way.
 
Fourteen days seemed long, but with each passing week the days in isolation seem even longer. We don’t know how long this pandemic is going to last - weeks, even months. I think of myself as a people person. I like being with people. I enjoy the pleasure of seeing a person’s face, their body language, their personality. For people like me, this is a rough challenge, Yes, we talk to people on the phone. We communicate by Email. But it’s not the same. It pales in comparison. So what do we do?
 
Science tells us two very important things. We get smarter as we age but we can’t remember things as well as we used to. Our argument is that our brains are so full of facts and figures that it just takes a bit longer to retrieve them. The other thing is that our long-term memory increases while our short-term memory decreases. Unfortunately for our short-term memory it’s true. At least it’s true in my case.

To continue reading Glen's letter, click here
 
Perfect Imperfections 
by Nick Taurozzi

Nick Tasurozzi worked at GBC for 32 years and retired five years ago in 2015. He started at the college as an apprentice electrician and became an electrician at St. James campus. He was transferred to Casa Loma campus and soon became the Maintenance Co-ordinator for Facilities Management.


The sun was fading behind the moons arrogant glance. Darkness arrived like a pious monk bringing with it the chill of abandonment. It wasn't the darkness that ushered in new thoughts, good and bad, but the passing of time forever fleeting making no stops or pauses.
 
She wiped her brow as if she had completed a laborious task glad to have completed it. She closed her eyes and drew a long breath exhaling in a slow and controlled manner as if this act was the last that she would make. Making it last for as long as she could never giving in to that craving that haunted her very soul.

The previous year was filled with joy, only sleep would darken her days. The darkness would only define a lull in the perfect dance that her heart had played. Morning brought renewed life and vitality, her eyes were large and dark gazing with child like wonder. It was a perfect world with its perfect imperfections that could only be scrutinized by its creator. The sun heated the earth with warmth of a new mother urging her newborn to her breast and in its glory beckoning to her. 

Click here to continue reading
Time for a Silent Auction - With a Difference!
Like many, during these unprecedented days, I’ve been cleaning out closets and finding lots of things I’ve never used and now plan to give away. Then, this thought occurred: maybe some of these items could be used in a ‘virtual’ silent auction or perhaps a garage sale with bidding that would help raise money for our scholarship fund. For example, some dishes I’ve never used, or that brand new purse someone gave me, but I’ve never used. Maybe you’re downsizing and have a table or bookcase that you plan to give away. Now that all the donation stations are closed, these items are stacked up eagerly awaiting another life. 

The Retirees’ Association thought that perhaps a virtual sale of these items could be put on our website. But, first we have to figure out exactly how to do that. Maybe someone reading this has the technological savvy and can advice us. In the meantime, should you have an item or items you would like to contribute, please send a picture of it to anne.mackenzierivers@gmail.com  Also, in your e-mail, please tell us what you think the starting bid should be. In the meantime, happy cleaning and stay safe. 
2020 George Brown College Retirees
We have been notified by the College's Human Resources Department that the following individuals have retired from the College. Unfortunately, we were unable to reach out to these folks prior to them leaving the College so many are unaware that GBCRA is an organization for GBC Retirees; and as you may know, when you leave the College your email address is no longer operational. As a result, we need your help. If you know any of the individuals listed below, or if you know of anyone else who is retiring from the College, we would be grateful if you could forward our web site address www.GBCRA.org and ask them to sign up to receive the newsletter from us. It is quite problematic for us to find out who is retiring and we really would appreciate your help in this matter. There is no cost associated with receiving an electronic copy of the newsletter, but we need a home email address.
GBCRA Congratulates Our Newest Retirees and Extends a
Warm Welcome to
The George Brown College 2020 Retirees
Marie Madill-Payne - Faculty
William Fitzpatrick - Support
Faye Johnson - Faculty
Elizabeth Ornoch - Support
Paul Rupert - Admin
Deborah Dunbar - Admin
Sheldon Hargrove - Support
Paul Tong - Support
Eva May - Support
Roger Maurer - Faculty
William Knox - Faculty
Mary Bianchi - Support
Lori Cranson - Admin
Brian Waters - Faculty
Frances Ross - Faculty
Barbara Thistle - Faculty
Brenda Pipitone - Admin
Sara McCormack - Support
In Memoriam
Doug Todd

Doug passed away on May 12, 2020 at the age of 79. He taught plumbing apprentices for over 35 years. He served as Chair of the Trades Division during his last ten years at the College.
Martin Kerman

Martin passed away on April 3, 2002. He joined the College’s Food Technology Division as a teacher in the 1960’s at Kensington Campus and launched what became a very successful Meat Cutter program. He was the Chair of the the Food Technology Division for many years and eventually became Dean when it moved to its new building on Adelaide Street and became known as the Hospitality Division. 
The GBCRA Board of Directors
Co-Chair: Dianne Diniz
Co-Chair: Georgia Quartaro ,
Past President: Bob Cox
Director of Communications: Anne MacKenzie-Thompson, Bob Cox
Treasurer: Joan Reynolds
Director of Membership: Debbie Plested , Jennifer Cooke
Director of Scholarships: Anne MacKenzie-Thompson
Director at Large: Barbara Dunlop
Director at Large: Laura Lothian-Bryant
Director at Large: Denise Pontone
Director at Large : Ron Sluser
Director at Large: Trish Robinson
Newsletter Design and Publication: Bob Cox

Editors: Anne MacKenzie-Thompson, Georgia Quartaro, Dianne Diniz, Debbie Plested, Bob Cox

This Month's Contributors: Bob Cox, Rick Kelly, Glen Fraser, Nick Taurozzi, Georgia Quartaro, Dianne Diniz, Bob Struthers, Guert van de Kraats, Anne MacKenzie-Thompson

To submit an article or give us feedback click here