South Bruce Retired Women Teachers dine and drum

By: Christine Roberts October 25, 2026 135

South Bruce Retired Women Teachers dine and drum

The South Bruce branch of the Retired Women Teachers of Ontario/Organization des enseignantes retraitées de l’Ontario (RWTO/OERO) had a great turn-out for the Oct. 16 meeting at the Ripley-Huron Legion Hall with nearly three dozen members in attendance.

President JoAnn Ruetz welcomed everyone including four new members, Jackie Emmerton, Tracy Hallam, Ruth Johnston and Janet Owens. They were presented with roses and RWTO pins.

Reports were received from the secretary, treasurer, and insurance and goodwill directors. Donations authorized at the September meeting were sent to the Kincardine, Ripley and Port Elgin Christmas Hamper programs, the United Way Backpack Program and Huron Shores Hospice. The donation request for the October meeting was for hygiene products and meal-in-a-bag and birthday-in-a-bag ingredients to be delivered to the Kincardine Food Bank. The response was overwhelming.

As October is Cybersecurity Awareness Month, Ruetz shared tech tips to avoid being caught in scams or having on-line security breached.

Before breaking for a delicious lunch of sandwiches, soups and squares prepared by the Ripley-Huron Legion Ladies' Auxiliary, members were given a little homework. A provincial planning committee has asked for feedback to help improve services and programs. South Bruce ladies obliged with good discussions and ideas.

Exuberant doesn’t begin to describe guest speaker Sandra O’Connor. A retired primary school teacher of Guelph, she became interested in drumming after experiencing a presentation of traditional African drumming and dancing at her school. Attracted to the joy and energy of the art form, she became a student herself and now leads multiple groups in Guelph.

O’Connor provided percussion instruments for everyone and led the group through a series of exploratory warm-up exercises. After a short practice time, she divided the circle into groups, each with a different beat, and directed several rounds of drumming, singing and dancing.

The ladies responded with enthusiasm and displayed great rhythmic talent. To view a video of the drumming session, click here: youtube.com/shorts/yEgLJyG8r28?feature=share.

The next South Bruce RWTO meeting takes place Wednesday, Nov. 18, at the Kincardine United Church. The ladies will enjoy a traditional Christmas meal for lunch and kick off the holiday season with sharing, fun and fellowship. Details and contact information will be posted on the branch’s page on the provincial website: rwto.org/branch-new/south-bruce/ under Coming Events.

The South Bruce branch of the RWTO welcomes any retired women teachers, audiologists, child and youth workers/counsellors, early childhood educators, educational assistants, office support staff, psychologists, social workers and speech and language pathologists living in southern Bruce County. Contact information can be found by visiting the previously-mentioned web page.