Welcome to the April 2026 UWRA Monthly Bulletin!
Spring is in the air, and this month’s bulletin is full of ways to stay connected — from UWRA favourites like Brew Crew, the Spring Luncheon, and our AGM, to community events, travel inspiration, member news, and savings through our affinity partners. Grab a coffee and enjoy what’s ahead:
UWRA events: Brew Crew, Spring Luncheon, our own Annual General Meeting
UWRA news: T4As
Community events: Senior College Symposium at UofT, Going electric at home, CURAC conference
Travelling with the Joneses: Santorini travel notes with Colin and Maureen Jones
Featured discount partners: Affinity partners
Worth sharing: RIA
Upcoming UWRA events:
UWRA 2026 Spring Luncheon
Join fellow retirees for our annual Spring Luncheon on Tuesday, April 14, 2026, featuring guest speaker Mikal Skuterud. Doors open at 11:30 a.m., with a buffet lunch at noon and the presentation served up with dessert.
We’ll gather in the Ruby Room (10th floor) at Schlegel Village at University Gates, with free parking included. The cost is $15 per person.
Space is limited to 50 attendees, so be sure to register early!
Join this fun Brew Crew!
Looking for a fun, easy way to stay connected? Come sip, chat, and catch up with these fellow retirees at the UWRA Brew Crew — a relaxed monthly get-together with Ron Champion, UWRA President, and friends. Meet the second Thursday of every month at 10 a.m.
Save the date!
The UWRA 2026 Annual General Meeting is happening Wednesday, May 13–we hope to see you there. Watch for details.
UWRA news:
The University will no longer issue T4As for the notional life-insurance premium they pay on behalf of retirees. It’s rather surprising, but CRA does not require a T4A to be issued for this specific situation if the amount is under $50, which it presumably is for just about all UW retirees. This is a truly odd situation since the money is taxable even if no T4A is issued and you can’t compute it yourself from any information available to you, e.g., monthly pension income and deductions. It turns out that you need to send e-mail to payroll@uwaterloo.ca requesting the amount that would have been on your T4A and they will send you the information. When this process was tried by a UWRA Board member, the response was very quick. For more information, contact David Taylor at dtaylor@uwaterloo.ca
Community events:
You’re Invited: 21st Annual Senior College Symposium (University of Toronto)
UWRA members may be interested in this timely and thought-provoking event hosted by the University of Toronto Senior College.
When: Wednesday, April 15, 2026 9:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m.
Where: In person: Faculty Club, 41 Willcocks St., Toronto or attend by Zoom
Theme: Canada at the Crossroads
Canada faces significant economic, governance, and identity challenges. This full-day symposium brings together leading thinkers to explore where Canada stands today — and where it could go next.
Featured Speakers Include:
- Bob Rae – Some Thoughts on a World Turned Upside Down
- Dimitry Anastakis – Canada–U.S. relations and the auto sector
- Dan Breznitz – Innovation and prosperity in a global context
- Danyaal Raza – Funding, taxes, and the future of Medicare
- Tony Keller – Immigration: what worked, what didn’t, and what’s next
- David Milne – Rapporteur and symposium commentator
Registration Options:
- In person: $85 early registration (until noon April 6), then $100 (includes refreshments, lunch, and reception)
- Zoom: $25 (with option to upgrade later)
This is an excellent opportunity to engage with big ideas, expert voices, and fellow retirees — whether in Toronto or from home.
Going Electric: A Homeowner's Guide
Learn what it really means to electrify your home in this practical, one-hour talk by Reep Green Solutions, part of their Going Electric series. The session will outline today’s electric home options, along with the benefits, risks, and key considerations to help homeowners make informed decisions. A useful overview for anyone curious about electric heating, appliances, or future-proofing their home.
When: Tuesday, April 21, 6:30–7:30 p.m.
Location: Elmira Public Library, Elmira
CURAC 2026 Annual Conference – “Making Connections”
The SFU Retirees Association will host the 2026 national CURAC conference from May 20–22 at the Inn at the Quay in New Westminster, BC. Registration is now open at curac.ca/en/conference/2026-conference.
Travelling with the Joneses:
Santorini
Santorini has a tangible history that dates back to the Neolithic period. 3600 years ago, the island had a large presence of the Minoan culture from Crete. Perhaps a trading post of the mariners of the time, this volcanic island became the Pompeii of the Aegean Islands after its eruption buried the surrounding area for hundreds of miles with volcanic ash. The resulting Caldera created by that eruption is today Santorini’s iconic postcard.
Did You Know?
- Santorini is the only inhabited caldera in the world, officially known as Thira, and was once a single round land mass known as Strongili (The Round One).
- The once-buried capital, Akrotiri, is now walkable like Pompeii in Italy and protected under a large roof.
- After the Minoan Eruption, the island was settled by the Phoenicians around 1300 BCE, and once again became a trading centre of the Aegean.
- Artisans sell their crafts of fused glass and lava jewelry throughout the capital of Thira and the picture-perfect town of Oia.
- You can visit and walk around the moonscape core of the caldera for a fee.
- Santorini is famous for its black, tan and red sandy beaches—a result of the island's volcanic history.
- On the cliff side of Santorini, travellers can ride donkeys up and down the switchback paths. Watch your knees as the donkeys can forget you are wider than they are around the cliff wall. (You can guess why I know this.)
- Santorini has been strongly associated with the legend of Atlantis.
- Santorini has a thriving wine industry. Their grape-growing technique relies on the moisture in the sea air to feed the vines rooted in volcanic soil.
- During WWII, Santorini was occupied by Italian and then German forces.
While not a huge problem, when buying from street vendors, say the amount of money you are giving them out loud and count your change as well. (Again, you can guess why I know this. 🙂 )
Submitted by extensive travellers Colin Jones, a UW retiree and member and his wife, Maureen.
Affinity partner spotlight:
Check out the offers and savings: The UWRA is a member of CURAC, so UWaterloo retirees can take advantage of the CURAC affinity partners. Retirees have saved thousands of dollars on home insurance, eyewear, travel, and hearing aids. Our Spain trip was custom-tailored for us by Trip Merchant, a CURAC partner. Take a look.
Worth sharing:
Subscribe to the RIA monthly newsletters. Stay connected with the latest in aging resources, events and opportunities to get involved. The Schlegel-UW Research Institute for Aging (RIA) is a charitable, non-profit organization dedicated to improving quality of life and care for older adults. Through research, education, and real-world practice, RIA tackles key issues facing Canada’s aging population and is helping to change the way we age in Canada.
We’d love to hear from you—truly! Travel tales, quirky updates, or ideas for activities are all welcome. If you’ve got something worth sharing (and we know you do), send it along to uwracomm@uwaterloo.ca for possible inclusion in next month’s issue.