The National Association of Federal Retirees began life as the Federal Superannuates National Association in Victoria, BC in 1963.  It was the project of Fred Whitehouse, then president of the Civil Service Federation.  The initial motivation was to stop pensioners' falling into poverty as their then fixed pensions were eroded by inflation.  It took many years of advocacy before full pension indexing was realized.  Later, the Association pushed for a pensioners' dental service plan (PDSP).  It took ten years to achieve that goal.  The Association also holds a seat on the committee overseeing the Public Service Health Care Plan (PSHCP) and is regularly involved in deliberations over Plan affordability and improvements.

The Association gradually grew through the creation of new local branches right across the country.  As the charter below reveals, the North Island Branch was initially founded in December 1982.  From later records, it appears that the President and Secretary were residents of Cumberland, hence the location specified in the charter.

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At some point, the Branch ceased to function.  Unfortunately, other than the above charter, there are no records from the period 1982 - 1993.  A letter to members in November 1993 (see the November 1993 Executive meeting minutes) indicates that the then President, Bob Morley, and the Secretary, Donna Lemay, had become too ill to carry on.  It implies that there were no volunteers available to fill the void.  Nanaimo Branch had been helping out and is known to have been handling North Island's finances.

At a meeting in November 1993, a new slate of directors was appointed.  From that time until the present, we have an almost continuous record of Branch activities.  The revived Branch's initial mailing address was in Campbell River, presumably because the newly appointed President, Ron Untereiner, lived there.  Membership at the time was about 375.

1994 05 16 Colin Crutch Exec

Colin Crutch,Regional Director (left) presents charter to Ron Untereiner, Branch President (front row, third from right) on 15 May 1994

1994 09 06 Exec Meeting

Executive meeting 6 September 1994

1996 04 17 General MeetingWesterly

General Meeting, Westerly Hotel, 17 April 1996.  From left to right: Marie Stevens, VP; Al Dawber, President; Claude A Edwards, FSNA National President; Dunc Dunsmore, Regional Director; Tom Dandeno, Treasurer; Velda Hoggan, Membership Director.

1996 04 17 Presentation to Untereiner

Claude Edwards, National President, on 17 April 1996, presents Certificate of Appreciation to Ron Untereiner, Past Branch President, who played an important role in reconstituting the Branch.

1996 04 17 Branch Exec

Branch Executive, 17 April 1996.  Back row from left:  Tom Dandeno, Treasurer; Dunc Dunsmore, Regional Director; John Davis, Director; Al Dawber, President; Ron Collette, Director; Don Middleton, Director; Charles Page, Director; Frank Elvins, Director; Ron Untereiner, Past President.  Front Row:  Mary Stevens, VP; Mary Kamann, Director; Claude Edwards, National President; Jean Green, Director; Dorothy Lind, Secretary.

1997 News Article

1997 newspaper article written by Ron Collette, Director Newsletter & Media

1997 12 04 Branch Exec

 Branch Executive for 1998 with original annotations by the curator.

1998 12 02 Branch Exec

 The 1999 Branch Executive.  Front left to right:  Tom Dandeno, Treasurer; Mary Kamann, Director Programs; Velda Hoggan, Director Welfare; Dorothy Lind, Secretary; Ann Hallam, VP; Ron Collette,Director Media.  At rear from left:  Joan Makowichuk, Director; Ian Sibbald, Director; Don Middleton, Director PSHCP; Al Dawber, President; Ron Mitchell, Director Newsletter; Bryan Lind, Director; Frank Elvins, Director.

1999 Stocky Edwards

Probably 1999.  Stocky Edwards autographs a copy of his book Kittyhawk Pilot, first published in 1983.

2000 Branch Exec

The Branch Executive in an undated photo probably taken in late 2000.

2009 06 Branch Exec

Branch Executive, June 2009.  From left, back row: Bill Turnbull, Health Benefits; Steve Bunyan, Membership; Bill McSeveney, President; John Davis, Media; Frank Elvins, History.  Middle row:  John Finn, Regional Services Officer;  Marjorie Arnold, Director; Cecile Turnbull,VP; Paddy O'Blenis, Telephone Coordinator; Halle MacMullen, Welfare; Barb Schneider, Programs.  Front row: Tom Dandeno, Treasurer; Mary Kamann, Director; Karen Finn, Secretary; Lauretta Hewitt, Director; Doug Dunsmore, Director.

2010 12 08 Exec

The 2011 Branch Executive in a photograph taken on 8 December 2010.  From left, back row: Al Heinrich, Regional Services Officer; Ian Sibbald, VP; Steve Bunyan, Membership; Dorothy Lind, Secretary; John Davis, Media; Paddy O'Blenis, Telephone; Frank Elvins, History; Deb Yelf, Director; Kathi Brown, Treasurer; Bill Turnbull, Health Benefits.  Front Row: Lauretta Hewitt, Director; Elizabeth Steeves, Director; Halle MacMullen, Welfare; Barb Schneider, Programs; Cecile Turnbull, President; Mary Kamann, Director.

Branch executive at the March 2013 AGM.  From left, back row:  Ian Sibbald, Immediate Past President; John Davis, Media; Dorothy Lind, Secretary; Steve Bunyan, Membership; Frank Elvins, History.  Front row:  Bill Turnbull, President; Paddy O'Blenis, Telephone; Margorie Arnold,Director; Barb Schneider, Programs; Deb Yelf, Director; Halle MacMullen, Welfare. Not in photo:  Serge Gosselin, Treasurer.

2013 06 11 019 FSNA GM

A century of service!  June 2013.  Certificates of appreciation are awarded to members retiring after serving many years on the executive.  From left: Halle MacMullen (12), John Davis (17), Frank Elvins (20), Laurie Hewett (6+), Ian Sibbald (14), Barb Schneider (12).

In mid-2006, the Branch adopted the name Vancouver Island North in lieu of North Vancouver Island to avoid confusion with the municipal area of North Vancouver.  Members were told that the change had been blessed by the National Board, however there is nothing on file to confirm this.  Following the 2014 death of John Finn, the executive moved to change the name of the Branch to North Island - John Finn.  This time, a new charter was issued by the Association, however it retained the initial founding date of 31 December 1982 as can be seen below.

2015_North_Island_-_John_Finn_Charter_001.jpg

John Finn had been Health Benefits Officer and Vice President of the Branch, later becoming Regional Services Officer and still later a Director on the National Board.  He established the consultative framework that underpinned reconstituting the Assocition to comply with the then new federal legislation governing non-profit organizations.  Unfortunately, cancer took his life before the work was completed.  While there had been some opposition to John's approach because it was deemed expensive, it worked and the revised framework was approved with virtually no debate when presented at the Annual General Meeting.  The Branch name change was made to honour John's dedication and contributions to the Association.

2015 03 11 008 FSNA AGM

Branch Executive, March 2015.  From left:  Bill Turnbull, President; Kevin Weighill, Newsletter Editor; Edith Kelly, Secretary; Clint Halfkenny, Health Benefits; Steve Bunyan, Membership; Deb Yelf, Welfare; Kathi Brown,VP; Serge Gosselin, Treasurer; Margorie Arnold, Director; Dale Dean, History; Norma Dean, Telephone.

That we have the paper records for the period from 1993 onwards is largely due to the late Frank Elvins, longtime Branch Historian and his successor, the late Dale Dean.  These records are in the form of meeting minutes, both Executive and General, which have been digitized and can be found elsewhere on this website.  Those who are curious about how the Branch was re-activated may find the 1993-94 documents of particular interest.

The Branch has always sought to support the founding aim of protecting or enhancing the pensions and benefits of its members.  It has done this by engaging locally with people holding or running for federal or provincial public office.  It falls to the National President and the Association's professional staff in Ottawa to lobby federal cabinet ministers and senior federal government officials.

Over the years, the Branch has provided support to members and their survivors in dealing with the seemingly complex world of bureaucracy and endless form submission requirements.  Most often this had to do with federal government agencies but occasionally it involved our affinity program partners.  Those demands have decreased with time as more online resources have become available and computer literacy has increased.  Nevertheless, this remains an important benefit that can only be delivered at the branch level. 

By April 2016, Branch membership had increased to 2239.  Thereafter, it began a slow decline as losses outpaced gains.  One assumes this was largely due to Treasury Board's refusal to allow continuing the biennial recruiting advertisment mailed with pay statements to retirees not paying dues through a pension deduction.  So, while advocacy remains a primary activity, another task has been added, that of seeking to increase the membership base.

2020 03 11 006 NAFR AGM

Branch Executive, March 2020.  From left:  Bill Turnbull, Communications; Warren Kelley, VP; Steve Bunyan, Membership; Cherie Kelley, Telephone Coordinator; Gordon Richardson, Director; Brad Bridgeman, Director; Paddy O'Blenis, Programs; Norma Dean, President.  Missing:  Serge Gosselin, Treasurer; Kevin Weighill, Newsletter Editor.

The year 2022 marked the Branch's 40th anniversary.  At a celebratory general meeting held on June 7th commemorative plaques and documents were presented to the Branch President, Norma Dean.  Since the Branch does not have an office in which they might be displayed, they have been reproduced here for the historical record.  The first is from the BC and Yukon Directors, Brian Strongman and Randy Wilson:

2022-06-07_003_40th_Anniversary_Awards.jpg

 

The second came from the long-time and outgoing National President, Jean-Guy Soulière:

2022-06-07_004_40th_Anniversary_Awards.jpg

 

The third came from Rachel Blaney, MP for the federal North Island riding:

2022-06-07_001_40th_Anniversary_Awards.jpg

It was accompanied by the following letter:

2022-06-07_002_40th_Anniversary_Awards.jpg

Rachel Blaney's words underscore the importance and impact of the Association's advocacy work.  From the early focus on pension indexing, it has broadened over the years to embrace:

  • income security in retirement for all Canadians;
  • a national seniors' strategy;
  • a national pharmacare program; and
  • ensuring that injured veterans and their families receive adequate care.

Rest assured that we will continue to press for these things at the local level.

 

Bill Turnbull
Courtenay, November 2022