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MURAnews Spring 2025
MURAnews Spring 2025 issue in PDF format / in accessible PDF format
In this issue:
 President's Corner Spring is sprung, the grass is riz, I wonder where the flowers is. Life seems gray at the moment, both literally, as I look out the window, and figuratively. In September of 2024, MURA held brainstorming sessions both at Council and at the New Retirees Luncheon. The intent was to understand retirees’ interest in engaging in activities in support of our vision.Vision That seniors coalesce, and using their time, experience and collective weight, work with young people and other interested parties, to leave a safer, cleaner, kinder, more ethical and just world for future generations. While it was expressed in different ways in our brainstorming sessions, each group’s concerns had a common thread related to Media: Media impacts These concerns have only become more critical over the past six months. ”Citizens … must have access to the truth if we have any hope of standing up to tyranny.” Source In 2023, 59% of Canadians said they were very or extremely concerned about any type of misinformation online, and 43% felt it was getting harder to decipher online truth from fiction compared with three years earlier. The level of concern varies with age. Canadians aged 15 to 19, who are among the largest consumers of online social media content, were the least worried about misinformation. sourceDisinformation is false information that is deliberately intended to mislead. It is sometimes called “fake news”. Misinformation refers to false information that is not intended to cause harm. They both, however, result in significant harm. source The proliferation of mis- and dis- information is arguably the greatest threat to democracy. Trust in major Canadian political, economic and legal institutions is essential to the country's well-being. The same is true of trust in the information that Canadians consume through the media. However, fewer than one in six people (16%) reported a high level of trust in information and news from the media. Moreover, levels of concern about misinformation differ by age, level of education and income. source Media literacy is key to leveling the playing field. Council has approved a Media Literacy program as our first project. It was a concern expressed by all groups, it has become even more important and timely since we did the exercise, it contributes to protecting our democracy, we have already had expression of support from the University, it fits well with the strengths of MURA, and it could really make a difference. The first phase will include identifying the current resources that are out there and seeing where the gaps are. Our role could be to develop a program with the University, or liaise between community resources, or augment an existing resource or any number of other things. I would expect a direction and the identification of target audiences to come out of the fact-finding process. I am asking for people with the same concerns to volunteer to be on the Phase I Fact Finding team to start tracking down existing Media Literacy resources and programs … through schools, libraries, associations, government, etc. We need to compile a list of resources with a description of what they do and who they do it for, as a first step. The time commitment would be at your discretion and I believe it is a worthwhile endeavour that could make a difference. If you have any interest or just want to find out more, please reach out to me at nichojr@mcmaster.ca and we can arrange to chat. Thanks for your time. Spring is the season of hope and renewal. Hopefully the flowers are just around the corner!!
Jan Nicholson nichojr@mcmaster.ca
News and EventsNotice of Annual General Membership Meeting
Special Presentation to the AGMPreserving a ribbon of wilderness: Community-based conservation along the Bruce TrailThe Bruce Trail offers a myriad of ways to explore the natural beauty of the Niagara Escarpment on foot. It connects you to the wonders of the Escarpment – cobble beaches, open meadows, waterfalls, rocky crevices, old growth forests, and awe-inspiring views. The Bruce Trail Conservancy conserves and cares for land within the Niagara Escarpment UNESCO World Biosphere to protect its ecosystems for the benefit of all and make it available to explore by foot along the magnificent Bruce Trail. And as one of Ontario’s largest land trusts, the Conservancy protects and cares for Escarpment ecosystems with the support of members, volunteers, and donors.
2025 Nominating Committee Report
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Laura Tuohy has been with the Bruce Trail Conservancy for 15 years. In her role as Manager of Community Engagement, she leads a team responsible for connecting people to the work of the BTC and building support for its mission. Finding joy in nature, Laura has a passion for the conservation of special places and connecting people to the natural world. She holds a bachelor's degree in zoology from the University of Toronto and has spent her career focussing on non-profit communications, nature interpretation, fundraising, and community-centered approaches to conservation. Prior to joining the BTC, Laura worked in national parks in Alberta and British Columbia, both in non-profit and government spheres for over 10 years. Since joining the BTC in 2010 she has held a number of roles and says she has been privileged to work with an amazing array of people. And no, Laura hasn’t hiked the entire Bruce Trail…yet!
Council wishes to streamline meetings, especially meetings of Council. It has decided to change the rules of procedure. Since the inception of MURA, Procedures for Meetings and Organizations (Kerr & King, 1984) has been used as the reference to conduct proceedings of meetings. A suggestion was made to change the reference to Call to Order: Meeting Rules and Procedures for Non-Profit (Perry & Perry, 2018), which is commonly used by other organizations, such as CURAC, the umbrella organization of which MURA is a member.
13.01 Procedural AuthorityThe Chair of a meeting shall conduct the proceedings in conformity with the rules of procedure contained in the Constitution and, in all cases not so provided, the following reference shall be used: |
Retirees in the News
Harriet MacMillan, professor emeritus in the Department of Psychiatry and Behavioural Neurosciences, has been awarded the King Charles III Coronation Medal in recognition of her exceptional service to Canada.
Harriet has been influential in child advocacy, women’s health, and aboriginal health care. She has led research in the prevention of and response to family violence. She has held the title of Distinguished University Professor at McMaster. She was the founding director of the Child Advocacy and Assessment Program at McMaster Children’s Hospital and the Endowed David R. Offord Chair in Child Studies.
The medals honour individuals for their contributions to their community, region, province or territory, or to Canada as a whole; or for their outstanding achievements abroad that bring credit to Canada.
For additional information, see Daily News article: McMaster community members awarded King Charles III Coronation Medals.
Stephen Jones, professor emeritus in the Department of Economics, has been appointed acting academic director of Wilson College of Leadership and Civic Engagement.
Wilson College was founded in 2022 following a $50 million donation from McMaster chancellor emeritus L.R. “Red” Wilson. A partnership between the Faculty of Social Sciences and the Faculty of Humanities, Wilson College is home to Canada’s only combined honours Bachelor of Arts degree in Leadership and Civic Studies, which students receive along with a BA in a subject in social sciences or humanities. Wilson College also offers an undergraduate minor in Leadership and Civic Studies, a graduate-level seminar, and research residency programs for scholars and practitioners.
Stephen has served on the University Planning Committee and as chair of the University Budget Committee. He was the chair of the Economics Department from 2015 to 2020 and taught within the Arts and Science Program for many years. For additional information, see Daily News article: Wilson College appoints acting academic director.
MURA Spring Fling 2025
By Mary Gauld, MURA Special Events Coordinator
Welcome to the nicer weather!
The Spring Fling events have been lovely the last two years, and we have decided to do it once again.
We have booked the Phoenix Patio for Tuesday, June 3rd from 11:30 am to 2:30 pm. We hope that you will join us. We will be outdoors on the best patio in Hamilton (unless the weather turns really bad, in which case we will move inside).
A BBQ will be served from 12:00 pm to 1:00 pm (vegetarian or non-vegetarian options), along with salads, potatoes etc., non-alcoholic drinks, and dessert. The cost per person is $25.00. A cash bar will also be available.
MURA would like to thank the Office of Alumni Engagement for their oversight of the ticket and registration process. Please buy your tickets online with your credit card at alumni.mcmaster.ca/muraspringfling and make note of any special dietary needs in the comments box on the checkout page.
If you do not have a credit card or online access, please call Mary Gauld, MURA’s event coordinator at 905-906-5604 on or before May 28th. Mary will facilitate your registration.
We hope that you can join us.
Complimentary Parking for the Spring Fling
MURA thanks Parking Services for their generous support
Retirees who do not have a McMaster parking permit and transponder will have access to any parking lot showing “Visitors – Open” and parking arms in use. Please view discover.mcmaster.ca/map/ to confirm parking lot locations and campus entrances. Take an entry ticket from the machine at the lot entrance and exchange it for a complimentary Rebate Voucher at the luncheon registration table. Your Rebate Voucher can be used at the exit gate to “pay” for your parking when you leave your parking lot. If none of these lots show “Visitors - Open”, use the Help button at a lot entrance that indicates “Full to Visitors” to gain access or be directed to an available lot.
*Please note: Parking lots with arms up operate on the HONK app. This includes Lot Q located close to the Phoenix. These lots do not work with parking rebate passes, so please do not park in a lot with the arms up or you will receive a ticket.
Retirees with valid transponders may park in any lot that shows “Transponders – Open”. During May to August, retiree parking permits allow access to Lots B, D, H, I, K, N, P and the Underground Stadium at all times.
For the mobility impaired: If you have an Ontario Accessible Parking Permit and require reserved accessible parking, or if the walking distance from the parking lots to the Phoenix is problematic for you, please call Mary Gauld, MURA’s event coordinator at 905-906-5604 on or before May 23rd. Mary will facilitate your parking needs.
MURA Walks
We had some great walks this winter. In January, we braved the cold and walked from the Chedoke Golf Course down to the Rail Trail at Stroud Rd. It was bloody cold!
In February, we walked around McMaster campus. Well, I didn’t, I was snowed in in Niagara Falls – but 12 hardy souls went on without me and had a great time.
In March, 26 of us enjoyed a Cemetery Chronicles tour at the Hamilton Cemetery. This very entertaining and informative tour was led by father/daughter team Pat and Alycia Gallagher.
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On April 17th, 15 walkers met up at Bayfront Park. This was a REAL walk on a lovely day! We started out at the park and most of us made it as far as Princess Point. The swans were very entertaining swimming around in formation. It was like watching a water ballet!
Upcoming walks:
It is always good to confirm with me your plans to attend the walks by texting 905-906-5604.
Friday, May 9: Pier 7/Williams Fresh Café @ 1:30 pm. I’ve arranged another walk with the Canadian Council of the Blind. We have agreed to meet at Williams Fresh Café by the Pier 7 parking lot and Waterfront Trail at 1:30 pm. We will match people up and set the groups off as the CCB folks arrive (sometimes DARTS is a bit late). It is important that you let me know if you can make this one as I need to know if there are enough people to act as guides. It was quite simple last time – often CCB folks have a friend/family member with them, and MURA volunteers are simply company. When CCB walkers need guidance, it mostly involves warning them of upcoming obstructions. The CCB folks have done this walk several times before and are already familiar with the area.
Wednesday, June 18: Battlefield Park – Stoney Creek Cemetery @ 10:00 am. After our successful walking tour at the Hamilton Cemetery, we will once again join our favourite father/daughter tour team Pat and Alycia Gallagher.
Pat says: "The downfall of the tour though is that Alycia will be with me and there's nothing I can do about that, just kidding of course. We had an amazing time with your group at Hamilton Cemetery, it was so much fun, we will be looking forward to meeting everyone again."
Just like last time, Pat and Alycia will have us all laughing!
We will meet at 10:00 am at the Stoney Creek Cemetery. There should be enough parking at the cemetery, but if there isn't, I would suggest parking at Battlefield House, which is across the street from the cemetery. That could be the "walk" part of the tour!
The walk through the cemetery is free, but if you want to go through Battlefield House afterwards, then there is a charge for that tour. However, if the members of your group have a library card, then they get in for free.
I’m always looking for new ideas for future events. Please send me some! Text me at 905-906-5604 or email me at gauld@mcmaster.ca. It’s been nice to gather after walks for coffee or lunch, but that’s optional, of course. Thanks for joining us!
Welcome New Retirees
Renu Barrett, University Library
Lorraine Carroll, Health Research Methods, Evidence & Impact
Mary Cass, Faculty of Science
Gunnar Christiansen, Maintenance Services
Maria Gianiotis, Facility Services - Logistics
Cheryl Gies, Electrical & Computer Engineering
Darlene Hayward, Faculty of Engineering
Hong Liang, Medicine
James McAndrew, Nuclear Reactor
Sandra Nevills, Medicine
Joanne Otterspoor, Financial Affairs
Lolita Reyllo-Zarzuela, Financial Affairs
Forough Farrokhyar, Surgery
Mitzi Lawrence, Medicine
Larry Marsh, Hospitality Services
Sue McKinlay, University Technology Services
David Tucker, Vice President (Research)
Recent Passings
Ed Ballick, Engineering Physics, December 18, 2024
Carmella (Melina) Cascella, Physical Plant, January 21, 2025
Diane Clews, Psychiatry, January 16, 2025
John Collins, Obstetrics & Gynecology, February 17, 2025
Linda Coughlin, Engineering Alumni Office, March 1, 2025
Kimberley Hamilton, Facility Services, September 17, 2024
Stephanie Hellewell, Medicine, February 9, 2025
Kao-Lee Liaw, Geography, January 22, 2025 *
Lynn MacIntyre, Biology, September 3, 2024 **
Brian Mildren, Building Operations, November 18, 2024
Al Paskevicius, Physical Plant, March 28, 2025
Isabella Perger, Building Operations, September 28, 2024
Jennifer Petteplace, McMaster Museum of Art, March 29, 2025
Elaine McKinnon-Riehm, Eighteenth-Century Fiction, March 29, 2025 ***
Thomas Timusk, Physics & Astronomy, January 12, 2025
Marianne Walters, Psychiatry, April 8, 2025 ****
Joyce Whiteman, Housing & Conference Services, February 25, 2025
Paul Younger, Religious Studies, January 5, 2025
*View the family tribute to Lee.
**View a tribute to Lynn from her son.
***Elaine was elected to MURA Council in 2024. As well, she was a regular contributor to MURAnews. Her whimsical stories for Members’ Corner will be sadly missed.
****Marianne was elected to MURA Council from 2009 to 2015, and served as President from 2012 to 2014.
MURA Scholarship News
The McMaster University Retirees Association In-Course Scholarship, valued at $2,500, is awarded to the student enrolled in Level 2 or above of a program in Aging and Society who attains the highest Fall-Winter average. Two of three students who won the MURA In-Course Scholarship in 2024, Mana Kurokawa and Ella Pataki, have asked that we pass along their thanks to members. Their messages appear below.
Dear Donors of the MURA Scholarship,Thank you so much for your generosity; I am honored to be a recipient of a MURA award and grateful for your support in my educational journey and future goals. I enjoyed meeting some of you at the annual Holiday Luncheon in December!
I am currently in my third year at McMaster, completing a Combined Honours B.A in Health & Society and Aging & Society with a Mohawk Affiliated Business Studies Certificate. Having spent most of high school during COVID, I have loved challenging myself at McMaster, meeting new people, exploring a new city, and learning to live on my own (and with roommates—which is a feat of its own).
Early in high school, I began volunteering at a local hospital in their Veterans Long Term Care unit. Through these weekly conversations learning how to play Euchre and listening to their often-questionable love advice, I gained a deep passion for working with older adults. I had always known I wanted to work in the healthcare sector, but right before applying to university, I realized that my role in helping others did not have to be clinical. I chose to explore what that meant at McMaster through the Health & Aging program, since it allowed me to specialize in my first year and get to know my professors through the small class sizes.
Since then, my passion for working with older adults has only grown. I hope to pursue a career in health administration particularly in settings where I can support older adults. Right now, I am unsure whether that will be in public, private, or non-profit settings, but I am leaning towards long-term care/retirement management.
I still love volunteering and working in the community! I am the VP Outreach for the Health, Aging, & Society Student Association and a lead volunteer for the McMaster Okanagan Office of Health & Well-being. I work part-time as a server at a local nursing home as well! This semester I have a field placement course where I am assisting with administrative roles in the Health Promotion office of a Community Health Centre in Hamilton; it has been incredibly rewarding so far! Last summer I worked at the London Food Bank as the Fresh Food Coordinator, and I'm looking forward to what this summer has in store for me (hopefully, a nice vacation)!
As I gear up for my final year as an undergraduate student, I am equally excited and nervous for the future. I am preparing to do a thesis next year and have been thinking about topics I am interested in within gerontology. I haven't yet decided if I want to enter the workforce or apply to Master's programs after my undergrad, but I am grateful that with your help, I have greater opportunities and flexibility. Thank you again for your donations and your support towards my academic goals. Feel free to reach out as I'd love to chat with you all!
Warm regards,
Thank you! I am so grateful to have received this award, and it means so much to me that the McMaster University Retirees Association recognizes my academic efforts.
I am a third-year student completing my Honours BA in Health and Society, and I'm also pursuing a minor in Gender Studies. That's a long way to say: I am very interested in how gender and health interact. I chose this field because I've always been interested in the health inequalities women experience based on nothing but their gender. I plan to continue my education in this field for as long as possible!
I currently work part-time with the McMaster Student Union as a research assistant, where I am in charge of updating policy papers. Last semester, I completed one on international students, and this semester, I'm working on one related to health and wellness. I am also working on a report reviewing the McMaster healthcare system to present back to the university. Outside of work, I volunteer as a tutor for a program designed for low-income high school students. I also volunteer at a domestic violence shelter, where I get to hang out with all the children living there. We have a lot of fun together! Volunteering at the shelter inspired the question I want to pursue for my fourth-year Health and Society thesis, which would examine the barriers to finding housing after living in a domestic violence shelter.
As I said, I hope to continue my education for as long as possible! In my fourth year, I plan on applying to master's programs relevant to my undergraduate degree. I will also apply to medical school, as I would love to be a family physician. My studies and volunteer experience have taught me that it doesn't matter how physically "healthy" someone is — if they are facing systemic barriers like a lack of stable housing or the stress of living in an unsafe environment, their overall health will still suffer. This is why I want to pursue a career where I can blend healthcare with advocacy.
I look forward to continuing my undergraduate degree and am excited to see what the future holds! Once again, I am profoundly grateful to have received this award. I thank you all. This donation has greatly impacted my penultimate year at McMaster.
Best,
Canadian Pensions, Benefits, and Taxes: A Service Canada Presentation
By Judith Shedden
Service Canada's Community Outreach Liaison Service (COLS) promotes federal government programs and services through free information sessions to interested groups. These sessions are led by their Citizen Services Specialists, with the option of including a Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) Outreach Officer for tax-related information.
In February, 49 MURA members responded to a survey to gauge interest in these sessions. Based on the response, MURA hosted two Zoom presentations on March 5 and 6. Attendance was excellent and feedback from participants was positive.
Our presenters were Mona Jovetic (Citizen Services Specialist, Citizen Services Branch, Service Canada) and Kaitlyn Mattiozzi (Volunteer and Benefits Outreach Officer, Canada Revenue Agency). Topics included Canada Pension Plan (CPP), Old Age Security (OAS), Guaranteed Income Supplement (GIS), Employment Insurance, the new Canadian Dental Care Plan (CDCP), Retirement Hub and Benefits Finder, tax credits, rebates, tax clinics, and more. You can review many of these topics on the Canada.ca website.
Mona, Kaitlyn, or other representatives from Service Canada and/or the CRA would be happy to provide additional sessions on new topics or to dive deeper into specific topics. If you are interested in attending future sessions, let us know at mura@mcmaster.ca.
courtesy of Meanwhile in Canada
Your Money/Your Health
Forest Therapy
A December 2024 post on the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (MOAP) on “the effects of forest therapy” noted that: a) over half of the world’s population lives in an urban setting; b) there are studies linking urban living to an increased risk of high blood pressure and mental health issues; and c) forest therapy may help urban-dwelling adults reduce blood pressure and stress.
So, what is forest therapy? Is it more than just a stroll in the woods? Trekking through the woods for spiritual enlightenment, for mental and/or physical health benefits is not a new phenomenon. John Muir (1838-1914), Scottish born, American educated, naturalist/environmentalist/conservationist, and founder of the Sierra Club, wrote, “The clearest way into the Universe is through a forest wilderness” and that “In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks”. Robert Louis Stevenson (1850-1894), another Scot and world wanderer, said, “It is not so much for its beauty that the forest makes a claim upon men’s hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from old trees that so wonderfully changes and renews a weary spirit”.The MOAP blog notes that more than 4 billion people now live in cities, which is a far different environment than the small community/family/rural living paradigm that dominated human history until relatively recently. The authors note that urban living has its pros and cons. Pros include more job opportunities, access to the diversity of cultural and recreational pursuits, close proximity to friends and family, and concentration of education and health care resources. All well and good, but urban living is all too often accompanied by life stressors, including close proximity to family, neighbours, noise and air pollution, commuting to-from those life and life-style sustaining jobs, and the perception brought on by the almost constant barrage of news of crime, conjuring, as if by diabolical means, thoughts of evil around every corner, distrust of neighbours and of passersby in the streets. How many areas are there in your town where you do or do not want to be, walk through, or buy a house? There, can you not feel your blood pressure increasing, your stress levels creeping into the uncomfortable zone?
The blog then asks, “can seeking out experiences in nature [aka Forest Therapy] help fight back against the potential pains and pitfalls of city life?” It defines forest therapy as the practice of fully immersing oneself and one’s senses in an experience within nature. It goes on to cite a meta-analysis of 29 recent (2007-2021) studies on the effects of forest therapy on blood pressure, mental health, and cortisol levels, the results of which, by their own admission, have been mixed, requiring further research. (Cortisol is the so-called stress hormone. Levels of cortisol in the body rise in response to both physical and psychological stress situations.) The main features of the studies are:
The review found that forest therapy may lower systolic and diastolic blood pressure and cortisol levels, especially for those with pre-existing hypertension, as compared to the urban control groups. It appeared also that the greater the duration of forest therapy, the greater the benefit for controlling/lowering systolic blood pressure and cortisol levels. Whatever the results, more study is needed to better understand and appreciate the benefits of forest therapy.
- Participants were adults
- Participants walked through and/or sat in forests
- Therapy ranged from single sessions (11 minutes to 2 hours) to multi-session programs lasting up to 5 weeks
- Researchers measured systolic/diastolic blood pressure and salivary cortisol concentrations
- Comparisons were made with control groups engaged in seated viewing, walking, or multi-session programs within urban settings.
James Lovelock (1919-2022), the English environmentalist and futurist, best known for the Gaia Hypothesis that postulates the earth functions as a self-regulating system, wrote that “sadly, it’s much easier to create a desert than a forest”. We need to heed the words of John Muir who said: “And into the forest I go, to lose my mind and find my soul” and follow the ancient Greek proverb: “A society grows great when old men plant trees whose shade they know they shall never sit in”.
Let’s face it: a deep, dark forest can be a scary place. Remember this, “if you go down in the woods today you’re in for a big surprise”? Okay it’s a teddy bear’s picnic but the song concludes …
“If you go down in the woods today, you better not go aloneFor those who are interested in forest therapy should consult a healthcare team and seek guidance on structured programs. Afterall, who wouldn’t be charmed, relaxed, invigorated in mind and body by a stroll through the Hundred Acre Wood, aka Ashdown Forest, where Winnie-the-Pooh, Tigger, Roo, Eeyore, and Piglet lived, dreamt, and passed their days in almost idyllic harmony with one another, with Christopher Robin, and with nature itself.
It’s lovely down in the woods today, it’s safer to stay at home
For every bear that ever there was, will gather there for certain because
Today’s the day the teddy bears have their picnic”.
- Lyrics by Jimmy Kennedy
For those interested in reading the article and the references therein, follow the path through the forest, or dare I say jungle, we call the internet: Being one with nature: The effects of forest therapy.
Caregiver Forum
Supporting Caregivers in our Community
In Canada, one of our most precious resources is our health care system. While we’re fortunate to have access to universal health care, many of us know just how confusing and frustrating it can be to navigate the system - especially when we find ourselves in the role of caregiver.
Whether caring for a spouse, parent, sibling, or friend, caregivers often face overwhelming responsibilities, a steep learning curve and unexpected challenges. Whether you’re faced with trying to understand medical jargon, coordinating appointments, or managing medications, it can be difficult to know where to turn for guidance and support.At MURAnews, we recognize the importance of supporting caregivers in our McMaster community. That’s why we’re excited to introduce a new initiative: a Caregiver Forum designed to connect caregivers (or former caregivers) with a space to share experiences, offer support and share practical information.
This forum isn’t intended to offer medical advice. Rather, it’s a place to share useful tips and tricks - things we wished we had known on our own caregiving journey. Our goal is to provide helpful insights that can ease the caregiving burden and foster a stronger sense of community.
How can you get involved?
Need Help Finding a Family Doctor?
- If you’re currently a caregiver - or have been one in the past - we’d love to hear from you. Your experience could make a real difference. Because in caregiving, as in life, no one should have to do it alone.
- If you have tips and tricks to share, please send them in for upcoming newsletters
- Dawn Elston elstond@mcmaster.ca
- All emails will be treated as private and confidential
Extra Support Through the Hamilton or the McMaster Family Health Teams (FHT)
- Finding a family doctor can be easier said than done. Thankfully, there’s help available. The Ontario Ministry of Health and Long-Term Care offers a program called Health Care Connect, designed to help finding Ontarians a family doctor. Here’s how you can get started:
- Call Health Care Connect at 1-800-445-1822
- Register online at Health Care Connect
- Once you’re registered, a Care Connector—a nurse who works with the program—will help match you with a family doctor or nurse practitioner in your area who is accepting new patients.
If your family doctor is affiliated with the Hamilton FHT, you may have access to additional support services - including help from a Social Worker.
Other Useful Resources
- Social workers can assist with a range of concerns, including caregiver stress and navigating community resources.
- To find out if your doctor is part of the Hamilton FHT, visit
- If you are a patient at the McMaster Family Practice or the Stonechurch Family Health Centre, you have access to an invaluable resource: a System Navigator.
- System Navigators can help you with questions or concerns about health and social services in your community. Whether you're looking for assistance with housing, home care, mental health support, or community programs, they can point you in the right direction and help you access the services you need.
- To learn more, speak with your clinic or visit the McMaster Family Health Team’s website for details.
Navigating the health care system can be challenging, but the right tools can make a big difference. Here are a few helpful resources to keep on hand:
- Check Wait Times for Diagnostic Tests and Surgeries
If you or your loved one are waiting for a diagnostic test (e.g., an MRI) or a surgical procedure, you can check current wait times across Ontario here:
Ontario Health – Wait Times
- Emergency Department and Urgent Care Wait Times in Hamilton
If you’re heading to the Emergency Department or an Urgent Care Centre in Hamilton, this website provides real-time average wait times to help you plan ahead:
Hamilton Emergency Wait Times
- Virtual Urgent Care Options
For medical issues that are not life-threatening, consider booking a virtual urgent care appointment for faster access to care from home:
Urgent Care Ontario
courtesy of Rose Anne Prevec
Instagram: @groundhog_hill
Reminders for Your End-of-Life Planning
You might be surprised to learn how often Human Resources does not find out about a retiree’s death until months, or even years after it occurs.Make things easier for the executor of your estate and your family by putting a note with your will and other important documents instructing that Human Resources be informed of your death as soon as possible.
Timely notification is important as your estate will be required to pay back any pension payments received after death. Human Resources should also be notified if your spouse dies before you, since there could be impacts to your pension, post-retirements benefits, or life insurance beneficiary.
Human Resources can be reached by phone at 905-525-9140 x 22247, or by email at hr.mcmaster@mcmaster.ca.A Note about your Power(s) of Attorney
If you have a Power of Attorney (“designated attorney”) which gives someone the ability to manage your affairs before your death, Human Resources must be provided with this information at the time the designated attorney plans to exercise their authority.
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If you require a copy of any information that was completed during the retirement process (e.g. benefit booklet, McMaster life insurance policy, pension beneficiary information), or to provide Power of Attorney information, please contact Human Resources at 905-525-9140, extension 22247, or by email at hr.mcmaster@mcmaster.ca.
Please note that, if you have McMaster life insurance, you should keep a copy of the insurance policy with your important documents.
Creativity Fosters Mindfulness and Flourishing in Later Life
By Ellen Ryan
Twenty years ago, I used a camera only to take family pictures. But then I acquired a high-quality digital camera. Its most powerful novel characteristic was that, for once, it was small enough to be with me at all times. And later came the cell phone camera.
With a camera in my pocket and a walking habit, I became an avid amateur photographer. I began by taking a photo whenever a scene struck me. The scenes were more interesting with a human figure – sometimes my husband (often walking away), often my own shadow.
Soon I learned to use the camera to help me pay attention during my daily walks. Attending to the changing seasons, I focus on close-ups of flowers as well as capturing the same tree in any month of the year. Spring and Fall are more spectacular, but I can always find something of beauty on any walk – if I’m actively looking for it.
My photography-while-walking experience is an example of how a creative hobby can promote mindfulness and wellness.
In addition, I have used my photography to stay socially connected by creating greeting cards. I keep a stack of blank cards/envelopes on hand. I create individual cards (PhotoGreetingsbyEllen), with one of my photographs and warm messages on the inside. By now, I have duplicates of my best images for each season; but sometimes, I just go outside to capture an image for a special person.
According to Magsamen and Ross (Your Brain on Art), current brain research has established benefits of creative expression and engaging with the arts: reducing stress, lowering anxiety, healing trauma, alleviating pain, and boosting physical well-being.
These authors argue that we can maintain a healthy aesthetic sensibility through cultivating curiosity, playful exploration, opening ourselves to sensorial experiences, and making art. Actually, making art has special advantages – especially if there is a steep learning curve (regardless of proficiency) or if there is a high standard of excellence to aim for.
Years ago, Gene Cohen, who began the US National Centre for Creativity & Aging, completed research showing that participating in groups engaged in creative activities, such as chorus singing, jewelry making, writing poetry, and painting, could improve mental and physical well-being for participants in their 80s and 90s. This was especially the case if the small groups met in person regularly, if they were professionally led, and if the group aimed for a performance, a gallery exhibit, or a publication.
Flourishing in later life can involve a lot of fun if you can find a creative/artistic outlet that engages your heart and mind.
Resources:
- Cohen, G. D., et al. (2006). The impact of professionally conducted cultural programs on the physical health, mental health, and social functioning of older adults. The Gerontologist, 46, No. 6, 726–734.
- Magsamen, S. and Ross, I. (2023). Your Brain on Art: How the Arts Transforms Us. New York: Random House.
- Your Brain on Art - YouTube Video.
- The Creative Aging Resource
- Encore Creativity for Older Adults
- Zentangle and the Art of Meditative Drawing
- How Creativity Changes as We Age
Cycling Without Age: An Opportunity for All to Enjoy the Outdoors
By Dawnelle Hawes
Cycling Without Age (CWA) is “a worldwide movement that aims to provide joy and vitality to all through the magic of bicycle rides. Through the simple act of sharing a bike ride, it weaves a sense of community and gathers unique and invaluable stories, unlocked only by the wind and wheels.”1
The not-for-profit organization was created in 2012 by Ole Kassow in Copenhagen to allow people who were no longer able to get out and about in the outdoors to, once again, experience the “right to wind in their hair.” This phrase was declared by a visually-impaired passenger to describe her experience.1 The program model is designed to accommodate people of the community at large regardless of age, physical or mental capacity. Free rides are offered to both the community and residents in nursing, long-term care and retirement homes. There are now 3,500 active chapters in 41 countries around the world (20 more currently starting up). Over five million rides have enriched the lives of more than 1.5 million people using 43,000 trained pilots (trishaw cyclists). This is an organization with a huge impact on getting a less-abled population out and about in society and the outdoors.1
One of the active local CWA affiliates was founded in 2018 by McMaster staffers Nancy Gray and her friend Jill Axisa in Hamilton/Burlington. Organization, maintenance, and administration for CWA are generously provided by New Hope Community Bikes (NHCB), a registered charity and social enterprise based in Hamilton.2 CWA itself relies completely on voluntary help to sustain the program.
In 2018, Van Raam, a Dutch producer of unique custom bikes in the Netherlands3, collaborated with CWA to modernize the original rickshaw bikes invented by Ole Kassow and sold by Copenhagen Cycles. The current Van Raam Chat trishaw (with a padded bench seat up front for passengers) was born, with an 8-gear, battery-assisted e-bike. Subsequently, CWA International licensed Van Raam bikes for their official CWA trishaws. The wheelchair version of the trishaw (VeloPlus, wheelchair bike3, 2016) is designed to carry passengers with mobility challenges. The concept is similar to the original trishaw with an attached e-assist bike in rear. The wheelchair, with its passenger aboard, is backed onto a platform. Both platform and rider are then locked securely into place.
To accommodate for mildly inclement weather, there are winter and rain blankets/covers, custom-made to shelter passengers. Videos with participant commentaries of typical CWA trishaw rides, along with highlighting volunteers and community impact, are available on the CWA website.4
The value of the program extends beyond merely the physical joy of the ride. Passengers interact socially with each other and with the volunteers. In Hamilton and Burlington, the program runs every weekday, between May and October, at various locations in both cities.
The residents look forward to seeing the familiar faces of participating volunteers, week after week. Riders share life stories and enjoy seeing surrounding neighbourhoods. Many of the rides occur along the Lake Ontario waterfront in both Hamilton and Burlington with its beautiful flora and fauna. For many of the residents the experience, both social and physical, is priceless and can be a highlight of their week.
The impact of these rides was movingly expressed one day when a couple took a ride along the Bayfront trail in Hamilton. At the end of the ride, his wife advised us that her husband no longer communicated, but he surprised us all by saying a simple “Thank you” to one of the volunteers. It was a tearful but joyful moment for everyone involved. That outcome epitomizes the power of the CWA program as well as the rewarding experience of participating as a volunteer. Research conducted by a Master’s candidate in Denmark supports the positive mental health and quality of life benefits from the CWA program.5
The vision for the program finally came to fruition in Hamilton in the summer of 2021 (hardly a great time with COVID lurking about!) with 8 rides and 22 passengers; by 2024, the Hamilton/Burlington chapter accommodated 885 rides and 1516 passengers, including external events.6 This feat was accomplished despite a total of 30 missed days because of inclement weather (heat or rain) and resident health outbreaks. Also in 2024, there were 10 Hamilton and 6 Burlington agencies and care centre partners including long-term care homes, retirement centres, programs for people with a disability, charitable organizations and senior-living accommodations. Each of these agencies manages the organization and approval of their own residents for participating in the program. In 2025, the CWA program will expand, adding new sites in Dundas and a new trishaw.
In 2024, there were 66 volunteers who piloted the bikes and served as bike buddies, i.e., “safety scouts,” for the trishaw rides. Many are retired with the median age being about 66 years.5 Each spring, there are mandatory indoor (mechanical) and outdoor (practical) training sessions for new recruits and mandatory outdoor “refresher” training for active volunteers. Because of the population served, a Police Vulnerable Sector Check is required for each volunteer and kept in a file. Some volunteers also act as coordinators with the various sites/agencies, as trainers for new recruits, and/or as members of an advisory team that meets monthly.
The organization is funded solely by donations, fundraising events and grants to bring this invaluable service to the community. The trishaws are shipped from Denmark and purchased from a local company (Hamilton Trike) at a cost of more than $22,000 on average. There are maintenance, insurance and transportation costs to move the trishaws from place to place, most often to provide free rides at community events. It is truly amazing what a dedicated group of volunteers can accomplish in promoting health and wellness for all members of the communities.
If you know of anyone (or yourself!) interested in experiencing a ride on a trishaw, email your request to cwahbpassenger@gmail.com.
References
- Cycling Without Age.
- New Hope Community Bikes. Cycling Without Age.
- Van Raam. About Van Raam, 2025.
- Cycling Without Age. Hamilton & Burlington.
- Eghøj M. A shared journey towards mental health: Nursing home residents’ participation in Cycling without age. Master Thesis in Health Sciences, Syddansk Universitet. June 2021.
- Cycling Without Age: Hamilton/Burlington Chapter and New Hope Community Bikes. 2025; Pgs. 2-3. Annual Report 2024.
Parking on Campus
Permit Expiry Renewal ReminderRetiree parking permits are issued on a 12-month basis and must be renewed annually. Renew prior to your expiry date by email, phone or by postal mail. Your transponder number is on the front of your transponder. If you have questions or have not made a note of your expiry date, please contact McMaster Parking Services by email at parking@mcmaster.ca or at 905-525-9140 ext. 24232.
Note that central-campus parking (with a transponder) is available to McMaster retirees as follows:
- May to August each year:
- Access to lots B, C, D, H, I, K, N, P and Underground Stadium at all times.
- September to April each year:
- Access to Lots B, C, D and I after 12:30 pm on weekdays, and at all times on weekends and holidays,
- Access to Lots H, K, N, P and Underground Stadium at all times on weekdays, weekends and holidays.
Parking lots with arms up operate on the HONK app. These lots do not work with transponders or parking rebate passes, so please do not park in a lot with the arms up or you will receive a ticket.
Free parking on campus is available to retirees. To take advantage of this perk, and to view retiree parking access, go to the McMaster Parking Services webpage. The Parking Office is accepting permit applications by email only. For further information, please contact Parking Services.
What’s Happening at Mac
Brighter World
Latest News in Research at McMaster
By Dawnelle Hawes
The Brighter World website continues to be a rich source of up-to-date research information at McMaster. These examples illustrate McMaster’s wide variety of research.
Health & Medicine; Science & Technology; Business & the Economy
McMaster celebrates seven Canada Research Chair (CRC) appointments1
At a time when research money is being cut, seven McMaster researchers have been awarded funding for their work. Research chairs aspire for excellence in research in a variety of areas, including engineering and the natural sciences, humanities, social sciences, and health sciences.2
The federal government is providing more than $153 million to support almost 180 new and renewed CRCs. First-term chairs receive $20,000 extra funding annually.1
Newly named Canada Research Chairs (CRC)
Maryam Ghasemaghaei, DeGroote School of Business, CRC in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion (EDI) in Artificial Intelligence. Currently, AI is increasingly being used in a variety of contexts and the resulting algorithms have ethical implications. Her research will aim at developing effective strategies that could moderate the resulting AI biases and support EDI.
Kathleen Houlahan, Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, CRC in Computational Oncology. Her research will examine the impact of variation in inherited genes and how cancer develops and grows. A link might explain the subsequent divergence of tumour types in individuals. Potentially blood tests could better screen for cancer and make earlier diagnoses possible.
Karen Lawford, Obstetrics & Gynecology, CRC in Indigenous Midwifery. Her research will investigate health care for Indigenous Peoples, especially “comprehensive, gender-inclusive sexual and reproductive health care for Indigenous Peoples” and identify barriers to equitable care. The specific focus will be maternity care for women who live on reserves.
Imran Satia, Medicine, CRC in Chronic Cough. His research interests include mechanisms and tools for evaluating cough and treatments for difficult conditions (e.g., chronic cough, asthma, and complex airways diseases).Renewed Canada Research Chairs
Gregory Steinberg, Medicine, CRC in Metabolism and Obesity. Information from his research on exercise, nutrition, therapeutics, inflammation and lipid metabolism is used to create strategies for prevention and treatment of metabolic disease (e.g., obesity, type 2 diabetes, cardiovascular disease, certain cancers).
Richard Whitlock, Surgery, CRC in Cardiovascular Surgery. His research intends to discover the major causes of and novel ways to prevent stroke, particularly the best method for treating young adults. He will investigate how to make safer blood thinners following the implant of mechanical valves.
Jon Whitney, Biochemistry & Biomedical Sciences, CRC in Molecular Microbiology. His research team intends to detect and identify how “bad” (pathogenic) bacteria spread by killing other “good” bacteria, during infection.
Health & Medicine, Biomedical Engineering, Science & Technology
Leyla Soleymani receives Dorothy Killam Fellowship for research on next-generation wearable health-care devices3
Leyla Soleymani, Engineering, has received a Dorothy Killam Fellowship (one of eight awarded), honouring researchers who are positively improving Canadian lives. In Leyla’s instance, her research focus is on miniature biosensors that would be able to monitor the status of someone’s health or disease in “real time” with the aim of potentially predicting heart attacks or recurring cancer. Her intention is to combine science with useful, practical applications. These applications could then be incorporated into healthcare and made available to those in need. She sees her research as moving their made-in-Canada solutions to the healthcare market, creating jobs and prosperity, and having “a positive impact on the health and well-being of Canadians and people around the world.”3
Environment & Sustainability, Biomedical Engineering
Analysis: Plant-based plastics could reduce the millions of tonnes of medical waste hospitals generate each year
Duncan Cree, Mechanical Engineering, has collaborated with others from the University of Saskatchewan, to research a method for potentially reducing the use of synthetic materials in healthcare by supplanting them with plant-based bioplastics. Their aim is to decrease healthcare’s “plastic footprint.” Biodegradable plastic is currently being used in procedures that involve heart valves, dressing wounds, and IVs. The healthcare sector is only one of many sources that use plastics, but it does “contribute approximately 25%-30% of all general healthcare waste...”4
Although these medical bioplastics would help environmental concerns, issues remain with using them more readily in medical applications (sterilization, “safety and regulatory approvals”). Currently, there are difficulties around sustainability and waste reduction from “extraction to disposal”5 that need investigating. It is proposed that greenhouse gas emissions could be decreased by one-quarter.
References
- Government of Canada. Canada Research Chairs. Date modified: 2025-03-19
- Brighter World. McMaster celebrates seven Canada Research Chair appointments. March 21, 2025.
- Brighter World. Leyla Soleymani receives Dorothy Killam Fellowship for research on next-generation wearable health-care devices. March 19, 2025.
- Yu JT, Diamond ML, Maguire M, Miller FA. Bioplastics: No solution to healthcare’s plastic pollution problem. Health Manage Forum. 2024 June 17; 37950: 401-405.
- Moshk, EB; Zhang, C; Cree, D; Bradford, L. Brighter World. Analysis: Plant-based plastics could reduce the millions of tonnes of medical waste hospitals generate each year. March 13, 2025.
Ticked off by Tariffs?
By Judith Shedden
You’re not alone. It’s confusing and it changes day to day. McMaster Experts have come together to provide some insights: Experts on Tariffs in a Changing World.
Topics include supply chains, buying Canadian, Canadian jobs, water security, the steel sector, the auto sector, and Canada’s response. New articles are added regularly.
Computer Tips & Tricks
How to Search Google for Canadian Results
By Nora Gaskin
Are you trying to buy something from a Canadian seller, but getting too many US results in a Google search? There’s no perfect filter to eliminate all non-Canadian sources, but two simple tools can prioritize Canadian results in your search more effectively than typing “Canada” at the end of your search term(s)!
1. Use google.ca instead of google.com
While both google.com and google.ca are Google search engines, google.ca is specifically designed for Canada and the Canadian market, prioritizes Canadian websites, businesses, and content, and can be searched in English and French. Google.com, on the other hand, is more global, with content from around the world, and can be searched in multiple languages.
2. Use the "Tools" or “Search Tools” menu on your search results page to limit results to Canada
Once you have searched google.ca, either on your desktop or your mobile device, at the top right of the search results page will be a “Tools” or “Search Tools” menu. It offers the option to limit your search in various ways, including by country.
Click “Any Country” > “Country: Canada” to limit your results to Canadian sites.
Figure 1 shows a desktop web browser like Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera, or Safari, with the Tools button on the upper right, and the country dropdown menu on the left.
Figures 2 and 3 show the results screen on a mobile device. Swipe left on the filters (All, Shopping, Images, etc.) at the top of the page until you get to the “Search Tools” button. Click on “Any country” and then “Country: Canada”. Happy searching!
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Volunteer Opportunities
McMaster Convocation Assistants
The Office of the Registrar welcomes retirees to become involved in the most exciting days of McMaster students’ academic lives — convocations.
Volunteers are needed to assist at convocations, where their role would be to meet, greet and direct students and guests, check tickets and/or distribute hoods and diplomas to students. They will work alongside a full-time employee who can offer assistance and training.
If you are interested in signing up for any of the days listed below (full- or half-day options), please complete the online Volunteer sign-up form by May 2nd for May ceremonies or by May 23rd for June ceremonies. The sign-up form can be found on the Convocation webpage by selecting the Faculty and Staff tab. Scroll down and click on the How do I volunteer at convocation?, and then click on the Join the Convo Crew! button.
More details can be found on the Office of the Registrar's Convocation webpage, or by contacting Rachel Huang in the Office of the Registrar at convo@mcmaster.ca.
Spring 2025 convocation ceremonies:
Wednesday, May 21, 2025, afternoon
Thursday, May 22, 2025, morning
Monday, June 16, 2025, afternoon
Tuesday, June 17, 2025, morning & afternoon
Wednesday, June 18, 2025, morning & afternoon
Thursday, June 19, 2025, morning & afternoon
Friday, June 20, 2025, morning & afternoon
Approximate volunteer shifts (for all events):
Morning: 7:30 – 12:30 pm
Afternoon: 12:30 – 5 pm
Full day: 7:30 am – 4 pm
The Welcome Inn Community Centre is looking for volunteers who are warm, friendly, and enjoy connecting with seniors for their Community Visitation program. Volunteers are matched one-on-one with isolated seniors living in Hamilton for weekly visits to offer friendship, support, and advocacy. Visits can be done either in person or over the phone, depending on the needs of the seniors and availability of volunteers. View the Centre’s Seniors Programs and become a community volunteer.
For more information or to volunteer, please contact 289-260-3771 or kari@welcomeinn.ca.
News from the College and University Retiree Associations of Canada (CURAC)
CURAC National Conference, Montreal, PQ, May 21 – 23, 2025
hosted by the McGill University Retirees Association
McGill University Retirees Association invites McMaster retirees to attend the 2025 CURAC conference The Well-Being of the Person, the Community, and the Planet in Montreal, PQ in May 2025.
Keynote presentations include:
- Global crisis of compassion: guiding principles and practical steps (Rachel Kiddell-Monroe)
- A trauma-sensitive approach to the well-being of people, communities, and ecosystems (David Kaiser)
- Equity and climate change: insights from my collaborations with the first peoples of Canada and Panama (Catherine Potvin)
- The age of misinformation and disinformation (Joe Schwarcz)
This will be the first CURAC conference offering simultaneous translation and the opportunity to join virtually. Visit the conference website for details, updates, and registration.
CURAC’s Academic for Life Column in University Affairs Magazine
Representatives of the College and University Retiree Associations of Canada (CURAC) contribute regularly to CURAC's Academic for Life Column in University Affairs. University Affairs is the magazine and website of Universities Canada, formerly the Association of Universities and Colleges of Canada (AUCC). Check out what University Affairs offers, including the following interesting article:
The curious incident of the nobbled college and university retiree associations, by Walter Archer, professor emeritus, University of Alberta and president of CURAC. Published on February 10, 2025.
Walter begins with a metaphor drawn from Sherlock Holmes tales. It is about the brutal murder of a racing stable's trainer and the disappearance of the prized horse, Silver Blaze. Sherlock Holmes solves the mystery by revealing that the trainer was attempting to injure Silver Blaze to rig a race for financial gain, but the horse killed him in self-defence. You can read the article to see where Walter is going with this! The article highlights the struggles of retiree associations at colleges and universities, where some institutions unknowingly "nobble" these groups' recruitment efforts by making it difficult to connect with retiring staff. He highlights some differences between institutions that support their retiree associations by allowing them to engage with staff nearing retirement, and others that inadvertently obstruct the efforts of associations, which can lead to the group's decline. Successful retiree associations thrive when supported by administrative cooperation, benefiting both the university and the surrounding community.
Let’s Plant Ideas: CURAC Report
By Susan Birnie
The Communications Committee of CURAC held a Zoom meeting in February 2025 titled “Let’s Plant Ideas” to explore and enhance communication between CURAC and local retiree associations, and to facilitate the exchange of ideas and experiences across different retiree associations. Participants talked about their successful connection methods, such as social events and seasonal outings, while discussing ideas to improve association viability and the connections they make with retirees at their institutions. To facilitate communication CURAC holds annual conferences, and they have recently updated their website and renewed their newsletter. CURAC’s newsletter will feature articles from the newsletters of local retiree associations. CURAC also encourages submissions for University Affairs. They plan to hold similar meetings 2-3 times a year and welcome suggestions for topics, including affinity programs and recruitment issues.
Community Connections
Looking for something interesting to do over the next few months? The following organizations offer a wide variety of seminars, events, and activities designed with seniors in mind. You can check out their websites on a regular basis to see what’s new. While most activities are free, some do have a minimal cost associated with them.
McMaster Continuing Education: edXpress
McMaster’s Continuing Education program, edXpress, offers a diverse range of online courses tailored for individuals eager to grasp new concepts or explore new hobbies and interests quickly. With a wide range of topics to choose from and a welcoming learning environment for both seasoned learners and curious beginners, there’s something for everyone to discover! All courses are online and cost $75 plus HST. Following the links on the Continuing Education edXpress site will take you to details about each course and registration through Eventbrite.
Please note that the edXpress courses are non-credit courses, and do NOT meet the 18-hour requirement to qualify for the retiree tuition assistance benefit. However, you may find that these courses offer an affordable and convenient way for you to continue your lifelong learning from the comfort of your home.
Geras Centre for Aging Research
Over the next 20 years, Canada’s aging population is expected to grow by 68%, according to the Canadian Institute for Health Information.
Geras (Geriatric Education and Research in Aging Sciences) Centre for Aging Research has built a reputation for research that reaches the frontlines of care quickly across diverse settings and is changing how healthcare is delivered to older adults.
Find out more information about Geras
To explore evidence-based courses and certificate programs to help people age with dignity and independence.
Become a study participant today
If you or someone you know is interested in volunteering for research studies in brain health, bone health, resilience & frailty and technology, visit Geras Opportunities.
Gilbrea Centre for Studies in Aging
The Gilbrea Centre runs several events each year as part of our regular programming. We also collaborate with our partner organizations and associate researchers to bring you special events throughout the year. Check back often to see what new events have been added!
The SHARE Network are different volunteer groups for older adults 55+ developed by the Gilbrea Centre. The SHARE Network provides members the opportunity to meet, connect, socialize, and engage in discussions, and research workshop initiatives. Members are provided resources and opportunities to participate and co-design research, different voluntary opportunities and engage in awareness raising and public engagement that relates to the aging studies work that we do at the Gilbrea Centre.
LIVElab
The LIVE (Large Interactive Virtual Environment) Lab is a 106-seat Research Performance Hall designed to study the experience of music, dance, multimedia presentations, and human interaction. It is equipped with advanced technology to measure various physiological responses and supports research in neuroscience, performer-audience interactions, and the development of health and artistic technologies. The lab also hosts events to educate the public about the science of music through interactive performances featuring advanced tech capabilities and leading artists.
McMaster Optimal Aging Portal
E-Learning: Stay healthy, active and engaged with our interactive lessons ranging from 15 to 35 minutes. Or our micro-learning courses allow you to learn something new in just a few minutes each week with our free email-based micro-learning series.
Hamilton Aging in Community
Hamilton Aging in Community aims to relieve social isolation of older adults and to promote resilient aging by:
- Disseminating information
- Providing educational presentations and small group events (View Aging in Community News)
- Sustaining a mutual support group
- Fostering intergenerational connections
- Establishing the Mary Buzzell Scholarships
Hamilton Council on Aging
HCoA-United Way Winter - Spring 2025 Schedule Seniors4Change Workshops
With support from the United Way of Halton & Hamilton, we are excited to offer our highly regarded peer-to-peer educational workshops for seniors!
New dates coming, beginning in February 2025 for our:
Or contact Shelagh (shelagh@hamiltoncoa.com) to organize a Let’s Take the Bus, Let’s Drive a Car, or Let’s Start a Walking Group (New Horizons) workshop for your seniors’ group!
- 6-Week Positive Aging Series
- 3-Week Navigating the Healthcare System
CURAC Later Life Learning (LLL) Events
MURA members can enjoy a variety of opportunities offered by affiliated retiree associations through the Later Life Learning Committee’s Event Calendar. Click on an activity to learn more about the topic and how to register.
The Calendar is also accessible from the CURAC homepage by scrolling to the bottom of the page.
Contacting Human Resources
| Mail Gilmour Hall 304, McMaster University 1280 Main Street West, Hamilton, ON L8S 4L8 Phone 905-525-9140, extension 22247 Email hr.mcmaster@mcmaster.ca Website https://hr.mcmaster.ca/retirees/ |
Members' Corner
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A Labour of Love on Lake Dalrymple
By Carol Nelson, Human Resources
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Lake Dalrymple cottage 1946 |
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Lake Dalrymple cottage, present day |
I am currently Treasurer for our Dalrymple Seniors Club, and have been for several years now. We get together for some events, play cards, and do some fundraising. We are proud of our contributions over many years to two local hospitals and a camp fund for children in need.
I must say this is the worst winter I can remember! We generally do not get this much snow, so hopefully, not again anytime soon. The lake totally freezes, and we do see some snowmobiling (not us, of course, too old for that event!).
In closing, I would like to say that I loved working at McMaster. When I was hired it was for 3 weeks to cover for a sick employee. I stayed for 28 years in Human Resources, working in Employee and Labour Relations. I enjoyed all the people I met, assisted and worked with all those years. You do miss work when you first retire; it is a change that you have to embrace. You miss your co-workers, your lunch events, and just the school/student atmosphere. It was a definite change moving to McMaster University from the industrial workplace. The student atmosphere is amazing; keeps you focused on what you can offer to make their time at McMaster a memorable experience. I never lost sight of that.
Happy retirement to all who are embarking on this journey. Make it fun!
Wintering in Zihuatanejo, Mexico
By Marguerite Jackson, Office of the Registrar
When my husband and I retired we decided to spend our winters in Zihuatanejo, Mexico. We soon saw the needs of many of the people. We started by collecting school supplies and dropping them off at schools in the mountains. I joined a group of ladies from Canada and the US who collected supplies for young girls who were pregnant and had no support. We held a baby shower, and each girl received a bag with baby supplies and a small bag with items she would need when she goes to the hospital.
My husband and I have created Zihua Ministries and have accepted donations from our church and friends to help us in this ministry. We have taken school supplies to small unfunded schools. We have helped a Christian church put a new roof on their church after a hurricane damaged it. We helped a single woman make her house safe with fencing and a door that locked. We take bags of food to the seniors that live in the small colonies (18 of them) around Zihua. 
Each bag contains rice, noodles, potatoes, onion, carrots, tomatoes, zucchini, cucumbers, oranges, limes, a roll of crackers, Jamaica (kind of Mexican tea) and a small package of cookies and candy. Each bag cost approximately $10.00 Canadian. This year we have delivered 205 bags of food. We have taken T-shirts, schoolbooks, pencils, crayons, sun hats, fruit juice, oranges, and cookies to a pre-school run by a young couple who saw the need for these children to receive an education. A lingerie store in Simcoe, Ontario gave us 4 boxes of lingerie and so we had two parties in two areas with about 60 women at each one. There were bras, pants, slips, nightgowns, bathing suits and camisoles. We brought cakes, cookies and juices to make it a real party. My husband enjoys fishing and so we take fish to a nursing home for at-risk seniors. We also purchased 12 chickens and a rooster for the home, so they would have eggs.
We truly enjoy our time in Zihua and have made many Mexican friends whom we now consider a part of our family.
How I Spent My Summer…Retirement Years
By Ruthanne Cameron, Pathology and Molecular Medicine
I enjoy receiving my MURA newsletter and catching up on the happenings at McMaster. After 34 years working in health research, it is natural I have an interest in current health research studies being conducted at McMaster. MURA does an excellent job promoting projects looking for volunteers.
I have had the pleasure to participate in several studies aimed at improving the lives of seniors as we age. My academic background is gerontology and sociology, so I am drawn to this type of research as it now has an impact on me personally. I wanted to share with my fellow retirees a project I am currently participating in thanks to MURA advertising for volunteers. It is called “Intergenerational Kitchen Pilot Project”. It is being conducted by Kyla Kovalik, a first-year MA student in Health and Aging (for older alumni “Gerontology”), at McMaster University. The project was co-designed with the Gilbrea Centre’s Intergenerational Advisory SHARE group.
The project offers 4 two-hour kitchen sessions which take place in a community church kitchen where we prepare a meal together. Our group consists of 6 community-dwelling seniors (that’s me), and 6 McMaster students. The menu for the day, all the ingredients and tools required are provided. We show up at noon, the work assignments are described, and we gravitate to a task we most want to work on. Each task involves at least three people, and we always seem to have a good mix of seniors and students. While preparing the food, there is a lively exchange of views between the ages. After the food is prepared and cooked, we enjoy eating it together. Again, as we share the food, we engage in conversations which provides an opportunity to learn more about each other. The students have a chance to ask us questions about our lives, our interests, and concerns. As these students are from the Health and Aging undergraduate program, we provide a resource for their academic work. The seniors are interested in hearing the perspectives of their younger counterparts. For me, being able to converse with students from the program I graduated from has been an absolute delight.
The purpose of this article is to encourage all my fellow retirees to volunteer in the research projects advertised in MURA. It is a great way to give back to the institution we retired from and to encourage and support future research.
Singing 2.0
Health Research Methods, Evidence & Impact
I wrote two years ago about my new retirement activity: singing. I took singing lessons, discovered I was a baritone, and then joined the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir (COMC). Two years on and I can report I am singing with confidence and am pulling my weight in the baritone section. It’s been great.
Shortly after I wrote that MURAnews article, the President of the choir, Rod Roberts, asked me to join the Management Committee – “we need new blood”. I resisted at first, thinking I had left all that management stuff behind. But one of the vacant positions was in Marketing, an area that interested me. And they really did need new blood. I was new; I took the plunge. It turned out to be more advertising than marketing but what the hey – I’m learning about graphic design for posters and programs, and I’m helping develop ideas on rebranding to appeal to a younger audience and attract new singers to the choir. For example, we introduced a third option for uniforms: black pants and shirt with a red-patterned tie that “pops”. It’s got a younger, classier, artsy vibe to it. We kept the tuxedos, of course, for our annual Christmas and May concerts, but the blazers, grey flannels and tie outfit won’t be worn as often now.
The choir needs to grow. Its roster is now just under 30, and we’re aiming to add 10 singers by the end of 2025. I’m going to ask MURAnews readers for a favour. Talk to the men in your lives – friends, family members, colleagues – and ask them if they like to sing. If they do, ask them if they’ve heard of the Canadian Orpheus Male Choir and if they know the choir is looking for new members. Would they like to meet a friendly and lively group of men who enjoy performing well-loved music? We do two major concerts a year, a quarter-concert at Choirfest, the occasional appearance at local festivals, and on-request at retirement homes. The ability to read music, although helpful, is not a requirement; it’s remarkable how quickly one learns by listening and following along. Contact me (noel.fraser@mcmaster.ca) or the choir’s membership lead (905-333-4274; membership@comc.ca). Scroll through the website to learn more. We rehearse at 7:30 p.m. for two hours every Tuesday evening at a site in downtown Hamilton.
PS. One happy coincidence I’ve had since joining the COMC: I’ve met Nora Gaskin (whom you all know through MURA and the MURAnews) three times now at an annual festival at which both our choirs sing. She’s a member of À La Mode Choir, which is made up of women and men, and is full of energy and joy. You should go hear them some time. As well as the COMC!
PPS. Save the date: COMC’s Annual Concert is on Sunday afternoon, May 25th, at Westdale United Church.
Hope to see or hear from you soon.
On Writing a Book about Westdale
and Surrounding Communities
By Roy J. Adams, DeGroote School of Business
I have just published a book you may be interested in reading. It is entitled Westdale in 10,000 Steps, The Story of Hamilton’s Western Plateau. As you no doubt know, Westdale is the neighborhood in which McMaster sits. That neighborhood in turn sits on a plateau that is bordered by the escarpment to the south, Cootes Paradise to the north and deep ravines to the east and west. On that plateau there are two communities – Westdale and Ainslie Wood. Their stories are so interconnected that I found it impossible to write about the one without referring to events in the other. So, the book covers both of them. Further afield, the plateau connects directly to Ancaster, Dundas, and central Hamilton. The book refers to relevant events in those communities too. The time period covered is from about 1800 to early 2025.
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manhole cover, |
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Brigadier McAvity fire hydrant |
Here is a brief summary of what my research turned up. During the 19th century, the plateau was a part of Ancaster Township. During that century most of the plateau was covered by farms. To the farmers who lived here the plateau was known as the Gore of Ancaster. The first population centre came to be early in the 20th century. By 1920, West Hamilton Village, in what is now Ainslie Wood, was the commercial centre. Westdale began to take shape in the 1920s and by 1940 had surpassed the Ainslie Wood community. Those with a family history in the community to the south of Main Street still remember it fondly. However, many of those I interviewed for this project, those who arrived more recently especially, were unaware that West Hamilton Village ever existed.
Modelled on Garden Cities that were popping up throughout Western Europe, Westdale was carefully designed to be walkable. Nearly every street has a sidewalk on at least one side. The developers’ intention was to create a self-contained community in which one might get along without hardly ever having to leave the plateau or, indeed, get into a car. It worked. Within walking distance of my house on Whitton Road there are grocery stores, banks, a florist, houses of worship for most denominations, restaurants, a theatre with both movies and live shows, a recreation centre, a post office, a pharmacy, a library, a grade school, middle-school, high school, and McMaster. Back in the 1920s, the developers also wanted Westdale to be White, Anglo-Saxon, Protestant, and middle-class. They had their way for a while, but in recent years it has become quite a multi-cultural community. How that happened is one of the book’s themes.
My research turned up several interesting stories, anecdotes, and urban myths. Here are a few of them.
In 1879 a new train line between Hamilton and Dundas made its first run. As a condition for using his property, Samuel Bramberger stipulated that the line stop at his Half-Way House where Canadian Martyrs School now sits. The deal was that trains had to stay for 5 minutes so Bramberger could sell them refreshments. To get them to stay longer and imbibe more, he made sure the drivers got a free beer which, for most, took them more than 5 minutes to finish.
Perhaps the most well-known urban myth is that Jews were not permitted to purchase houses in Westdale. That notion is almost but not quite right. The most common specification of the developers was that plots and houses should not be sold to foreign-born Jews. Nevertheless, very few Canadian-born Jews bought Westdale houses until that requirement was made illegal after World War II. When it was removed, Jews poured in. Compared to Hamilton as a whole, they are now over-represented on the plateau. The requirement also excluded foreign-born Italians who were predominantly Catholic. One result is that there are no Catholic Churches in Westdale proper. There is one across Main Street in Ainslie Wood in which no such ban or intent was ever in place.
Most of those associated with McMaster no doubt know that the university was originally a Baptist institution that moved from Toronto to Hamilton. During its early years after its move, its Baptist character was quite pronounced. As late as the 1950s, each day there was a break so students and staff could attend chapel. Religious Studies and Phys-Ed were mandatory. Women wore skirts and men wore dress pants. Jeans were nowhere to be seen. Those traditions faded when Mac made its push for academic excellence. In 1957 it became a non-denominational institution.
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Roy J. Adams, photo courtesy of Norman Brown |
Westdale is, indeed, an intriguing bit of the planet. It has been my good fortune to have lived here for over 50 years, and I have no plans to leave soon. Putting the book together has been a pleasure. It can be purchased at King W. Books or at The Printed Word in Dundas. I hope that some of you enjoy reading it as much as I did writing it.
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MURAnews is produced by MURA members Denise Anderson (Production Editor), Regina Bendig, Dawn Elston, Nora Gaskin, John Horsman, Marcia MacAulay, and Judith Shedden (Interim News Editor). We welcome submissions from MURA members. Contributing writers: Susan BIrnie, Mary Gauld, Dawnelle Hawes, Kathy Overholt, and Ellen Ryan. |