Interest Group Email Archive

Hello RetNIG members,

Have you been thinking about how to make a meaningful impact within your nursing community?

One of the most powerful ways to do so is by stepping into a leadership role with the RetNIG.

We are currently seeking nominations for Executive Network Officer (ENO) positions. These roles offer a rewarding opportunity to contribute to RNAO’s work while also growing your own professional skills and expanding your network.

Why get involved?
As an interest group leader, you will have the opportunity to:

Welcome, RetNIG Members!

We want to begin with an apology for the missing winter newsletter. Our Communications ENO and chair experienced a five‑week hospital stay from January to February and has been managing ongoing health issues since. We’re happy to share that she’s now well enough to bring you our spring/summer newsletter.

Despite her absence, we successfully hosted two wonderful events:

• A session on pelvic health
• A Fireside Chat with nursing author Tilda Shalof, featuring her latest book

Dear member, 

We would like to thank you for being members of our Interest Groups.  You  have received  an email promoting  our Webinar April 13 with speaker Paula Manuel, "Work Life Balance - How is your SOUL?". We hope many of you will attend as it is sure to be interesting and helpful.  

We have decided to have a short AGM/Report at the beginning of the webinar for both Interest Groups. I just wanted to inform you of this addition. 

Nursing today can be incredibly stressful, and balancing the demands of work with home life is often challenging. Many nurses experience fatigue, burnout, and at times, moral distress. So how do you not only navigate these feelings, but truly thrive? How do you remain a strong, dependable team member? And how do you build the resilience to rely on yourself so you can better care for others?

Join the Staff Nurse Interest Group and the Retired Nurses' Interest Group in welcoming:

Paula Manuel, RN (ret.) for Work Life  Balance - How is Your Soul?

SNIG invites you to join a live jeopardy-style competition followed by themed breakout rooms.  The Jeopardy game will have questions in three categories: RNAO Basics, Clinical Scenarios, and Nurse Life and Pop Culture. Teams will compete by answering questions, earning points and engaging in friendly competition and fun. 

Following the game, participants may choose a breakout room: Nurses Wellness and Movement or Creative Expression Workshop.

Join Tegan Vermey, Pelvic Health Physiotherapist, for an informative discussion on pelvic floor challenges that are common—but not normal—across life stages including pregnancy, menopause, and prostate cancer. In this presentation, Tegan will raise awareness, break down stigma, and provide evidence-based insight into pelvic floor conditions such as incontinence, prolapse, and pelvic pain, affecting both women and men.

Date: February 9, 2026

Time: 12 p.m. - 1 p.m.

REGISTER NOW

Dear SNIG & RetNIG members, 

Join us for an inspiring fireside chat with authors Tilda Shalof and Lisa Mochrie. Discover insights from their latest book, The Handover: A Nurse’s Last Shift, and engage in meaningful conversation 

Don’t miss this unique opportunity - register today!

REGISTER HERE: https://rnao.ca/events/chapters-igs-events-297

SNIG & RetNIG Executives

Resilience is an essential skill to have in today’s fast-paced world, whether you're facing burnout at work or stressed about the never-ending list of chores at home. It helps us to adapt to challenges, recover from stress, and maintain balance during busy and challenging times.  

This interactive session blends education with practice, giving you practical tools to help cultivate your resilience through yoga and mindfulness. 

You’ll learn: 

Parkinson’s disease affects millions worldwide, yet its complexities remain misunderstood by many. This event offers a compelling journey into the science, symptoms, and stories behind Parkinson’s—revealing how it impacts movement, cognition, and daily life. Whether you're a caregiver, a curious mind, or someone seeking hope through research, join us to explore the latest breakthroughs, and the future of treatment. Discover how knowledge can empower action—and why understanding Parkinson’s is a step toward compassion and change.

Welcome to our new and returning members!

This newsletter contains 

1. Welcome form the chair 

2. An overview of our Resolution of 2025: 

Expanding title protection to retired RNs

Retired registered nurses in good standing be able to maintain their Registered Nurse designation as Ret’d. following their name (which passed and received a standing ovation).

Dear member,

Do you enjoy speaking out for nurses, health and health care? Would you like to assist us in our mission to promote the awareness on the careers of registered nurses and nurse practitioners, who has retired or who is considering retirement? This includes mentoring and supporting nurses at all stages of their careers, education and political action.

We welcome members to join the Retired Nurses Interest Group (RetNIG) Executive. 

Dear member,

Do you enjoy speaking out for nurses, health and health care? Would you like to assist us in our mission to promote the awareness on the careers of registered nurses and nurse practitioners, who has retired or who is considering retirement? This includes mentoring and supporting nurses at all stages of their careers, education and political action.

We welcome members to join the Retired Nurses Interest Group (RetNIG) Executive. 

Welcome RetNIG members!

Attached you will find the spring/summer 2025 newsletter.

Have you ever thought of nursing in a different country? or going on a short trip to another country with other Nurses to help out? 

Join Adrienne Kappes, RN, as she shares her adventures as part of a team bound for Guatemala this past February. She will fill you in on the pros and cons of her experience. Adrienne is an experienced travel nurse and retired military nurse. 

There will be a very short RetNIG AGM prior to the event.

No matter what age we are, many nurses have experienced Anxiety and Stress. Health issues, family issues, financial issues, work issues and self-expectations all increase the possibility of burnout. Once in the cycle, it is not easy to shake off. Acknowledging the problem exists, and seeking knowledge of why it is happening ,is the first step to living a more peaceful and happier life!

Join the Retired Nurses' Interest Group in welcoming back Pastor Dave Larmour.

Welcome RetNIG members and Happy New Year!

Attached you will find our winter newsletter. In this newsletter we had RetNIG member Sheila Gingras give us a book for RetNIG Reads and a recipe. Hope you enjoy both!

If you would like to send us a favourite book review or a recipe we would love to hear from you. Send the recipe or book review to [email protected]

Upcoming webinar: 

Nursing has always got through hard times using our unique sense of humour and yet in today's world laughter is infrequent and smiles sometimes forgotten especially amongst adults. Maybe we need a reminder of the benefits of laughter. 

Join the Staff Nurse Interest Group and the Retired Nurses' Interest Group in welcoming:

Join the Retired Nurses' Interest Group in welcoming Ishan Abeywardena, Director, Information Management & Technology at RNAO for Beware of scams! 

Welcome to all returning and new members of the Retired Nurses' Interest Group. We hope you all are in good health and have had a good summer. We certainly have been blessed with great weather so far this fall.  Attached is our fall newsletter.

Check out the newsletter to meet our executive for 2025. We also feature call outs for a Student, Communication ENO and a Social Media ENO, as well as a great breakfast recipe and a good book to read.  

The question is not how to survive, but how to thrive with passion, compassion, humour and style.” — Maya Angelou

Thriving is much different than just surviving because they offer entirely different experiences. If you only survive in life, you’ll feel like you’re barely getting by, and you won’t experience much joy. However, if you are thriving, you’ll feel like you live a fulfilling and meaningful life. - Author unknown

Join the Staff Nurse Interest Group, the Retired Nurses' Interest Group, and the Windsor-Essex and Waterloo Chapters to welcome: