York University Retirees' Association

YURA 2025 Annual General Meeting

The 2025 Annual General Meeting of the York University Retirees’ Association was held on Friday, November 21^st  as a virtual meeting, via Zoom.

Our guest speaker was Dr. Christine O’Kelly of Dublin City University in Ireland, Co-ordinator of the Age Friendly University Global Network, who spoke on the topic of “Positive Ageing, Intergenerational Solidarity, and the Role of Higher Education.” [Full biographical notes about Christine. O'Kelly are available by clicking here.]

The business meeting portion of the AGM was held following Dr. O'Kelly's talk. Documents pertaining to the business meeting can be viewed by clicking here. All reports were accepted, financials approved and the 2025-26 Executive Committee membership affirmed unanimously.

Reception recognized York's 2024 Retirees

YURA recently collaborated with the Vice-President, Equity, People & Culture (VP-EPC) and the President’s Institutional Events team, to host a reception for retirees.  The November 4^th event in the Second Student Centre was an opportunity for YURA members to visit with one another socially and to celebrate those members of faculty and staff who retired in 2024.  Co-hosting for the University were Lisa Philipps, Vice-President Academic & Provost and Laina Bay-Cheng VP-EPC.  Following the recognition of the new retirees, YURA staged a brief and light discussion about retirement moderated by co-president Diane Woody and featuring panelists Sheila Forshaw, Ian Greene and Cathy Boyd-Withers.  A social time for mingling, re-connecting and reminiscing followed.   Click here for more photos from the event.

The 2025 YURA Challenge

Retirees' Fundraising Walk a Success

The York University Retirees’ Association held its annual 5 km fundraising walk on October 9^th  -- this year to support student academic success by raising money to acquire “study pods” for the York University Libraries.  These self-contained soundproof booths offer students privacy, comfort, and power outlets and they can make a real and lasting difference in their success.  The pods are also ideal for virtual classes, online or oral exams, job interviews, mentorship calls and for students with sensory stimulation concerns.

Through its collaboration with the University’s Libraries, YURA is hopeful that York students can enjoy the same advantages as their peers at U of T and McGill, where study pods have already been introduced and are in high demand.  By supporting this innovative initiative in the Libraries, YURA can continue its tradition of supporting student success.

YURA members were recruited to take part in the walk and to canvass for team sponsors.  This year, donations have been handled directly by the University: for fundraising participants, there was no complicated registration process and no registration fee; and for donors, there have been no administrative fees.  To date, more than $17,000 has been raised, through contributions from YURA members, former York colleagues and co-workers, and family and friends.  Donations in support of YURA’s fundraiser can still be made until December 31^st.  We encourage all YURA members to help with this worthy cause. 

For more information and to donate, please visit our YURA Challenge page by clicking here.

Members of The YURA Challenge team preparing for their 5 km walk through the Keele Campus on October 9th. For more photos from the 2025 walk, please click here.

New Contact Info for York's Pension & Benefits Office

YURA members should note that the Pension & Benefits section in the University Services Centre at the University has a new e-mail address and telephone number:

E-mail: askusc@yorku.ca
Phone: 416.736.5212

The previous e-mail address, askpb@yorku.ca, will be phased out in the weeks ahead.

Memberships for 2025-2026

YURA membership renewal forms for the 2025-2026 year (October 1 through September 30) are now available by clicking here.

YURA members receive quarterly issues of the YURA Newsletter and ongoing bulletins and e-mail communications with information about YURA and activities available to our members.  This website includes links to key websites for retirees (“Retiring at York”) as well as information about member privileges, events, and YURA’s role in representing retirees' interests with York University.

Retired York employees who wish to join YURA are most welcome to do so.  For more information, instructions and the membership application form, please click here.

Join in the Conversation at the YURA Café

Pour yourself a big cup of coffee (or other preferred morning beverage) and log-in to visit with former York colleagues and co-workers.

The YURA Café takes place the second Tuesday of the month at 10:00 a.m.  Review the Events Calendar for the upcoming dates.  An announcement about each month’s Café, including the Zoom link, will be circulated by e-mail to YURA members several days before the session.

Coming up at the YURA Café on March 10th, University Professor emeritus, Dr. Ron Pearlman will discuss the science of mRNA vaccines and on April 21st (note for this session it's the third Tuesday of April), Dr. Tamara Daly, Director of YU-CARE (York University Centre on Aging Research & Education) will reflect on the advancement of research and the work of the Centre during her term.

Read overviews and highlights of past sessions of the YURA Café by clicking here.

College and University Retiree Associations of Canada (CURAC)

CURAC is the national organization of the postsecondary retirees' associations across Canada.  It speaks for the collective on a variety of public policy issues.  It provides a number of important services to its members, including an annual conference that highlights best practices among its member associations and promotes collaboration. YURA was among the founders of CURAC.  

All YURA members should check out the CURAC website to learn about the initiatives in which it is involved and the services and activities it offers to all retiree association members, including members of YURA. Also on the website are links to health bulletins and discussion papers on issues relating to seniors.

Of particular interest to YURA members may well be the videos of the key presentations at the annual CURAC Conference. Sessions from the 2024 conference held at the University of Waterloo are now available to view by clicking here. Sessions from the 2025 conference held at McGill University in Montreal in May will be available in the near future.

CURAC's affinity partners belairdirect and Johnson Travel Insurance offer contests from time to time open to members of all CURAC member associations, including YURA. belairdirect also initiated a scholarship program this year for which progeny of YURA members may be eligible. More info...

"Bringing Experience to Shape the Future of Postsecondary Education" -- University Affairs

We are pleased to see that Dr. Fred Fletcher, has had another article published in CURAC’s “Academic for Life” column in University Affairs, which is distributed to all universities in Canada. Fred is University Professor Emeritus (Political Science and Communication Studies) and a long-standing member of the Executive Committees of both YURA and ARFL, the Association of Retired Faculty and Librarians, as well as a long-time member of CURAC’s Later Life Learning Committee. Please click here to read the article

Membership Survey Results Summarized

More than 60% of YURA members participated in a survey conducted in 2022 by the Association's Executive Committee to learn about what members thought about current activities and how YURA could better support its members in the future. A summary of survey results, prepared by professor emeritus and former YURA co-president Ian Greene, can be found by clicking here.

Donations for 2026

YURA members are encouraged to consider a tax-deductible donation to one or more of the YURA sponsored student awards or other worthwhile YURA-sponsored projects at the University.  Among these are the YURA Graduate Student Award, the William Small Award, the YURA Mature Student Bursaries, "study pods" at the University's libraries, the Food Insecurity Fund for Students or the York Camps Subsidy Fund (for local kids from disadvantaged families). Charitable tax receipts for such donations are provided by York University.

To make an on-line donation or to arrange monthly contributions, please click here.

Retirees Sought for Research Studies at York University

One of the most important contributions retirees can make to the University is through participation as research subjects in projects that focus on older adults.  This is especially meaningful for York University, which has a Faculty of Health as well as the Centre for Aging Research and Education (YU-CARE).  Participation of YURA members is crucial for the doctoral students who are undertaking studies that will contribute to discovery and new knowledge.

YURA members are encouraged to take part in the studies described below for which University ethics approval has been obtained. Participation in these studies is not limited to retired employees.  Spouses, other family members and friends who meet the participant criteria are also welcome to contact the doctoral students leading these studies, which are continuing through the spring and summer of 2025.

For a complete list of studies seeking participants please click here.

YURA Events Calendar

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York U Pension & Benefits

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Retiree Associations

College & University Retiree Associations of Canada (CURAC)

Association of Retiree Organizations in Higher Education (AROHE)