Benefits of Joining

RTO/ERO is the only organization with representation from elementary, secondary, public, Catholic and francophone schools.

Health Insurance

• Comprehensive, competitive and affordable Extended Health, Semi-Private Hospital and Dental Plans
• Plans offered independently, with single, couple or family coverage
• The largest Canadian retired educator health plan covering over 68,000 members and their dependents
• Our Plan is owned and managed by RTO/ERO members and available only to members
• Plan highlights: direct payment to pharmacies; electronic submission of dental claims; direct deposit of claim payments; paramedical practitioner services; vision care; home care; and travel coverage while outside of province and country

Social Network

• District structure across Ontario, and two Districts in British Columbia
• Social and networking opportunities including luncheons, dinners, meetings and guest speakers;
• Recreational activities such as golf and bridge tournaments; travel to theatre and sporting events
• Provincial committees, Senate, workshops, online discussion forums

Pension Support

• Monitoring of pension legislation, comments on proposed changes and recommends improvements for retired teachers, when appropriate
• Participation in regular discussions with the Ontario Teachers’ Federation (OTF)
• Voting member on the OTF Pension and Pension Negotiations Committees, representing members in pension negotiations with the Provincial Government

Political Advocacy

• Provincially, committees and staff lobby all levels of government on issues of concern to educators and retirees, including health care, support for active teachers and publicly-funded education, seniors’ issues, and the environment
• Locally, members organize meetings and lobby local MPs and MPPs

Communication

• RTO/ERO publishes a national award-winning quarterly magazine, Renaissance, for all
• members, and monthly newsletters for Provincial and District leaders
• Over 50 Fact Sheets on social, health, legal and financial matters of interest to retirees are available to members
• Tax Tips and Pocket Calendars are produced annually
• Professionally designed provincial public and members’ only websites
• District websites supported by provincial technical assistance

Service to Others

• Community outreach through Project – Service to Others, a $100,000 grant program for Districts to support local community projects
• Scholarships for members’ relatives actively seeking a career in teaching
• Provincial charitable donations policy

Assistance and Support

• Provincial Emergency Assistance Program
• District Goodwill Committees – rides to appointments, banking, social events and compassionate support

Travel

• Members travel the world with specially designed cruises and tours at discounted rates
• Professionally designed exclusive travel packages for our members

Connections

• Resource and expertise collaboration with provincial and national organizations to improve the quality of life for retirees (e.g. CARP, The Canadian Association of Retired Teachers (ACER/CART), the Ontario Network for the Prevention of Elder Abuse (ONPEA), the Ontario Retirement Communities Association (ORCA); provincial teacher affiliates, and trustee, supervisory officer and principals’ organizations)