Vi Oko | ARTA Member
Four executive members, seven committee chairs, eight staff members, eighteen branch presidents, thirty-four branch delegates, and an observer attended the 2025 ARTA Annual General Meeting on October 7 and 8. Executive and committee reports were reviewed, branch president and liaison organization reports were presented, the 2025–2026 budget was ratified, and elections were held for three executive and six vacant committee positions.
Ray Hoger, Mary McDougall, and Alain Lévesque were elected to their respective positions of president, vice president, and treasurer of the association. Deb Gerow will remain on the executive as past president. Lorna McIlroy is leaving active participation in the provincial association after 22 years of service — first as a branch representative, then as a committee member, and finally as an executive member for nine years.
Edna Dach, Jim Allan, Ron Thompson, Cam Colville, and Rod Lowry were elected to a four-year term on the Communications, Governance, Pension and Financial Wellness, Strategic Planning and Advocacy, and Wellness committees respectively, while Blair Lowry will serve a five-year term on the Health Benefits Committee.
The St. Albert branch was awarded the Path of Plenty trophy for the highest percentage of member participation in the Heart and Sole Wellness Walks. The Wainwright branch won the Newcomer award for the most new members involved, NEARTA earned the Spirt of Giving honours for the largest food bank donation, and the Wolf Creek branch received the Best Connection citation for the best organized or spontaneous activity involving participants following the walk.
ARTA had a total of 33,695 members as of October 1, 2025. Of this number, 3,560 are ARTARx members — a 30% increase over the last fiscal year. ARTARx continues to work on securing a community pharmacy licence for a southern Alberta outlet in a retail space adjacent to the ARTA Calgary office.
Deb Gerow is the new ACER-CART National Representative and Lawrence Hrycan is the ACER-CART Western Representative. Deb Gerow will also represent ARTA on the Seniors’ Task Force of Public Interest Alberta.
ARTA continues to thrive as a new generation of retirees steps forward to lead with experience, vision, and purpose.