ESTEVAN - The Superannuated Teachers of Saskatchewan (STS) are celebrating their 50th anniversary this year, and the head of the STS was in Estevan on Thursday for a local event to mark the milestone.
Doug Still attended a luncheon at the Nicholson Centre. Birthday cake was served, and then Still addressed the crowd about the STS’s health-spending plan, its upcoming annual general meeting, the organization’s history and its advocacy efforts.
“The STS advocates for older adults because that’s our membership,” said Still. “So, whether it’s social determinants of health, fitting into the community, being active or contributing as volunteers, that’s part of our focus, too. And we do support currently-practising educators, and we’re aware of their challenges and struggles in the classroom.”
Prior to the fall of 1973, there were retired teacher associations in Saskatoon and Regina, Still said. Then there was momentum in the fall of 1973 to form the STS. The first annual general meeting was the following year.
“We just decided as a provincial organization that it’s not only a provincial anniversary, but 41 chapters also celebrate their anniversary,” Still said.
He’s pleased to see the local chapters celebrating the milestone.
Still joined the provincial executive in 2017 as a member at large. He then spent four years as a councillor with the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation.
“We’re part of the Saskatchewan Teachers’ Federation,” he said. “We’re an active local of the federation, so we actually attend council meetings and we vote on the executive there.”
Still was elected as a provincial president last May. He said it has been an interesting experience. They have four executive meetings per year, and he has been trying to get to as many chapters in the province as possible.
“The anniversary portion of the visits are just now ramping up,” said Still, who will try to get to as many of these events as possible.
Other members of the executive can also attend.
Still spent his entire 31-year teaching career at the Humboldt Collegiate Institute, working in two classrooms during that time. He remained in the town until 2006, and now resides in Regina to be closer to family.
He’s familiar being in a position of leadership, as he was on Humboldt city council for 22 years, including nine years as mayor.
“Those things really prepare you for public service and how organizations work provincially,” he said. “The STS is a good group of people to work with. We have a very small staff out of Saskatoon, and we’re heavily volunteer-focused and based.”
The STS has about 9,000 members who are part of the health insurance program, with dental and health benefits. And they have recreational activities and advocacy efforts.
