Written by Martha Turner Osborne, Chief Marketing and Social Innovation Officer In June 2020, my husband and I decided to redirect our summer plans and fix up our 100-year-old, off-the-grid cottage. What we hoped would take us one summer, ended up taking us three. Like many old cottages, ours was in desperate need of some TLC. In fact, it is fair to say, it was absolutely, positively falling into the ground. With no hydro, water access only, and little to no planned budget to fix up, the amount of work ahead of us was overwhelming. Coupled with that, we had no access to tradespeople and building materials were on back order in the throes of a global pandemic, which added an extra layer of complexity. My husband and I like to consider ourselves as hard working people but this project was waaaaayyyyyyy beyond our wildest imagination. Our journey began and ended with just my husband and I, a...
The holiday season is officially upon us! With all the complete chaos that this season brings, we decided to craft this year’s list of fantastic holiday activities to make the most of your time with friends, family, and across your community. The best part? Most of these items you can find in the comfort of your own home, for your whole family to enjoy, and it won’t cost you an arm and leg. Without further ado, here is our 2022 list of the Top 10 Holiday Must-Tries. 1. Take advantage of the winter wonderland outside Spending time in the fresh, cold air through wholesome outdoor activities can get you moving and help you make some of the best memories this season. Building a snowman and making snow angels is the obvious choice for a guaranteed good memory, but there are plenty of other options if that’s not your mood. Tobogganing...
This week I had the pleasure of sitting down for coffee with our Teachers Life and nowly President and CEO, Kayte Fredrickson, to chat about her vision for our company, business perspective, and to get to know her a bit more as a person. Spoiler alert – Kayte is brilliant, driven, energetic, and keen to continue learning about the world around her, especially the Teachers Life / nowly staff and Members. Laura: Hey Kayte, thank you so much for taking the time to chat with me today! Starting off generally, I would love to know how you’re enjoying your time at Teachers Life and nowly so far? Kayte: I’m really enjoying it! I think what I like most is the potential, because we’re right on the cusp of something. It’s challenging in a way that’s driving us in a positive direction. Laura: I love that. Excitement is definitely in the...
One of our core values is supporting vibrant and healthy communities. As our valued Members are part of the Teachers Life community, we look forward to supporting them and their loved ones through our Awards Program. Our mission is to build a secure future for our Members by giving back in meaningful, long-lasting ways. This year, we have the honour of recognizing 12 exceptional individuals with the J.F. Allen Scholarship, Hall & Hall Award, and the Teachers Life Bursary. To date, we’ve invested over $450,000 in scholarships and bursaries for the families of our policyholders. Dedicated to those who work in education, these awards are a flagship program of our fraternal mandate. The 2022 J.F. Allen Scholarship Recipients The J.F. Allen Scholarship The J.F. Allen Scholarship is given to students who demonstrate excellence, achievement and a deep connection to their schools and communities. The scholarship is for up to 4...
