York

Welcome to the website of York Branch. The York Branch website aims to keep members informed on branch activities; provide information on meeting schedules, branch advocacy and other areas of interest. Be sure to check back periodically for updates.

Update – Nov 2025

Branch President’s Reports

York Branch Fall Meeting was held on Oct. 7, at the Aurora Legion Hall. A good group showed up at the Hall, with some more coming in via Zoom. As usual, there were a few hiccups with the videoconferencing (still a work in progress), but it worked! The guest speaker came in by Zoom too, which turned out to be technically easier.

Members were updated on Association news, which included the organizational upset with likely the longest Annual Meeting of Members (AMM) in Federal Retirees history! The meeting will resume, and finally end, on Nov. 19, when delegates will finally elect someone to a position which was called Association president, but has been renamed national board chair. This change involved another bylaw update which the 2026 AMM could review.

Our guest speaker was well received. This was a presentation from Connected Canadians, entitled “Logging Out: Preparing Your Digital End of Life”. One does not often think of the internet presence one will leave behind at some time, but the issue is more and more important, and relevant. Connected Canadians also provides help to us in navigating our digital world.

As always, your Branch needs new blood. The jobs are not unduly onerous, but need doing, and some Board members are getting worn out. One possible volunteer came forward during the meeting: more would really be welcome.

York Branch Address
10225 Yonge St
Unit R116
Richmond Hill, ON 
L4C 3B2

E-mail: federalretirees.york@gmail.com
Website: federalretirees.ca/york

Web Content

We are constantly reviewing and updating our webpage hoping to make it friendlier and allow our readers to quickly search for information about the branch: its activities and the newest published items. Please check out the Latest Updates section to find the most current submission.

Frank Froude
Web Content Editor

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About the York Branch board 

York, a relatively new branch, held its’ first AGM on May 12, 1999.  It has a relatively small number of members covering the areas north, east and northeast of Toronto.   

Originally the board included York Region, Bradford West Gwillimbury, a small part of Innisfil south of highway 89 and New Tecumseth. In 2019 our area expanded to include members from the western section of the Region of Durham. Federal Retirees members are assigned to a board based on their postal codes within the boards’ geographical areas. 

The branch is a not for profit organization and is an entity and agent of the National Association of Federal Retirees (“the Association”), established by the charter issued by the board, on May 12th, 1999.  The branch is subject to the Association’s national by-laws. As an agent of the Association, the branch provides services to its members and carries out local programs consistent with the purpose, strategic direction and policies of the Association.  

Branch activities support advocacy, at the local level to protect and promote the pensions, benefits and general welfare of members and potential members.  It also shares communications with members and connects individual members and their families with the information they need to access their pensions and benefits. More information on core services is contained in the branch by-laws.

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Founding of York Branch

In the spring of 1998, Jim Rowlatt, Regional Director for Central and Northern Ontario and national board member, organized a meeting of Toronto Branch members who were interested in forming a new branch. The impetus for the meeting was a desire on the part of Toronto Branch members living in the northern reaches of the branch’s territory to hold meetings and other branch activities closer to their residences.  The initial meeting of about 30 interested Toronto Branch members was held in May 1998 at which a small group of volunteers agreed to undertake the work to establish the new entity.

This work involved discussions and negotiations with what would be neighbouring branches in order to reach agreement on new boundaries, as well as research to be used in writing a set of branch by-laws.

The culmination of these efforts was achieved at the formative meeting of members held in October 1998. By-laws were approved and interim directors were elected by the members in attendance. The by-laws were immediately submitted to the association’s national office and were accompanied by a formal application for a charter for the new York Branch.

A charter for York Branch was granted by the national board of directors and was presented to the branch by national president Rex Guy at the first branch AGM held on May 12, 1999 at the Royal Canadian Legion in Richmond Hill.

The board of directors elected at the first branch AGM were:

President & Newsletter Editor             Francis Bowkett
Vice-president Membership                John Schneider
Treasurer                                            George Smith
Secretary                                            Janet Bryson
Director at Large                                Daphne Adams
Director (Telephone Committee)        Dexter Butt
Director at Large                                Ted Dissette
Director at Large                                Robert Smith

Submitted by Francis Bowkett.

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York Branch Today

York Branch draws its membership from the area shown in the map. Federal Retirees members who live in this area are automatically assigned to York Branch, though they are free to choose another branch if preferred. Similarly some who identify with York Branch live outside the area shown. Members of the board participate in Federal Retirees elections and activities through their branch.

The area covered by the branch has recently increased after the inclusion of an area from the Oshawa Branch. The York board now covers the geographical area between Mono/Adjala Town Line and Highway 50 in the west to a portion of Durham Region in the east. 

A branch’s “boundaries” are really driven by the postal codes that are allocated to the branch; the lines on a map don’t strictly define the boundary lines. Branch boundary lines are outlined graphically for easy viewing purposes, and in such a way that the allocated postal codes are sort of smoothly encompassed within the drawn lines.

See below for a list of federal ridings.

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 York Branch Federal Ridings

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Branch Bylaws

York Board Bylaws  

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Contact us

Branch Email:
federalretirees.york@gmail.com

New Mail Address
NAFR York Branch (ON55 York)
10225 Yonge St
Unit R116
Richmond Hill, ON L4C 3B2