The National Association of Federal Retirees was born out of necessity.
Our story began in 1963 with a simple idea: retirees deserved better. Take a look at how far we’ve come and how our members continue to guide our work.
In 1963, as the Federal Superannuates National Association, we came together to tackle a growing problem: Canadian pensions weren’t keeping pace with the cost of living.
A decade later, in 1973, our advocacy secured full pension indexation — a hard-won protection that shields federal retirees from inflationary losses to this day.
From there, we kept pushing forward. We helped stop wage and price controls legislation in 1983. In 1992, we secured survivor pensions. In 2001, the Pensioners’ Dental Services Plan (PDSP) was introduced following sustained advocacy. And when retirees’ pension rights were challenged in 2015, we defended them vigorously, taking the matter as far as the Supreme Court of Canada.
More than 60 years on, our purpose is the same: protect what retirees have earned and help build a future where every Canadian can age with dignity. With 170,000 members, volunteers across the country and a dedicated national staff, we’re a trusted voice for fairness for federal retirees, retirement income security, reliable health care, positive aging and veteran well-being.
We listen to our members, learn from their experiences and amplify their voices. Together, we’re advocating for dignity, quality care and a retirement Canadians can count on. The work continues, and so does our story.