Train Service Still on the Rails—For Now

By Jon Peirce

On Wednesday, June 11, I will board VIA Rail’s “Ocean” train in Halifax for the 22-hour trip to Montreal.

It’s a trip I have made dozens of times since my arrival in Canada in 1970. I love everything about the train, from the relaxed pace of travel to the freedom from my usual routine and the opportunity to meet all sorts of fascinating people in the dining and lounge cars.

As a writer, I find the freedom from daily routine exhilarating, and a strong stimulus to reflection and creative thought. Much of my best work over the years has been done while I was riding back and forth between Halifax and Montreal. As a grad student in English, I did much of my course reading on those marvelous, long train rides. More recently, three of my published newspaper pieces had their genesis on the train.

I also appreciate not having to put up with anything connected with flying, which over the years has degenerated from a glorious adventure to a form of torture. (Globe & Mail writer Konrad Yakabuski recently said flying makes the Book of Job look like a fairy tale). The problems include, among other things, cramped seating, narrow aisles with low ceilings, appalling washroom facilities, terrible or non-existent food, long lines at security counters, lost and damaged luggage, and marathon-length treks between departure gates, not to mention costly and time-consuming trips to and from airports.

When I booked my train ticket several months ago, I thought I might be preparing to make my last trip on the “Ocean.” Until early May, there was a very real chance that the train would be discontinued, which would, quite unbelievably, have left the entire Atlantic region without any passenger train service whatsoever.

Fortunately, this isn’t going to happen. On May 12, Atlantic Canadians received some excellent news with the announcement that VIA Rail had agreed to spend $10.2 million to repair tracks in northern New Brunswick used for passenger rail service to the Maritimes.

The deal, announced by federal Transport Minister Lisa Raitt, provides for repairs to a 70-kilometer stretch of track between Miramichi and Bathurst. Previously, CN Rail, which owns the line, had said it would abandon it, while for its part, VIA Rail had said it couldn’t afford to buy or maintain the Miramichi-Bathurst track. Without this track, the Montreal-Halifax passenger service could not have continued to operate.

According to Dartmouth-Cole Harbour MP Robert Chisholm, one of those most heavily involved in attempting to save the train, the deal followed a lengthy and intensive lobbying campaign by the local municipalities that would have been affected by the loss of the train, as well as groups like Transport Action Canada, the union Unifor, and the federal New Democratic Party. In addition, thousands of individuals signed petitions and wrote letters to their MPs, and in March three Halifax-area MPs rode the train from Halifax to Ottawa in a bid to raise awareness of the need to retain the service.

Although passenger train service to Atlantic Canada has been saved, that service is far from healthy or robust. The “Ocean,” the only train still serving the region, runs just three times a week in each direction. As recently as two years ago, it was making six weekly round-trips. (The reduction from six trips a week to three appears to have cost the train significant ridership, as many people couldn’t spare the time to wait over in Montreal for the return leg of the trip).

Worse still, a large part of Atlantic Canada has been unserved by passenger train service for many years. In Nova Scotia, this includes all of Cape Breton Island, everywhere in the province northeast of Truro, the South Shore, and the Annapolis Valley. In New Brunswick, unserved areas include the cities of Saint John and Fredericton, as well as the entire southern part of the province west of Moncton.

Today’s skeletal service is a far cry from the service available to Atlantic Canadians when I arrived in Halifax as a student in 1970. There were two daily round-trips between Halifax and Montreal, both of which offered connections to and from northeastern Nova Scotia and Sydney. A third train ran daily between Montreal and Saint John. There was also dayliner service between Moncton and Saint John and between Halifax and Yarmouth. More than once I took that dayliner to Yarmouth to connect with the Bluenose ferry headed to Maine.

Why has Canada’s passenger rail service been allowed to deteriorate as it has? The reasons are too numerous and too complex to explore in detail here. But one of them, surely, as Ted Bartlett notes in an excellent article in the May 5 Chronicle-Herald, has been a strong anti-rail bias within Transport Canada throughout the past half-century. As Bartlett says, “Of the 24 transport ministers of various political persuasions who have held office since 1964, only three are known to have been openly pro-rail.” One of the results of this anti-rail bias within Transport Canada has been successive waves of cutbacks to VIA Rail passenger service under governments of both parties, the worst cuts coming in 1981, in 1990, in 2004-5, and now under the present government.

The effect of all these cutbacks has been brutal. Canada has been left, in Bartlett’s words, with a passenger rail network that’s “clearly the worst in the entire G7, even lagging behind that of many developing nations.”

There are many reasons why Canada should rebuild its sagging passenger rail network. At a time of mounting concern about climate change, with greenhouse gases from transportation singled out as being among the leading ‘culprits,’ passenger train service offers an environmentally friend alternative to road and air travel.

Long-distance trains like the “Ocean” are also a great tourist attraction. Many of the people I have met over meals in the dining car have been visitors from other countries. And rebuilding and maintaining the rail system is a good way to create steady, relatively well-paying jobs.

It’s particularly important for boomers to have passenger rail service available. Many boomers can’t or shouldn’t drive long distances. As for flying, it’s an understatement to say it is not a boomer-friendly form of travel. If adequate train service were available throughout the Atlantic region, I’m sure many more boomers would avail themselves of it.

Granted, getting Canada’s rail network back up to speed will require a significant infusion of money. Coming up with that money would be a big but not insurmountable problem. One possibility would be to allocate a certain percentage of gas tax revenues to rebuilding the rails. Another would be federal-provincial partnerships, along the lines of the federal-state partnerships that have become such an important element of Amtrak, the U.S.’s passenger rail network. These partnerships help support passenger rail service in 15 U.S. states, including some of the biggest, such as New York, Pennsylvania, Illinois, and California. They have been key to the 55-percent increase in passenger train ridership the U.S. has experienced since 1997.[1]

At a time when many other countries, including the U.S., are improving their passenger rail services, Canada cannot afford to let its rail service deteriorate any further. As Ted Bartlett concludes, fixing that service is, quite simply, “the right thing to do.”


This article is the first in a series by Jon Peirce, a retired professor, union representative and long-time freelance journalist who writes about subjects of interest to boomers. Some of Jon’s previous work has appeared in The Globe & Mail, the Christian Science Monitor, the Ottawa Citizen, Books in Canada, the Toronto Star, the Halifax Chronicle-Herald, and the Kingston Whig-Standard. Jon currently writes, teaches writing courses at the Nova Scotia Seniors’ College, and serves on the Advisory Committee of the Silver Economy Engagement Network, all while doing an M.A. in history at Dalhousie. He is a professional member of the Writers’ Federation of Nova Scotia. His interests include tennis, swimming, improvisational dance, and cooking, and he has recently returned to the stage after a 46-year intermission, playing Judge Omar Gaffney in a Dartmouth Players production of Harvey. His second book, Social Studies; Collected Essays, 1974-2013, is forthcoming from Friesen’s Press in Victoria; his first book, Canadian Industrial Relations, originally published in 1999, is now in its third edition with Pearson Education Canada.

[1] Source: Robert Puentes, “New Partnerships for American Rail,” in Brookings Institute Up Front series, March 1, 2013, No. 44 of 89.

Starting an encore career? Boomers should avoid these 5 missteps.

Are you a boomer who is retired from your previous career but eager to explore an encore career? It’s an exciting time, to be sure, but failure to prepare for the challenges you'll face can mean some missteps, too.

Times have probably changed since you began your previous career. If you're used to an assistant managing things like resume and wardrobe updates for you, it can be daunting to take care of those items for yourself for the first time in years. You need a refresh about what not to do as you launch into this next phase of your life.

Take care to avoid these five missteps as you start your encore career:

Failing to prepare

Before you jump headfirst into an encore career, do some homework. Even if you'll be doing project-based work similar to your previous career, you will face some changes because you will be dealing with different people and you won't be a permanent part of an office's culture. Explore the differences between full-time and project-based work by contacting experienced colleagues in similar positions.

Forgetting to brush up on your skills

What matters more to most prospective clients and employers than your age or gray hair? Your skills. Certainly, you should look professional when you interview for projects, but it's most important that you have the skills needed to get the job done. This includes brushing up on computer skills that may not have been very important in your previous career, and familiarizing yourself with social networking and media sites like LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Throwing everything on your resume -- including the kitchen sink

Chances are good that you have a long work history. That may make it tempting to throw EVERYTHING on your resume to show just how experienced you are. Don't do it. Instead, tailor your resume so it is relevant to your current project search and where you see yourself in your encore career.

Job sites and personal contacts are just a couple of avenues to explore. Another is Boomerswork’s model that guides you through a four-step process to customize your profile so you are matched with companies seeking people with your skill sets, experience and personality.

Not updating your style

You don't need to try to look young, certainly, but do look professional. Update your hairstyle and clothing (and glasses, if necessary), so that you look polished and modern. Above all, you want your look and your attitude to be vigorous and capable. You want prospective employers or clients to know that you can get the job done.


Telling yourself that as an older worker you're doomed

It's true that there can be a certain age discrimination mindset in the workforce. It's not fair, is it? But if you spend all your time thinking you can't possibly get hired, your chances of actually getting hired will be slim to none.

Instead, give prospective employers a fair shake – especially if they've chosen to look for talent on a site like Boomerswork. If that's the case, you know they value experience over youth and will appreciate highly qualified people like you. Just make sure to bring your best game to the interview and that you can clearly demonstrate how you'll be an asset to the company.

Based on your experiences, what else would you add to this list?

Retirement: What's next?

Retirement. For some, out of necessity or drive, there’s no such thing. Others envision a life of leisure. Still others are somewhere in between. But if you’re among the 32% of Nova Scotia’s population age 55+, chances are you’ve asked yourself, “What’s next?”

Putting any negativity toward our rapidly aging population aside, a glass-half-full approach says that you’re part of a huge skills and knowledge resource just waiting to be tapped. Simply put, there is an abundance of opportunity available to you. So, "What's next?" might not be that easy to answer.

The Silver Economy Engagement Network (SEEN) was developed by Saint Mary’s University Division of Continuing Education to help answer this transitional question.

“Learning is a life-long endeavor,” said Gordon Michael, Director of Continuing Education. “We wanted to empower people, enabling them to explore new opportunities to learn and share their knowledge as they transition to a new lifestyle.”

You might decide to change careers or start a business. Maybe you want to help shape a community development plan or sit on a volunteer board of directors. Perhaps you aspire to be a mentor or use your accumulated career skills and knowledge to help communities at home or abroad. Maybe you’re interested in university or community-based research or a healthy discussion around a topic that interests you.

What’s next? Whatever your inclination, SEEN can help you explore your opportunities to keep connected, engaged, active and healthy.

For more information on SEEN, contact Paul McGinn, SEEN Project Manager, at paul.mcginn@smu.ca or (902) 420-5492.

photo credit: ffaalumni via photopin cc

Six ways boomers can re-enter the workforce without a full-time job

Baby boomers in the workforce are in a tight spot. On one hand, it's easy to get burned out if you've been working for decades in the same field. On the other hand, work can be a fun way to be social and make some extra money. But who wants to go back to the full-time grind? The following are some ways you can continue working without a full-time commitment.

Part-time
An alternative to working full time for baby boomers is to work part time. This does not simply include taking on work that is only two or three days a week. You may find that working five days a week for four-hour periods of time is enough to keep you occupied and engaged but not enough to be exhausting. Part-time opportunities are in a variety of fields beyond the low-wage jobs that come to mind. Instead of being a retail greeter, you could work in a legal office or another professional setting.


Project-Based Assignments
Baby boomers in the workforce don't necessarily need to get "a job" to work. If you have skills that can translate into consulting work for clients, you may find that self-employment is extremely fulfilling. Some days you won't work at all, while other days you can get a charge out of helping to shape the perfect project. Online services can match you with these kinds of short-term opportunities.


Mentorship
There's no better time than now to put your lifetime of experience to work by mentoring other professionals. Mentoring helps younger workers, teams and even startups develop their talents as they benefit from the leadership expertise and set of experiences boomers bring to a workplace -- event on a volunteer or part-timer basis.


Fellowships
If you have ever considered getting an advanced degree, this can lead to a fellowship. Fellowships include working with other highly educated individuals, and the setting is often based on research and broadening the scope of human understanding of a particular topic. While there might not be much money in a fellowship, this is a chance to advance both your personal learning and that of the entire world. Again, it is temporary and not a full-time deal, so striving toward a fellowship can be a great way to enjoy learning in a professional context.


On-Call Work
For boomers in the workforce who don't like the constant work schedule, being on call can bridge the gap. When you are on call, you may have little work for a given week. This is almost like seasonal work, but it can pick up at any time. There's a certain excitement to knowing that you could be called at any time.


Job Sharing
Job sharing requires excellent communication, but it may be the most flexible way to stay in the workforce other than freelancing. Share a full-time job with someone else. You may find that your skills are perfect for half of a position.

Just because you're "retired" doesn't mean you can't still work. Just find a way that fits you.

Executive boomers and the new reality of retirement

Retirement for baby boomers looks nothing like retirement for previous generations. As a retiring boomer executive, you've changed the rules. You may choose to retire from your present career, but may not be ready to swap your business attire for jeans just yet.

There are a number of reasons why more and more boomers are choosing to stay connected to the workforce.

The cost of retirement

Today's shaky economy means that baby boomers and retirement don't necessarily go together, at least for the time being. Even if you've got retirement savings, they may not be enough. However, accepting work as an executive consultant on a project-by-project basis allows you to "retire" without leaving the workforce.

Benefits:

• Flexibility and freedom plus the security provided by earning steady income.
• No need to use retirement savings while you're still ready and willing to work. Instead, save retirement funds until you need them.
• Continue to grow your retirement savings with project earnings.

Desire to stay connected to the workforce

You might be tired of the 9-to-5 grind, but you don't have to retire if you don't want to. In the "old days," most people of retirement age had a few years left to enjoy themselves, but that's not true of baby boomers and the new age of retirement.

You still have years of an active, healthy life ahead of you. That means the reality of retirement has changed – or more accurately, that you've helped shape this new reality. Your retirement is now what you want it to be.

• Stay active, energetic, and engaged: Forget the old-timer stereotypes of spending retirement in a rocking chair on the porch. You may be retired from your present career, but that doesn't mean you need to hang it up altogether. You can stay engaged in the world by offering your services as an executive consultant on a project-by-project basis.

• Keep working, but change how you work: It used to be that when you retired, you left your career behind forever and turned to leisure pursuits, spending time with family and grandchildren, and simply kicking back and relaxing. You still can do that, but today, you can have it all. Have your leisure time whenever you wish, but work when you want to. Forget committing to a full-time executive position. Instead manage your time as your own. How do you do that? Accept work on a project-by-project basis, from online services like Boomerswork, geared specifically to boomer executives like you. Brush up on your professional skills, learn what you need to learn about social networking, the Internet, and anything else where you may need to brush up on your skills. Consider investing in some new clothes and an updated haircut and get out there and show your clients what you can do for them.

• Be open to new experiences: If you held your previous executive position for many years, it's probably time for some new experiences. Consult with companies that need your expertise on a project-by-project, short-term basis. You'll meet new colleagues, get out of the isolation of retirement, and learn to enjoy different office cultures, too.

Baby boomers and retirement doesn’t have to be an oxymoron. You can have the retirement you want – and keep working at the same time. Choose when, with whom, and on what projects you will work, and feel free to kick back when you wish. Have it all.

How boomers can create meaning from a lifetime of career experience

If you are a recent retiree you may feel a bit restless. Even though you may have been dreaming of a relaxing retired lifestyle for years, you may have the feeling that you retired too soon. People are living longer and healthier lives, and it is becoming the norm to retire later in life -- even if you are financially ready to call it a career.

If you have already retired there is good news: retirement doesn't mean that your career is over. Baby boomers nationwide are discovering meaningful second careers by banking on their lifetime of experience.

Why go back to work?

Why would you jump into a second act for your career so soon after retiring? There are many reasons to do so. Maybe you miss feeling connected to the workplace and using the skills that you honed over a lifetime. Perhaps you have a burning desire to do something different and more meaningful with your life. Maybe you didn't want the demands of a full-time position, but employers who need your experience still have a place for you in their workplace.

As baby boomers retire, companies are forced to make tough decisions about promoting unqualified employees or looking for outside hires. You have a lifetime of skills and a knowledge base that is still in demand. As a retiree, you have more flexibility to decide when and where you want to work. Taking a part-time or consulting position can help smooth these transitions, benefiting both the company and yourself.

Is a second career right for you?
So, what is holding you back? The problem may be that you are trapped in an old mindset. For decades, workers were judged on stability of their employment history, and you may feel that you will be judged in this way. If you came from a company where seniority ensured security and a decent paycheck, you may be reluctant to start in a new company because you will be the low man on the totem pole. Today's corporate culture is undergoing a profound transformation. Job changing and career shifts are becoming the norm, and today's companies are learning to value life experience and knowledge more than time spent in one place. This is manifested through arrangements where employers benefit from your expertise for short-term or project-based employment opportunities.

Tips for a successful second act
There are many things that you can do before deciding to go back to work on your own terms. Follow these tips, and you will find that it is not as difficult as you think.

Do your research: Read the latest info about your career field, or if you want to try a enter a new field, research it extensively. If retirement is leaving a lot of time on your hands, use it well.

Build a social network: Social networking sites such as LinkedIn are an excellent place to announce your return to the fold. Social networking support can make all the difference.

Embrace change: The working world is dynamic and may have changed since the last time you walked into an office. Make the most of these changes and integrate yourself into the culture of your new position.


Start today
If you are a seasoned professional with managerial or executive experience there is no reason why you can't have a successful career in your second act. Don't hesitate to look into an online service that specializes in matching qualified candidates, such as yourself, with employers seeking this experienced talent. Boomers can create meaning from their lifetime of career experience, and you can start that journey today.

Boomerswork launches U.S. operations in Sarasota, Fla.

We recently opened the Boomerswork U.S. headquarters in Sarasota, Fla., as we work to expand our online service that matches seasoned boomer professionals with flexible employment assignments.

According to Pew Research, about 10,000 boomers will turn 65 each day and thousands of them will leave the workforce, yet many desire to continue to use their talents in meaningful ways. Boomerswork's Chief Operating Officer Ted LaLiberty knows this all too well.

“Speaking from my own experience, the definition of retirement has changed,” said LaLiberty, who retired to Sarasota a year ago following a career as the CEO of hospital networks in the northeastern U.S. “Boomers want to stay connected professionally, mentor and give back. There are opportunities out there for those of us who have led organizations or managed teams to step into interim roles to fill a need and help corporations meet their objectives. I never dreamt I would retire from health care only to jump back in the game a year later and align with an up-and-coming software company.”

When boomers like LaLiberty register, Boomerswork's online service matches them with assignments created by employers and curated from an extensive database. A confidential and sophisticated digital profile – including a narrative detailing career experience and desired employment parameters, a video interview, personality assessment, and references – is generated at no cost to boomers. Employers pay a nominal monthly subscription to access these boomers for part-time or contract assignments. The process enables companies to affordably hire top-level individuals on an as-needed basis.

“Boomerswork enabled me to access candidates with exceptional qualifications and experience, especially those interested in adapting to my part-time needs,” said Nicci Kobritz, owner and president of Youthful Aging Home Health, a Sarasota-based concierge-style home health care provider. “The innovative process was fast and the service was excellent. ”

Boomerswork was attracted to Sarasota’s economic landscape and population of older adults – the oldest of any county in the nation. Strategic partnerships with Sarasota-based Institute for the Ages and others have helped generate momentum with boomers and businesses, and the scope of activity continues to grow. Sarasota will also be home to Boomerswork’s national customer service center.

“The success story in Sarasota is the model for the rest of the country, and our aim is to have a Boomerswork presence in 10 states by the end of the year,” said Tim Hearon, CEO of Boomerswork in the United States. “The interest level is already high for partnerships outside of Florida. Everyone wins in this model, and as companies across industry verticals shift from a ‘full-time or nothing’ mindset, they will embrace this as a viable alternative to leverage the skills of boomers.”

The core of Boomerswork is the cost and time efficiency with which the solution drives quality matches. Employers can tap into significant experience and skills in an economically feasible way, and boomers can meet their financial and personal objectives by staying connected to the workforce in a more flexible way.

“Boomerswork afforded me the ability to stay engaged and connected to the workforce,” said Susan Hook of Sarasota. “I wasn’t looking for a full-time position and within days after registering, I was matched with an opportunity that I was well qualified for. It’s a great connection for those of us who are looking for an encore career on our own terms.”