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5 retirement messages for colleagues

It can be hard to know where to start when writing retirement messages for colleagues. Maybe you’ve been asked to give a toast about a colleague at a retirement event, or you want to send a card or email with good wishes—let us help! We’ve put together five general ideas to help you start to put your sentiment into words!

These messages have been written with teachers and other education retirees in Canada in mind because we’re a membership organization that supports education sector workers and retirees. But, they can easily work for anyone working in a human services role or who is passionate about helping others.

Retirement messages for education sector colleagues

Retirement message topic 1 – time for you

It’s going to be tricky, I’m sure, to refocus your attention on yourself, like how it usually takes a few days to a week to settle into a vacation. But it’ll happen. I have no doubt you’ll continue to help others because it’s in your nature, but I am so excited for you to be able to make yourself and your well-being a priority. You deserve it. 

Retirement message topic 2 – your impact

Too often, folks don’t get to hear about the impact they’ve made. And so, I wanted to share with you three things that come to mind when I think about my time working with and knowing you. [list three specific examples and the impact they had on you].

Now, imagine multiplying my list by the many more colleagues who have had the pleasure to know you. And then consider the ripple effect of those micro-moments. You’ve made a significant impact. I wish you all the best as you continue to create ripples in the world in your retirement.

Retirement message topic 3 – oh, the places

As you move forward from here, it’s not an end but a beginning. You have plans, I’m sure. But what I am excited about for you is all the doors you’ll walk through, the people you’ll meet and the opportunities that will present that you may not have dreamed of. You are free to explore and evolve. I wish you all the best in this next chapter of your incredible life story.

Retirement message topic 4 – life’s in the details

Retirement is a significant milestone, to be sure, but it’s the details that made this journey with you great. Small things: like your wisdom and kindness as we navigated challenges together. Your generosity as you paused what you were doing to offer help and support. And [Add something specific to the person]. You made an impact every day, in the seemingly smallest of ways. But it’s the details that make a life. And so, I hope you enjoy every detail of your retirement.

Retirement message topic 5 – in your orbit

I’ve enjoyed so much being in your orbit. I’ll miss how we dug deep into important topics and how you pushed me to explore and grow. I’ll miss catching up with a coffee. I’ll miss listening to you in meetings because your ideas seem to captivate the room. I’ll miss you. I wish you nothing but joy and well-being for your retirement, and I hope to have chances to enter your orbit now and then!


Does all this retirement talk have you thinking about your own awesome years? It’s never too early to start retirement planning. Sign up for our free retirement planning workshop for Canadian education sector workers – we’ll help you get started.