Constitution & Bylaws
1. The name of the Society is Curl BC.
2. The purposes of the society are:
a) to promote and develop the game of curling as a recreational and competitive sport in the province of British Columbia;
b) to provide technical, marketing and other relevant assistance to member curling facilities in order to promote the sport of curling generally;
c) to arrange and conduct playdowns and championships for the purpose of determining provincial championship teams.
3. In the event of the winding up or dissolution of the society, all funds and assets of the society remaining after the payment or satisfaction of all costs, charges, expenses, debts and liabilities of the society, including remuneration (if any) of a liquidator, and after payment to employees of the society of any arrears of salaries or wages, and after the payment of any debts of the society, shall be given, transferred and distributed to such organizations that are registered charities pursuant to the provisions of the Income Tax Act that shall be designated by the members of the society at the time of the winding up or dissolution of the society, and if effect cannot be given, transferred and distributed to such organizations that are determined by the members of the society to be registered charities pursuant to the provisions of the Income Tax Act which have purposes similar to those of the society . This provision is unalterable.
4. The Society shall affiliate all member facilities with the Canadian Curling Association and shall assume responsibilities as required by that association. This provision is unalterable.
1.2 CURL BC BYLAWS
Here set out, in numbered clauses, the bylaws providing for the matters referred to in section 6(1) of the Society Act and any other bylaws.
Part 1 – Interpretation
1. In these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires:
a. “regions” means those 11 geographical areas outlined in red on the map attached hereto as Schedule A, and “region” means any one of those 11 geographic areas, as the context requires;
b. “zone” means the base geographical area from which regional curling champions may be declared as defined by the society’s board of directors from time to time;
c. “service areas” means those geographical areas, as defined by the directors from time to time, from within which the society delivers services to its members;
d. “facility” means the entire community within one physical facility which operates and participates in curling activities;
e. “member facility in good standing” means a member facility that has paid its current annual membership fee, or any other subscription or debt due and owing by the member facility to the society;
f. “delegate” means a person appointed by a member facility in accordance with these bylaws to attend general meetings of the society;
g. “Society Act” means the Society Act of British Columbia from time to time in force and all amendments to it.
2. The definitions in the Society Act on the date these bylaws become effective apply to these bylaws.
3. Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa, and words importing a male person include a female person and a corporation.
Part 2 – Membership
4. Membership in the society shall be divided into three classes, namely:
a. Member facilities
b. Life Members
c. Honorary Life Members Amendment September 16, 2006
5. Member facilities shall each be considered a “member” of the society within the meaning and application of the provisions of the Society Act of British Columbia.
6. Any curling facility within the province of British Columbia may be eligible for membership, provided it fulfills the following conditions:
a. It offers regularly organized curling activities within a building properly equipped and maintained for curling;
b. It allows for identical membership for both genders and equal participation in decision making by adults of both genders;
c. It operates its curling activities under the guidance of an executive, board of directors, curling committee, or any other body empowered to manage the sport of curling in a facility.
7. A curling facility may apply to the directors for membership in the society and on acceptance by the directors is a member facility within the region where it is physically located.
8. Upon acceptance of the directors’ recommendation by a majority vote of the delegates at any general meeting, Life Membership shall be bestowed on any person so recommended for recognition of special services to the society (or a predecessor thereof) and to the game of curling and who has served the sport of curling in an outstanding manner and has worked on a voluntary basis without remuneration for services rendered. Life Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership in the society, save and except voting at any meeting of the society (except as a delegate) and shall be excluded from the number of curlers upon which a member facility’s annual dues may be calculated. Individuals holding life memberships of the British Columbia Interior Curling Association, the British Columbia Ladies Curling Association, the Pacific Coast Curling Association or the former Curl BC shall be entitled to become Life Members of this society.
9. Upon acceptance of the directors’ recommendation by a majority vote of the delegates at any meeting, Honorary Life Membership shall be bestowed on any person so recommended for recognition of special services to the society (or a predecessor thereof) and to the game of curling and who would not qualify for Life Membership. Honorary Life Members shall be entitled to all the privileges of membership in the society, save and except voting at any meeting of the society, and shall be excluded from the number of curlers upon which a member facility’s annual dues may be calculated. Amendment September 16, 2006
10. Every member facility must uphold the constitution and comply with these bylaws.
11. The directors shall determine the amount, as well as time and method of payment, of annual membership dues.
12. Each member facility shall annually submit to the society a list of all curlers participating in regularly organized curling activities within its facility.
13. A curling facility ceases to be a member of the society:
a. Upon delivery of its resignation in writing to the secretary of the society or by mailing or delivering it to the address of the society, and such delivery or mailing shall be a forfeiture by the member facility of all right and claim upon the society;
b. On being expelled; or
c. At the discretion of the board of directors,
i. on not having paid its annual dues within the time as established by the directors; or
ii. as a result of conduct tending to bring the society and/or the sport of curling into disrepute; or
iii. upon the member facility no longer being eligible for membership pursuant to section 6 of these bylaws.
14. A member facility may be expelled by a special resolution of the members passed at a meeting, provided:
a. the notice of special resolution for expulsion is accompanied by a brief statement of the reasons for the proposed expulsion; and
b. a representative of the facility subject to the proposed resolution for expulsion is given an opportunity to be heard at the Board meeting before the special resolution is put to a vote.
15. Only curlers affiliated with a member facility in good standing shall be eligible to compete in curling competitions sanctioned by the society.
a. The society shall affiliate all member facilities with the Canadian Curling Association and shall assume the responsibilities required by that association.
Amendment July 9, 2005
Part 3 – Meetings of Members
16. The annual general meeting of the society shall be held at such time and place as the board of directors shall designate.
17. The directors may, when they deem necessary, convene an extraordinary general meeting.
18. Notice of Board meetings shall be delivered to each member facility as detailed in these bylaws, and shall specify the time, date and place of the meeting and, in case of special business, the general nature of that business.
19. The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of a notice by, any of the member facilities entitled to receive notice does not invalidate proceedings at that meeting.
20. An annual general meeting must be held at least once in every calendar year and not more than 15 months after the holding of the last preceding annual general meeting.
Amendment June 7, 2008
21. Each member facility in good standing shall appoint one female and one male delegate to attend and represent the facility at all meetings of the society, but each set of female and male delegates shall together hold only one vote at meetings. Each member facility shall inform the secretary of the society in writing of the names and addresses of its female delegate and its male delegate prior to the commencement of any meeting.
22. Region representatives from each region’s member facilities shall be elected as follows.
a. Regional meetings shall be convened for the purposes of the election of the director and alternate no later than one month prior to the Annual General Meeting.
b. Such meetings shall take place within the prescribed region or by electronic means provided for in these bylaws.
c. The quorum for the transaction of business at the respective regional meetings is as follows:
i. A quorum for Region 1 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2) member facilities within Region 1;
ii. A quorum for Region 2 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2) member facilities within Region 2;
iii. A quorum for Region 3 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2) member facilities within Region 3;
iv. A quorum for Region 4 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2) member facilities within Region 4;
v. A quorum for Region 5 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2) member facilities within Region 5;
vi. A quorum for Region 6 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2) member facilities within Region 6;
vii. A quorum for Region 7 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2) member facilities within Region 7;
viii. A quorum for Region 8 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2)member facilities within Region 8;
ix. A quorum for Region 9 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2) member facilities within Region 9;
x. A quorum for Region 10 meetings is representation at the meeting by two (2) member facilities within Region 10; and
xi. A quorum for Region 11 meetings is representation at the meeting by five (5) member facilities within Region 11.
d. A candidate may only run in one region.
e. The respective member facilities within regions 1 through 10 shall each elect one female and one male region representative and shall further each elect one of those region representatives as a director of the society.
f. The member facilities within region 11 shall elect four female and four male region representatives and shall further elect four of those region representatives as directors of the society.
g. The regions shall notify the secretary of the society of the directors and alternates elected no later than two weeks prior to the Annual General Meeting.
h. At any regional meeting for regions 1 through 10, the respective previously elected director shall not cast a vote for a member facility as its voting delegate. However, in the event of a tie vote at any such regional meeting, that previously elected director shall cast the deciding vote.
i. At a regional meeting for region 11, none of the four previously elected directors shall cast a vote for a member facility as its voting delegate. However, in the event of a tie vote at any such regional meeting, such four directors shall choose one of their number, who shall cast the deciding vote. Amendment July 9, 2005.
j. Proxy voting is not permitted at any regional meeting. Amendment July 9, 2005.
23. Each region representative not elected as a director shall represent that region’s interests on service delivery and playdown committees, and shall further act as an alternate director with full voting privileges at such board meetings that the director from that region does not attend subject to article 42.
24. The terms of directors shall be two years. Amendment June 7, 2008
25. Each director shall be deemed to be a delegate entitled to one vote, except that the president shall only be entitled to vote to cast the deciding vote in the event of a tie vote at any meeting of the society or any meeting of the directors. Amendment July 9, 2005.
Part 4 – Proceedings at General Meetings
26. Special business is:
a. All business at an extraordinary meeting except the adoption of rules of order
b. All business conducted at an annual general meeting, except the following:
i. The adoption of rules of order;
ii. The consideration of the financial statements;
iii. The reports of directors;
iv. The report of the auditor, if any;
v. The appointment of the auditor, if required;
vi. Such other business that, under these bylaws, may be conducted at an annual general meeting or business that is brought under consideration by the report of the directors issued with the notice convening the meeting.
27. Business, other than the election of a chair and the adjournment or termination of the meeting, must not be conducted at a general meeting at a time when a quorum is not present.
28. Delegates from thirty (30) member facilities present at a general meeting shall constitute a quorum.
29. If within one hour after the time appointed for a general meeting a quorum is not yet present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of member facilities, must be terminated, but in any other case, it shall stand adjourned to such date, time and place as determined by the directors. Not less than 5 days’ notice of such date, time and place shall be given to member facilities, and if, at the adjourned meeting, a quorum is not present within one hour after the time appointed for the meeting, the delegates present constitute a quorum.
30. Subject to section 31, the president of the society, or in the absence of the president one of the vice presidents or, in the absence of both, one of the other directors present must preside as chair of a general meeting.
31. If at a general meeting
a. there is no president, vice president or other director present within 15 minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or
b. the president and all the other directors present are unwilling to act as the chair; the members present must choose one of their number to be the chair.
32. Voting shall be by show of hands.
33. Only delegates in attendance at general meetings in person; via conference telephone call; or other electronic method shall be entitled to vote. Proxy voting is not permitted.
34. Unless a poll is requested, a declaration by the chair that a resolution has been carried, and an entry to that effect in the minutes of the proceedings of the meeting, shall be sufficient evidence of the fact without proof of the numbers or proportion of the votes recorded in favour or against a resolution.
35. If a poll is requested, the same shall be taken in such manner as the chair shall direct.
Part 5 – Directors and Officers
36. The board of directors shall govern the affairs of the society.
37. The Board of Directors shall consist of 16 directors, comprised of the immediate past president of the society, the 14 directors elected from the regions pursuant to section 22 (one of which shall be the president of the society) and the director who fills the position of the director elected as president Amendment June 7, 2008
38. The position of the director elected as president shall be filled by the region representative (or in the case of region 11, one of the region representatives) for the region in which the president was elected as a director and a replacement for said region representative shall be elected. Provided that if said region representative, or in the case of region 11, all of said region representatives, decline such directorship, the directors may appoint, or the region in question may elect, a person eligible for election as a director in the region in question to fill the position of the director elected as president. Amendment July 9, 2005 and June 7, 2008
39. At each first meeting of directors held after an Annual General Meeting the directors shall elect a president and two vice presidents from their number who shall take office immediately and shall hold office until the election of their successors following the next annual general meeting.
Amendment June 7, 2008
40. Only individuals nominated by a member facility in good standing shall be eligible for election as a director of the society.
41. The directors may at any time and from time to time appoint a person eligible for election as a director to fill a vacancy on the society’s board of directors, and that person shall hold office only until the conclusion of the next annual general meeting of the society, but is eligible for re-election at the meeting.
42. The member facilities may, by special resolution, remove a director, before the expiration of his or her term of office, and may by ordinary resolution elect a successor to complete the term of office.
43. A director must not be remunerated for being or acting as a director but a director must be reimbursed by the society for all receipted expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by the director while engaged in the affairs of the society.
Part 6 – Proceedings of Directors
44. The directors may meet at the places they think fit to conduct business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings, as they see fit.
45. The president may call a meeting of the board of directors at such time and place as he may determine. Upon the request of any three (3) directors, the president shall call a meeting of the board.
46. Ten (10) members of the board of directors present together, in person; via conference telephone call; or other electronic method, shall constitute a quorum for a meeting of the directors.
47. A committee formed in the exercise of the directors’ powers to delegate
a. must have its members approved and appointed by the Board of Directors
b. may be composed of both directors and other persons who, in the opinion of the directors, have specific abilities, knowledge, training or experience which can be beneficial to the operation of that committee, and
c. must conform to any rules imposed on it by the board of directors, and must report every act or thing done in exercise of those powers to the earliest meeting of the directors held after the act or thing has been done. Amendment September 16, 2006
48. For a first meeting of directors held immediately following the appointment or election of a director or directors at an annual or other general meeting of members, or for a meeting of the directors at which a director is appointed to fill a vacancy in the directors, it is not necessary to give notice of the meeting to the newly elected or appointed director or directors for the meeting to be constituted, if a quorum of the directors is present.
49. All Committees shall report to and be accountable to the Board of Directors including regional operations and committees established by the regional representatives.
50. Questions arising at a meeting of the directors and committee of directors must be decided by a majority of votes.
51. A resolution in writing, signed by all the directors and placed with the minutes of the directors, is as valid and effective as if regularly passed at a meeting of directors.
Part 7 – Duties of Officers and Region Representatives
52. Subject to sections 30 and 31, the president shall preside at all meetings of the society and of the directors.
53. Subject to section 30 and 31, one of the vice presidents shall carry out the duties of the president during the president’s absence.
54. The secretary shall do the following:
a. Conduct the correspondence of the society;
b. Issue notices of meetings of the society and directors;
c. Have custody of all records and documents of the society except those required to be kept by the treasurer;
d. Maintain the register of members;
e. Prepare, and have custody of, minutes of meetings of the society and the directors.
55. The treasurer shall:
f. Keep the financial records, including books of account, necessary to comply with the Society Act, and
g. Render financial statements to the directors, member facilities and others when required.
56. The offices of secretary and treasurer may be held by one person who is to be known as the secretary treasurer.
57. In the absence of the secretary from a meeting, the directors shall appoint another person to act as secretary at the meeting.
58. The region representatives not elected as directors of the society shall act as committee chairs, or core committee, as the case may be, and under guidance from the society, be responsible for the delivery of programs and services, including zone playdowns, within their respective zones and service areas, and shall act as conduits of communication between the society and its member facilities.
Part 8 – Books and Borrowing
59. All receipts from entrance fees, annual dues and any and all other income of the society shall be deposited in a bank account in the name of the society and all disbursements by the society shall be made by cheque on such account, signed by any two of the following: president; vice president; secretary/secretary treasurer, Executive Director or Competition and Communications Coordinator. Amendment October 4, 2004.
60. For the purpose of carrying out the objectives of the society, the board of directors may borrow or raise or secure the payment of money in such manner as they see fit. Debentures shall not be issued without the sanction of a special resolution.
61. Notwithstanding anything contained in these bylaws, borrowing in excess of TEN THOUSAND ($10,000) DOLLARS must first be approved by the members by ordinary resolution.
Part 9 – Fiscal Year
62. The fiscal year of the society shall begin on the first day of April in each year and shall end on the thirty-first day of March following. Amendment February 6, 2007
Part 10 – Auditor
63. The first auditor must be appointed by the directors who must also fill all vacancies occurring in the office of auditor.
64. At each annual general meeting the society must appoint an auditor to hold office until the auditor is re-elected or a successor is elected at the next annual general meeting.
65. An auditor may be removed by ordinary resolution.
66. An auditor must be promptly informed in writing of the auditor’s appointment or removal.
67. A director or employee of the society must not be its auditor.
68. The auditor may attend general meetings.
Part 11 – Notices to Members
69. A notice may be given to a member facility, a delegate and a director, either personally, by facsimile, e-mail, or regular mail at his/her regular address, and shall be deemed to have been given on the second day following the day on which it was posted or otherwise sent.
70. Notice of general meetings shall be given to:
h. Every member facility shown on the register of members on the day notice is given;
i. Every delegate shown on the register of delegates on the day notice is given;
j. Every director;
k. The auditor, if one has been elected or appointed.
71. No other person is entitled to receive a notice of a general meeting.
Part 12 – Bylaws
72. Upon being admitted to membership, each member facility is entitled to, and the society shall give it, without charge, a copy of the society’s constitution and bylaws.
73. These bylaws must not be altered or added to except by special resolution.
Curl BC Policy Manual 2008
