Canadian Adaptive Snowsports - National Capital Division

CADS National SGM

Why is CADS National holding a Special General Meeting (SGM)?

Over the last year the relationship between the CADS National Board and the Provincial Divisions (Especially B.C. Alberta and Ontario) has gone badly.

The Viewpoint of the Divisions

This started with CADS National making some important decisions without discussion and input from the Divisions. One in particular, which would affect NCD a lot, was a rule that uncertified instructors/guides cannot use any terrain beyond the Bunny Hill.

That then led to requests from the Divisions for an explanation of these decisions and the processes used to make them, which didn’t receive any meaningful response. That then led to requests for a conversation about better communication. A Memorandum of Understanding on how to communicate with the divisions was drafted and submitted for review and approval, which also didn’t receive any meaningful response.

The final straw was  a meeting on the 16th of June meeting, which was scheduled to discuss these issues, but instead the agenda was about amalgamating CADS with Alpine Canada.

There are other niggles, such as an Annual General Meeting (AGM) scheduled on a date when many people can’t attend and the dubious re-election of a board member past the term limits specified in our bylaws.

In summary the current National Board is dysfunctional and needs to be replaced, and the structure of the board needs to be adjusted to have more representation from the Divisions.

The Board’s Response

While it is true that the Board has not communicated particularly well. The response from the Divisions is wildly out of proportion.

There are many considerations involved when making decisions, insurance cost and coverage being one. No decision will please all the people all the time.

The board has started a series of “Town Hall” meetings and has made other proposals to improve communication with the Divisions. The current difficulties can be resolved through negotiation and discussion possibly resulting in motions to change the board structure at the next AGM.

The upcoming Special General Meeting (SGM)

A number of members, led by the dissatisfied Divisions, signed a petition to hold an SGM, and they gained sufficient signatures, so by our bylaws an SGM must be held.

The proposed agenda is basically 3 motions:

  1. The current National board be dismissed
  2. The structure of the board changed to include more members, and members specifically representing divisions
  3. A new board is elected based on the structure in item #2.

Notes

  • It is actually unclear if the agenda as proposed is legal. The bylaws of CADS National do not allow for items #2 & #3 at an SGM, only at an AGM. Although the laws governing national non-profit organizations do.
  • The bylaws that govern our SGM’s explicitly forbid changing the agenda, or introducing amendments during an SGM. So, the possibility to a different solution being discussed and approved at the SGM is off the table.

 

 

Colin Moden

CADS NCD Secretary

11/Aug/2026