Updates from Rugby Canada’s Fiscal 2022 AGM

May 12, 2023 (Langford, BC) – Rugby Canada held the fiscal 2022 Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtually on Friday, May 12. The following items were presented or voted upon at the formal AGM:

Territorial Land Acknowledgement

The Annual General Meeting began with a territorial land acknowledgement, recognizing the lands on which rugby is played across Canada. From coast-to-coast our game is played on the ancestral and unceded territories of the Inuit, Metis and First Nations peoples. Rugby Canada proudly acknowledges our role in the many relationships that make up our home and are committed to a spirit of reconciliation for the future.

2022 Annual Report & Audited Financial Statements

The 2022 audited financial statements and annual report have been posted to the Rugby Canada website for viewing HERE. Included within the annual report is a summary of the action taken throughout 2022 and early 2023 in regard to the 12 recommendations made in March 2022 by the independent review of Rugby Canada’s high-performance programs. The French annual report will be available for viewing by May 31 HERE.

In Memoriam

There was an acknowledgement of honoured members who were lost in 2022 in recognition of their contributions to rugby in Canada:

·       Alan Horn (Rugby Canada)

·       Pat Aldous (Rugby Canada)

·       Dennis Eden (British Columbia Rugby)

·       Bucky Eden (British Columbia Rugby)

·       Dick Hales (British Columbia Rugby)

·       Conrad Nikkel (British Columbia Rugby)

·       Greg Gilding (British Columbia Rugby)

·       Greg Tsekhmistrenko (Saskatchewan Rugby)

·       Luke Schofield (Saskatchewan Rugby)

·       Lambry Stamatinos (Saskatchewan Rugby)

·       Paul Harland (Rugby Manitoba)

·       Wayne Guenther (Rugby Manitoba)

·       Keith Wilkinson (Rugby Québec)

·       Serge Monière (Rugby Québec)

·       Gord Andrusiak (Rugby Québec)

·       Tristan Chauvel (Rugby Québec)

·       Hal Rowan (Rugby Ontario)

·       Bill Fritz (Rugby Ontario)

·       Ian Campbell (Rugby Ontario)

·       Mike Cox (Rugby Ontario)

·       Rick Fleming (Rugby Ontario)

·       Elizabeth Hodgson (Rugby Ontario)

·       Scott McLatchie (Rugby Ontario)

·       Derek Maunder (Rugby Ontario)

·       Bill McLaughlin (Rugby Ontario)

·       Craig Waters (Rugby Ontario)

·       Peter Sloan (Rugby Ontario)

·       Paul Myers (Rugby Ontario)

·       Tom Malin (Rugby Alberta)

·       David Robinson (Rugby Alberta)

·       David Lillywhite (Rugby Alberta)

·       Irving Hingst (Rugby Alberta)

·       Neville Budge Burrows (Rugby Alberta)

·       George Potter (Rugby Alberta)

Elections to the Board of Directors for Rugby Canada

Rugby Canada welcomed a new director who was elected through the updated nomination process and procedure. Jebb Sinclair will join the Board as a Director for a three-year terms effective May 12, 2023. 

The Rugby Canada Board of Directors for 2023/24 consists of:

·       Sally Dennis (Chair)

·       Steve Swaffield (Vice-Chair)

·       Jim Logan (Treasurer)

·       Kathleen McGinn (Secretary)

·       Lauren Wolman

·       Karen Paquin

·       Phil Otto

·       Sandy Donald

·       David Fortier

·       Jebb Sinclair

Special Recognitions

Rugby Canada extends a special recognition to Dr. Pat Parfrey who has made – and continues to make – huge contributions to rugby in Canada through his seven years on the World Rugby Council

The following individuals were recognized for their contributions to rugby in Canada and their work as members of the Rugby Canada Board of Directors:

·       Maria Samson (outgoing member of Board of Directors, Rugby Canada)

·       Jeff Hassler (outgoing member of Board of Directors, Rugby Canada)

About Rugby Canada:

Rugby Canada is the national governing body of the sport of Rugby Union in Canada. They administer and operate Men’s and Women’s Senior and Junior National programs in both rugby 15s and 7s, as well as govern the Club and community game for more than 30,000 registered participants from coast to coast in conjunction with ten Provincial Union members.

Rugby Canada is headquartered at the Al Charron National Training Centre in Langford, BC, residing on the unceded territories of the Coast Salish and Lekwungen/Songhees peoples, with staff also working from Vancouver, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC Canada Sevens annual tournaments. For more information, please contact: media@rugby.ca.