Updates from Rugby Canada’s AGM

April 23, 2024 (Langford, BC) – Rugby Canada held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) virtually on Friday, April 12, 2024. The following items were presented or voted upon at the formal AGM:

Territorial Land Acknowledgement

The AGM began with a bilingual 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, and acknowledgement was made to the lək̓ʷəŋən [Le-KWUNG-en] peoples on whose traditional territory the Rugby Canada head office and training centre is located. Rugby Canada acknowledges the role we play in the many relationships that make up our home and are committed to a spirit of reconciliation for the future.

Elections to the Board of Directors for Rugby Canada

After being appointed to the Rugby Canada Board as a Director in 2017, Sally Dennis became the first woman to hold the office of Chair in Rugby Canada’s history.  Sally skillfully stewarded the organization out of the pandemic and into a new era for rugby in Canada. Her work ethic, professionalism and leadership were cornerstones of the organization’s rebuilding as she set the bar high and challenged everyone to reach it.  Following the official end of Sally’s second term of service, the Board of Directors elected Kathleen McGinn as incoming Chair.   

Rugby Canada also welcomed two new directors elected through a robust nomination process. Tara Erskine, a seasoned labour and employment lawyer from Nova Scotia, and Sean Hofstetter, former President of Rugby Alberta and accomplished business consultant, will join the Board as a Director for a three-year term, both effective April 12th, 2024. In addition, Kathleen McGinn, David Fortier and Karen Paquin were re-elected for a second term.

The Rugby Canada Board of Directors for 2024/25 consists of:

·       Kathleen McGinn (Chair)

·       Steve Swaffield (Vice-Chair)

·       Sandy Donald (Secretary)

·       Jim Logan (Treasurer)

·       Lauren Wolman

·       Karen Paquin

·       David Fortier

·       Jebb Sinclair

·       Sean Hofstetter

·       Tara Erskine

2023 Annual Report & Audited Financial Statements

The 2023 audited financial statements and annual report have been posted to the Rugby Canada website for viewing HERE. The French annual report will be available for May 3, 2024.  The organization saw solid financial performance and management in 2023 which included improved liquidity and revenue performance.

In Memoriam

Rugby Canada acknowledged honoured members of the rugby community lost in 2023, for their contributions to rugby in Canada:

• Bill Webb, Rugby Canada Director and Toronto Arrows RFC
• Pat Aldous, former national team player, Board member, Chair, COC Representative and Board member for the Canada Sevens tournaments

Rugby Canada also acknowledged all members of the rugby community lost to the provincial unions during 2023:

British Columbia

Ted Bishop

Geoff Postle

Pat Aldous

Ted Hunt

Fuku Viklaini

Kevin Wirachowski

Alberta

Chris Thompson - Calgary Irish

F.G (Derick) Wright - Calgary Irish

David Dietrich - Calgary Hornets

Gerry Nufer - Calgary Hornets

Irv Hingst - Calgary Rams

Manitoba

Paul Harland

Wayne Guenther

Saskatchewan

Terry “Benny” Bendel

Ken O'Sullivan

Dawn Williams

Scott Felton

Keefe Pendleton

Paul Kobayashi

Ontario (2022/2023)

Ian Campbell

Mike Cox

Rick Fleming

Bill Fritz

Elizabeth Hodgson

Derek Maunder

Scott McLatchie

Bill McLaughlin

Paul Myers

Hal Rowan

Peter Sloan

Craig Waters

Ontario (2023/2024)

Robert Nicholss

Ingatius "Cholo" Manso

Glen Steen

Jadyn Sage

Peter Peebles

Quebec

Charles (Chas) Goode

Nova Scotia

Tim Keddy

Dale Gennette

Chair’s Award

The Chair’s Award was conferred on the late Bill Webb, for his extraordinary contributions to rugby in Canada. Player, coach, builder, innovator, investor, advocate and donor, incredibly generous with his kindness and support, Bill was a giant in Canada’s rugby community, and is greatly missed.

Special Recognition

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

Mark Lewis, Eldon Hall, Tim Comeau, Ryan Lloyd, Patrick Ryan and Dave Simpson.  Also, former Board Member Phil Otto, and Doug Campbell for his many years of contribution to Rugby Canada, most recently as its representative to the Canadian Olympic Committee.

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 40,000 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, Winnipeg, Toronto and Ottawa. Rugby Canada business operations, programs and events are delivered nationwide, including the internationally recognized HSBC SVNS Vancouver annual tournaments. For more information, please contact: media@rugby.ca