New Vision for Canadian Sailing

The Canadian Yachting Association concluded its annual conference and AGM on November 21st with stakeholders present agreeing to work together to create a stronger, more vibrant sport in Canada. The four days of meetings focused on developing a clear strategy for the sport of sailing for the future and the CYA Board will now work to finalize the strategy and communicate it to all the stakeholders. The participants strongly endorsed the Long Term Sailing
Development model and are aware of the challenge ahead in implementing the
program.

Also at the AGM, two new CYA board members, Christine Searle (ON) and John Kerr (ON) were elected to replace retiring members John Abel (BC) and Dave Thomas (BC). Chair of the Nominating Committee and Chair of the Election of Directors, Jim Dike, declared President Gerry Giffin elected by acclamation as there were no other candidates. In advance of the election of Directors, the CYA membership passed a proposed bylaw change increasing from one to two athlete directors on the Board of Directors. In a process as outlined in the CYA By-Laws, Nikola Girke was elected by the currently carded Canadian sailing team members as the second Athlete Director to the Board of Directors.

The AGM also passed a new by-law which introduces a required gender balance to the Board of Directors. The effect of the by-law, when including the Athlete Directors, is to ensure that there are at least three directors of each gender on the Board. Annette Wildgoose, who represented Sport Canada at the AGM said: "I am particularly pleased to note that after many years CYA now has 3 female representatives on the Board of Directors. As you may be aware this is part of the National Accountability Standards that drive the Canadian Sport Policy through the NSOs as it relates to governance and technical development." --
Complete report