Equestrian Canada (EC) held its Annual General Meeting (AGM) of members on Thursday, Sept. 29, 2016 under its new By-laws and governance model.

The AGM agenda included three items of business: 1) approve the audited financial statements for the fiscal year ending March 31, 2016; 2) appoint the auditors for the Corporation; and 3) approve the minutes of the previous AGM.

Members were first presented with the audited financial statements and were provided with the Audit Committee’s report, which together with a briefing to the members at the meeting, provided greater detail and transparency around the financial results for the year.  The audited financial statements were unanimously approved by the members.

The next item of business was the appointment of the auditors. Mr. Frédéric Pierrestiger, Chair of the Audit Committee, presented a recommendation to the members on behalf of the EC Board of Directors, to change the Auditors of the Corporation.  The members accepted this recommendation.  It was agreed that the national office in conjunction with EC’s Audit and Finance Committees will prepare and publish a request for proposals for new Auditors and will return proposals to the EC Board for review and recommendation to the members for their approval.

The final item of business was to review and approve the minutes of the previous AGM, which was held in September 2015.  The minutes were approved by the current members pending that the minutes be circulated to those in attendance at that meeting, and that no substantial changes to the minutes are requested.

At the close of the AGM, the CEO provided the members with an update on three key initiatives in development, including a new strategic plan.  The members, Board and CEO also engaged in an open dialogue around the important role the members play in working with EC to continue to shape the organization in its new era.  A schedule of quarterly meetings was confirmed at the AGM in order to create a positive and transparent environment by which the members can be informed of key organizational updates and provide feedback to the Board and management team around key initiatives.

The next meeting of members will take place in November 2016.

For more information on the 2016 EC AGM, visit www.equestrian.ca/about/general-meeting.