Governance

2025/2026 is proving a busy year for our Governance Committee. We are preparing a full update of our aging Bylaws, and reviewing our existing Policies for content and relevance. One of our driving goals is to give our Staff clear policy guidelines and then empower them to operate the Club efficiently and effectively.

Policies and Procedures

Disputes Resolution

Ice Show

More soon…

Bylaws

Modernizing Our Bylaws

Information Session

Monday, March 23, 2026 • 7:00 PM

Jack Byrne Arena, Community Room

In this session, we will review the draft bylaws, answer questions, and gather feedback from the membership. Feedback will be considered by the Governance Committee before a final draft is brought to the Board and, in due course, to a Special General Meeting for approval.

Open to all adult members and parents/guardians of minor members for whom POWSC is their home club of record. This is not a Members’ Meeting and no votes will be held.

What’s Changing and Why It Matters

With 1,400 members, four programs, five rinks, three staff, we’re one of the largest skating clubs in the country. Our bylaws were written for a much smaller club that ran entirely on volunteer labour. That structure now gets in the way more than it helps.

Our bylaws haven’t kept pace with how much our club has grown and changed. After years of amendments, the existing 57 bylaws are inconsistent, hard to follow, and in some places conflict with current provincial law and Skate Canada’s own updated rules. It’s time for a fresh start.

From Doing to Leading

Rather than getting involved in day-to-day decisions, the Board will set direction and policy, and empower staff and committees to carry out the work. This means faster decisions, less duplicated effort, and a Board that can think years ahead — not just weeks.

Key Changes

  • A smaller, more focused Board (7 members instead of 12)

  • Simplified membership categories (voting and non-voting)

  • Clear authority for the Board to delegate to staff and committees

  • Removal of acclamation — all candidates require member approval

  • A new conflict of interest clause

  • Organized, readable structure — replacing 57 overlapping bylaws

  • Formal indemnification of Directors, strengthening protections for Board and Committee volunteers acting in good faith

  • Executive Committee removed from the bylaws — the Board is fully empowered to recreate it with updated terms of reference if it chooses

The goal is a club that runs as well as it should, given everything we’ve built.