Membership Terms & Conditions

A. Eligibility

“Family Business Member” is defined as a business organization that has one or more of the following characteristics and meets the requirements of these By-laws and the Corporation as represented by its Board:

  • Has been owned and operated by different generations of a family,
  • The potential exists for ownership to be passed on to a younger generation,
  • More than one family person is or has been actively involved in an organization owned by a family,
  • A family holding company, which has in the past or is presently operating a Canadian business with a head office in Canada.

B. Membership

The membership of the Corporation shall consist of persons interested in furthering the mission of the Corporation:
  1. who meets the eligibility requirements of a particular membership class;
  2. whose application for membership has been approved by the Board; and
  3. who have paid any required membership fees, where applicable.
Subject to the Articles, there shall be two (2) classes of Members in the Corporation, namely “Voting Members” and “Non-Voting Members” as defined in this subsection. The Board may, by Ordinary Resolution of the Board, approve the admission of Members of the Corporation. Members may also be admitted in such other manner as may be prescribed by an Ordinary Resolution of the Board. The following conditions of membership shall apply:
  1. Voting Members:
    1. Voting membership shall be available to persons who meet the definition of a Family Business.
    2. Voting membership shall be available to persons who have applied and have been accepted as Family Business Members of the Corporation.
    3. The term of membership of a Voting Member shall be annual, subject to renewal in accordance with the policies of the Corporation.
    4. As set out in the Act and the Articles, each Voting Member is entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at all Meetings of Members and each such Voting Member shall be entitled to one (1) vote at such meetings.
  2. Non-Voting Members:
    1. Non-Voting Members shall be available to persons who meet the definition of a Sponsor Member, Advisor or Affiliate Member.
    2. Non-voting membership shall be available to persons who have applied and have been accepted for non-voting membership in the Corporation.
    3. The term of membership of a non-voting Member shall be annual, subject to renewal in accordance with the policies of the Corporation.
    4. Subject to the Act and the Articles, a non-voting Member shall not be entitled to receive notice of or attend all Meetings of Members of the Corporation.
Pursuant to subsection 197(1) (Fundamental Change) of the Act, a Special Resolution of the Members is required to make any amendments to this subsection of the By-laws if those amendments affect membership rights and/or conditions described in paragraphs 197(1)(e), (h), (l) or (m). A Membership may not be transferred. Pursuant to Section 197(1) (Fundamental Change) of the Act, a Special Resolution of the Members is required to make any amendment to add, change or delete this subsection of the By-laws.

C. Membership Fees

The membership fees payable by Members shall be set annually in accordance with the fee schedule approved by an Ordinary Resolution of the Board.

If membership fees of any Member are in arrears, membership may be terminated by or under the authority of the Board, if such arrears or fees are not paid within a designated period of time. If such arrears are not paid by such designated time the Board may pass an Ordinary Resolution of the Board authorizing the removal of such Member from the register of Members of the Corporation and thereupon such person shall cease to be a Member of the Corporation. Any such Member may re-apply for membership in the Corporation and the requisite membership fee must accompany their membership application.

Every Member will keep the Corporation office informed of their current address, name, and contact name of the Member.

All monies whether by way of fees, donations, charges for public admission, bequests or otherwise, received by the Corporation, shall be devoted exclusively to the objectives of the Corporation.

D. Terms of Membership

A membership in the Corporation is terminated when:

  1. the Member dies or resigns;
  2. the Member is expelled or their membership is otherwise terminated in accordance with the Articles or By-laws;
  3. the Member’s term of membership expires; or
  4. the Corporation is liquidated and dissolved under the Act.

Members have the right to appoint an individual employed by the Member to represent them and to exercise all rights and privileges of such Member.

The Board shall have authority to suspend or expel any Member from the Corporation for any one or more of the following grounds:

  1. violating any provision of the Articles, By-laws, or written policies of the Corporation;
  2. carrying out any conduct which may be detrimental to the Corporation as determined by the Board in its sole discretion; and
  3. for any other reason that the Board in its sole and absolute discretion considers to be reasonable, having regard to the purpose of the Corporation.

In the event that the Board determines that a Member should be expelled or suspended from membership in the Corporation, the President, or such other Officer as may be designated by the Board, shall provide twenty (20) days’ notice of suspension or expulsion to the Member and shall provide reasons for the proposed suspension or expulsion. The Member may make written submissions to the President, or such other officer as may be designated by the Board, in response to the notice received within such twenty (20) day period. In the event that no written submissions are received by the President, the President, or such other officer as may be designated by the Board, may proceed to notify the Member that the Member is suspended or expelled from membership in the Corporation. If written submissions are received in accordance with this section, the Board will consider such submissions in arriving at a final decision and shall notify the Member concerning such final decision within a further twenty

(20) days from the date of receipt of the submissions. The Board’s decision shall be final and binding on the Member, without any further right of appeal.

Any Member may resign as a Member of the Corporation by delivering a written resignation to the Corporation. The resignation shall be effective upon any date or time on or after the execution of the resignation.

A Member shall remain liable for any payment of any assessment or other sum levied or which is payable by the Member to the Corporation prior to acceptance of such resignation.

Subject to the Articles, upon any termination of membership, the rights of the Member, including any rights in the property of the Corporation, automatically cease to exist.