View STLHE’s current by-laws

Everything that is required of a NFPO is included in the Act and the things it covers range from the inane to the obvious. Essentially everything that can happen, and how to deal with it, is covered by the Act. The Act is so comprehensive that a NFPO only needs two items in their by-laws: (1) a set conditions of membership and (2) the mechanism for notice of meetings to members who are entitled to vote to satisfy the registration requirements of a NFPO with Industry Canada. If there is nothing else, every default by-law included in the Act is applicable.

In creating by-laws for an NFPO there is a balance between what needs to be repeated or modified from the Act and included in the corporation’s by-laws and creation of unique by-laws specific to how the NFPO functions. To assist, Industry Canada provides a sample set of by-laws and and expanded sets for special circumstances. It’s always better to use a clause that already exists among the common choices and the NFPO cuts and pastes as required. The by-laws don’t need to be bloated with every detail, and instead the more detailed information, which remains consistent to the act, is placed in policies along with the nitty-gritty of how things get done. The trick is to balance the by-law content with the most essential details but making everyone aware that the Act is the final set of rules for the NFPO.

Any changes in the by-laws of a NFPO have to be submitted, along with a fee, to Industry Canada.

View STLHE’s current policies

By-laws contain the items of governance; executive structure, Board structure, membership criteria and requirements, and committee structure are examples. How these items are implemented is usually found either in the policies of the NFPO or in some sort of operations and procedures manual.

In the past, STLHE (referred to as the Corporation in the by-laws) used an operations manual. With the new by-laws the Society has shifted to individual policy statements that focus on particular aspects of how the STLHE governs itself. These new policies are a composite of policies and procedures that were contained in the old STLHE by-laws, other documents – including Board minutes, and the contents of the operations manual.

By using policies, the Society has considerably more flexibility in its governance by allowing for changes without complete revision and filing of new by-laws with Industry Canada. This increased flexibility does not diminish the role of the Society’s members and the accountability of the Board to its members.

The members at the Annual General Meeting of the Society must approve changes in by-laws; only by-law changes have to be submitted (along with a fee for filing) to Industry Canada. All policy changes or new policies are approved by the Board. The only exception to this is a proposed change to Policy 1. Any change in Policy 1 must come before the Annual General Meeting as a special resolution requiring two-thirds majority vote for approval. This change would have no effect on the by-laws concerning membership.

The by-laws of STLHE require that the Board provide the members of the Society with an Executive summary for each Board meeting.

Board Meetings

2022

• January 20
• February 17
• March 17
• April 21
• May 19
• June 6-7

2021

• January 21
• February 25
• March 25
• April 22
• May 20
• June 14
• September 23
• October 21
• November 18
• December 16

2020

• January 17
• February 24
• March 23
• April 17
• May 22
• June 8
• September 24
• October 22
• November 18 – cancelled
• December 16

2019

• January 21
• February 11
• March 11
• April 29
• May 13
• June 10
• September 24
• October 10
• November 21
• December 8-9

2018

• January 15
• February 13
• March 19
• April 16
• May 14
• June 18
• September 17
• October 15
• November 19
• December 2-3

2017

• January 16
• February 21
• March 20
• April 17
• May 23
• June 19
• September 18
• October 16
• November 20
• December 18

2016

• September 19
• October 17
• November 21
• December 19

Annual General Meetings

Agenda and supporting documents for Annual General Meetings of Members: 2023 AGM, 2022 AGM, 2021 AGM, 2020 AGM, 2019 AGM, 2018 AGM, 2017 AGM, 2016 AGM, 2015 AGM, 2014 AGM

annual Reports

2023, 2022, 2021, 2020, 2019, 2018, 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011 ENG, 2011 FR, 2010