2021 SKATE CANADA ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To: Skate Canada Board of Directors, Member Clubs and Skating Schools, Member Coaches, Section Chairs, Section Offices
The 108th Annual General Meeting of Skate Canada will be held virtually online on Saturday, May 29, 2021, beginning at 10:00 Eastern Time (ET). Final Member voting and observer registration closes online at 09:00 (ET) on Saturday, May 29, 2021.
This historical meeting will provide Members and Observers with an opportunity to learn about the Skate Canada’s past as well as share in the decision making for the future of our Organization. As per bylaw 4.7, the order of business at the Annual General Meeting shall be determined by the Board or as required by the Canada Not-for-Profit Corporations Act or other relevant legislation. Elections and amendment voting will take place on Saturday, May 29, 2021.
On behalf of Skate Canada President, Leanna Caron, we look forward to seeing you online at the 2021 Skate Canada Ice Summit.
Debra Armstrong
Skate Canada Chief Executive Officer
DECLARE AS A DELEGATE OR OBSERVER TO THE ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING
To attend the Annual General Meeting on Saturday, May 29, 2021 at 10:00 (ET) all observers and voting delegates must declare their intention to attend and if applicable vote prior to 09:00 (ET) on Saturday, May 29, 2021.
Delegates: Skate Canada Coaches, club delegates and skating school administrators must declare their voting intention prior to 09:00 (ET) Saturday, May 29, 2021. Once voting declaration is submitted and accepted by the coach, club or skating school a token will be issued by email. The token will be required to sign into the meeting and to vote at designated voting times.
Observers: Those entitled to attend the Annual General Meeting (AGM) must declare their intention prior to 09:00 (ET) Saturday, May 29, 2021. Please refer to the FAQ which outlines who can attend the AGM. Once observer declaration is submitted and accepted a token will be issued by email. The token will be required to sign into the meeting.
IMPORTANT! Your voting token may only be used by you as Skate Canada Bylaws do not permit proxy voting. You may not give your token to anyone else to vote. Skate Canada closely monitors how voting tokens are used during the actual voting process and if it is determined that a token has been shared and used, Skate Canada will deactivate that token immediately and the Skate Canada Chief Executive Officer will be notified.
Note: All meeting attendance tokens and/or voting tokens must be issued prior to 09:00 (ET) on Saturday, May 29.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS ELECTIONS
ACCLAIMED
Karen Butcher
PRESIDENT (ACCLAIMED)
Karen Butcher is the current Skate Ontario President and is a member of the Skate Canada’s Coordinating Committee, and Skate Canada’s Return to Skating Committee. She has an extensive career working with the Canadian Revenue Agency (CRA) in a variety of senior leadership roles. Karen has been a part of the figure skating community since she was a teenager, beginning with volunteering and then joining the Eastern Ontario Section Board of Directors as the Championship Chair and Skater Development Chair, as well as becoming an international figure skating official. Additionally, Karen has been an active member of numerous committees, working groups, and strategic planning sessions for Skate Ontario, Skate Canada and the International Skating Union. Previously, Karen was a member of Skate Canada’s Board of Directors for four-years, serving as Chair of the Governance Committee, as well as being a member of the CEO Operational Review Committee and the Membership Policy Committee. Karen’s experience offers leadership competencies and the highest level of integrity and respect for all members of the Skate Canada community.
Joni McPhail
DIRECTOR, ONTARIO (ACCLAIMED)
Joni McPhail is running for the position of Director Ontario. She is the Executive Director of Skate Oakville and has been working with the club for 13 years. Under her leadership it has expanded to become one of the largest clubs in Canada, with over 50 coaches and a thriving competitive, pairs and synchro program. Joni has experience working with many different sections with roots in BC working as the High Performance Director for many years. Recently, Joni has been involved with Skate Canada in live streaming and production, providing access and opportunities across all Sections and for all levels. Joni hopes that her passion, understanding of the sport and organization from grass roots to high performance will make her a productive and progressive member of the Board of Skate Canada.
Dr. Gregor MacLean
DIRECTOR, ATLANTIC (ACCLAIMED)
As a former skater and now a current active official at the local, sectional and national levels, Gregor MacLean is hopeful his diverse experience will enable him to offer and provide input into the policies and direction of Skate Canada. Gregor’s professional background has consisted of thirty years as a family physician and he recognizes the need for mutual respect among all members of Skate Canada respecting diversity, culture and individuality to strengthen Skate Canada in the future. A strong team player, Gregor is privileged and excited to assume the position of Director – Atlantic on the Skate Canada Board of Directors.
CANDIDATES STANDING FOR ELECTION
DIRECTOR-AT-LARGE (THREE POSITIONS AVAILABLE)
PATTY KLEIN
Patty has had a lifelong passion for figure skating. Her involvement in the sport began as a skater, then continued as a coach, official, volunteer, and skating mother. Now, as an International Judge in Singles, Pairs and Ice Dance, Patty is committed to maintaining the highest standards of integrity and ethics.
Patty brings a rink-side perspective developed through her years of experience working with skating’s key stakeholders at test days, competitions, skater development camps, and monitoring sessions.
Patty has contributed extensively supporting figure skating at the local, provincial and national levels. Currently serving as a Director on the Skate Canada Board, Patty is also a member of the Finance and Enterprise Risk Management Committee, Governance Committee as well as the Equity, Diversity & Inclusion Working Group.
PATRICK ROCH
Patrick is a former ice dance skater, competing from 1973 until 1989. The passion for skating is always within him and is now transferred into volunteering. For the past 15 years Patrick has held Board positions at all levels of the skating structure. Spending time with skaters and parents, understanding their path and helping when possible is a through driver for Patrick.
Skate Canada will undertake many changes in the following years and Information Technology will be a major factor. With a professional IT background in the field of Networking, Cyber Security and Project Management, Patrick’s contributions can be beneficial for the organization.
Since 2008, Patrick has represented the Canadian membership as a board director, and hopes that you will all give him the privilege to continue.
PAT teBOEKHORST
Pat’s career began at the grassroots level with a head coach position that was instrumental in educating board members and developing basic skillsets required to become a competitive coach. Pat’s competitive coaching tenure spanned 20+ years at the larger Guelph Figure Skating Club. Career highlights include coaching skaters to Challenge and National competitions, becoming a WOS resource coach and being selected as a 2010 Ontario Winter Games coach.
A post-retirement opportunity brought Pat to the position she currently hold as Technical Director for the distinguished Kitchener-Waterloo Skating Club. Pat has become adept at pivoting through COVID-19 and has networked and collaborated with other Ontario clubs where knowledge and strategies are shared. Pat’s passion for family and skating community is evident in all my pursuits and will be my personal legacy.
RAVI WALIA
Ravi Walia is extremely passionate about the sport of figure skating and has been involved as a skater, coach, official, and club administrator. He began skating in Vancouver and eventually moved to Edmonton, where he has coached skaters at all levels from grassroots to Olympic medalists. As a coach, Skating Club Director, and ISU Technical Specialist, Ravi has expertise in the technical aspects of skating and has extensive knowledge of the inner workings of a club.
From his experiences, Ravi has developed a clear understanding of the sport and can offer a broad view from many different perspectives. He hopes to contribute to the long-term success of Skate Canada and add value by representing the voice of all stakeholders – clubs, coaches, officials, volunteers, and especially the athletes!