CURC Victoria

Semi-Annual General Meeting 

Date: Monday, November 4th 

Time: 8 AM Pacific Time
Locations:

Holiday Inn, Board Room
4670 Elk Lake Dr, Victoria, BC V8Z 5M1

OR 

Join Zoom Meeting
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82754446311?pwd=vzmqpEbBUGqREHXff2YRxvs48Fx1XZ.1

Meeting ID: 827 5444 6311
Passcode: 126606 

1. Call to Order

   1. President welcome and introductions

2. Establish Quorum

3. Approval of the Agenda 

4. Approval of Previous Meeting’s Minutes

   1. Business arising from the minutes

5. Executive Reports

   1. President – K. Edwards

   2. VP, Eligibility – J. Durward

   3. VP, CURC – Z. Lewis

   4. Secretary – K. Bruggeling

   5. Past President – C. Pond 

6. Standing Committee Reports 

   1. FISU Subcommittee - M. Pearce 

7. Regional Updates 

   1. Atlantic – M. Horne

   2. Central – D. Bechard

   3. Prairies – A. Schumacher 

   4. Coastal – M. Pearce

8. Unfinished Business 

   1. President

      1. Intro and nominees 

      2. Voting 

   2. Secretary

      1. Intro and nominees 

      2. Voting 

9. New Business

   1. Inclusion/Para Event - K. Henry and K. Bruggeling

   2. FISU 2025 - M. Pearce 

   3. Playing Regs/Banquet Tickets - A. Van Schothorst 

   4. Playing Regs, Technical Meeting - Z. Lewis

   5. The PS Award - C. Pond

   6. Double - A. Schumacher and Z. Lewis 

   7. Playing Regulations Committee Membership - C. Pond

   8. Regatta Sponsorship - C. Pond

10. Adjournment

Semi-Annual General Meeting Minutes

Date: Monday, November 4th Time: 8 AM Pacific Time Locations:

Holiday Inn, Board Room

4670 Elk Lake Dr, Victoria, BC V8Z 5M1 OR

Join Zoom Meeting

https://us02web.zoom.us/j/82754446311?pwd=vzmqpEbBUGqREHXff2YRxvs48Fx1XZ.1

Meeting ID: 827 5444 6311

Passcode: 126606

Present: Mary Milligan (Laurentian-non voting), Katie Edwards (President), Katie Bruggeling (Brock), Rayf Shiell (Trent-non voting), Mark Williams (Toronto), Jennifer Durward (Ontario Tech), Dan Bechard (Western), Kristin Henry (SFU), Andrea Jansen (McMaster), Myma Okuda-Rayfuse (McMaster), Mike Pearce (UBC), Craig Pond (UBC), Jane Gumley (UVic),

Kathleen Rankin (Queen’s), Adam Parfitt (RCA-non voting), Courtney Kruschel (Calgary), Albert Van Schothorst ,Zak Lewis (Ottawa), Pearl Schachter (Guelph), Amelie Schumacher (Calgary), Alicia Borsy (UFV), Sam Lapum (Ottawa), Scott Feddery (Queen’s), Nick Vantfoort (Waterloo), Lisa Samuel (UFV), Steph Marchard (McGill), Alex Brandt (Dalhousie), Maddie Horne (Dalhousie)

1.     Call to Order

a.     President welcome and introductions

Welcome and transferring chair of the meeting to CP Introductions

2.     Establish Quorum Quorum wasestablished.

3.     Approval of the Agenda

ZL moved MR seconded

4.     Approval of Previous Meeting’s Minutes JD moved

AV seconded

a.     Business arising from the minutes No business.

5.     Executive Reports

a.     President – K. Edwards

KE: Appreciation to UVic for hosting. Glad to see a robust slate of nominations Thank you to CP for 14 years on the CURA executive.

b.     VP, Eligibility – J. Durward

JD: Thanks to everyone for getting eligibility lists in on time. This year, there were several questions about rules. Thank you to the eligibility subcommittee for their work. A note that scanned PDF eligibility lists are okay but they need to be accompanied by the maetching excel sheet.

c.     VP, CURC – Z. Lewis

ZL: Thank you to UVic for hosting. 154 entries from 21 schools. There are some minor pieces to clarify, such as allocation of finals, weigh-ins, etc.. A need to repopulate the playing regulations committee and a number of small proposals to clean it up. The financial report will come in the spring. Host documents will go to McGill. Looking for 2026 hosts.Viable and robust regatta moving forward, will look for improvements.

d.     Secretary – K. Bruggeling

KB: All matters were well-organized this year and looking forward to transferring documents and role onto the next secretary.

e.     Past President – C. Pond

CP: Endevoured to update the constitution and playing regulations. The awards went well and smoothly last night. 2 names forward for both president and secretary.

6.     Standing Committee Reports

a.     FISU Subcommittee - M. Pearce

MP: Great 2024 FISU experience. 36 athletes and 5 coaches, including podium finishes. Time constraints limit the selection process. Next year is the World Interuniversity Games. The FISU committee will meet and has plans to refine the selection process. A potential balance between

preselection and a later selection process. Teams will be decentralized again. USports is keen for us to be doing these events, and it will help increase the profile and credibility of rowing.

AP: Echo Mike’s comments. The next two years are important, especially the 2026 hosting in Canada. Will need to rely on this community to support that. There is value in the process, having this group involved, and running programs out of your home venues. Last year was challenging with the timelines. Having coaches involved is good and thanks to everyone for participating.

7.     Regional Updates

a.     Atlantic – M. Horne

MH: Big uptake on the Atlantic coast, including St. Mary’s. Losing KE was a big blow, but everyone came together. Dalhousie’s strongest year yet.

b.     Central – D. Bechard

DB: Things are positive in the central region. Continuing to see growth in many programs. Guelph had a majoraccident and they were flooded with offers of equipment and support so they could continue their program. We are having challenges with the OUA and our PSO.

c.     Prairies – A. Schumacher

Several prairies universities are rowing. The Alberta Rowing Association is supporting Lakeland College. Hosted a regatta with large university participation. Hoping to make it a 2-day regatta next year to continue growing.

d.     Coastal – M. Pearce

MP: Ran another good regatta this year and good to see additional clubs coming along. The venue is good with good racing, including our JV crews. The regatta is going to get better moving forward, and hope to see more crews there.

8.     Unfinished Business

a.     President

i.     Intro and nominees Nominations: MaryRao and Dan Bechard MR declined nomination to support DP

Open the floor for nominations - no nominations from the floor

ii.     Voting

Vote of confidence

No opposed, passed

Dan Bechard as president

b.     Secretary

i.     Intros and nominees Nominations are JaneGumley and Kathleen Rankin

Open the floor for nominations - no nominations from the floor

JG: Love typing. Want to learn more about CURA.

KR: Interested in being more involved. Know organizations and experience. Worked in governance support in current position. Want to support CURA.

Voting:

Jane Gumley as secretary.

ii.     Voting

9.     New Business

a.     Inclusion/Para Event - K. Henry and K. Bruggeling KB: Read note fromcurrent Brock para athlete, Mia Biancaniello:

“The Canadian university rowing system has been missing a vital part of competitive rowing in Canada, that beingcompetition for collegiate level para athletes. The ignorance of para typology in national competition will continue to shrink the population. Without the event, there is no invitation for para athletes to feel welcomed into the Canadian rowing system. It may appear that the university system does not have a pool of para athletes, but within the last year we’ve connected with collegiate eligible athletes across the country who agree in the need to have a para dedicated event. Having a dedicated event will be able to invite more athletes with disabilities to consider learning torow and continuing down the competitive route and potentially reaching international competition, a goal that most able bodied athletes get the chance to challenge themselves to, in the university system. For many years Irowed alongside able-bodied athletes. There’s always been that aspect that has kept me behind; barriers that my teammates never had to consider when training. I spent years rowing but falling behind, and when I raced with other para athletes for the first time, I felt understood. Giving that opportunity to race with peers alike and a chance to showcase how strong and competitive para-athletes can be when given an equitable chance was empowering. The para realm is a level of comradely that I’ve never seen before and one all aspects of Canadian rowing can learn and benefit from. Thank you for your time and consideration. I hope that we may work together to bring this event to light.” - Mia Biancaniello

KB: Looking to put a para event proposal forward in May to support para. We would like feedback on the idea and are looking for partners in proposing.

KH: PR2 athlete at SFU. The university strongly supports having them involved. SF: Ideas for the event?

KB: Staggered starts, GMS from RCA, etc. are starter ideas. AV: Run on Friday, no room in the schedule

KB: Friday would delude from inclusion in the national program. DP: Include all details, schedule, costs, etc.

MP: Certain bodies of water will be conducive to this and others will not. AB (SFV): SFV really supports this.

MR: There has been some discussion at RO conferences in recent years, and a staggered approach. One person will come, it will slowly grow and will we learn. The Brock Invitational Regatta rule is to email us with accommodation needs ahead of time.

b.     FISU 2025 - M. Pearce

No need for further discussion past the committee report.

c.     Playing Regs/Banquet Tickets - A. Van Schothorst

AVs: Several items are unclear in the regulations. Umpires have questions. Time to have a conversation about what it actually costs. Time to talk about long-term sponsors. WinTech came on board for $3000-$5000. For the viability of the event we have to start looking at the financial aspect of the event.

CP: I know a guy who can go on the playing regulations committee who can go through it in detail.

AV: Do it without motions. Wholesale rewrite. Confusing, 20 hours on weigh-ins alone. Happy to step onto playing regulations committee.

KB: Similar to past constitution overhaul, 6-7 years ago. Suggest revisions as a whole. Have one meeting to review with membership and one to proposal acceptance.

DB: At a point where we need to evaluate current finances.

AV: Enough organizations with enough bodies leaving athletes at home. Quality athletes not showing up, and if we’re talking about inclusion, who’s been left at home. Open up roster number. Elevate the quality of events.

d.     Playing Regs, Technical Meeting - Z. Lewis ZL: Mute, we’ve covered it.

CP: Is our FISU committee up to date?

MP: Committee includes MR, JG, MP, and MW. ZL: Would like to self-nominate.

ZL on FISU committee.

e.     The PS Award - C. Pond

CP: Presented award a few years ago but it was never formalized. JG: How is itdifferent than the current coach builder award?

KB: No difference - it was just before the coach builder award was created. MP: Don’t need to awardit every year. Need to put records on Wiki.

CP: Don’t know who’s updating online.

CP: Rename the Builder Award to the Peter Somerwil Builder Award.

AV: People come and go without recognition. Coaches vanish without a trace. No one is honouring the experience.

NV: Like the president’s award?

CP: Yes, the president’s award. Rick did get it. Can formalize it.

f.       Double - A. Schumacher and Z. Lewis

ZL: Agreed to have double for three years but never any evaluatory criteria provided. Survey was created with 15 questions about what success looks like. Survey included the number of entries, the competitiveness of event, GMS, increase in schools, whether is it helping small schools, impact on the points system, and more. See summaryreport. Will have double again in Montreal.

CP: There has been a lot of discussion around this and this will have to come onto our agenda at the next meeting. An official proposal will have to be put forward for the Montreal meeting to

determine whether it will continue or not.

AV: Show of hands whether you support it, yes or not. Executive declined to require a show of hands.

AB: Would like to be part of discussion in May. ZL: Need to put proposal forward for May.

CP/KB: Not until the trial concludes.

MO: Can we reopen for feedback? How are entry numbers? ZL: Would not like to. Reviewed entry numbers.

g.     Playing Regulations Committee Membership - C. Pond

AV in.

CP: Kathleen, would you be interested in joining? KR agreed.

The committee now includes Mary Rao, Aalbert Van Schothorst, and Kathleen Rankin.

h.     Regatta Sponsorship - C. Pond

CP: Key locations instead of courses being random. The City of Burnaby supports this and there’s more money if it’s consistent and a fixture. Sports Burnaby would support and their objective is to host. We could have rotating hosts. External people involved to lighten the load. For us to move forward for sponsors, fixing the regatta at certain sitesover our 5-year schedule. Montreal, Welland, and Burnaby.

SF: It makes a lot of sense because there are limited sites. It would allow municipalities that plan their budgets years in advance.

ZL: The host does not have to be the most local school. If it’s in Welland, it does not have to be Brock. My one concern about Montreal is the willingness of the city to work with schools outside of Quebec and vice versa.

SM: Cannot comment - is on the ferry with poor service.

ZL: Can speak to it, as she’s been in touch. Now that SM is in a more formal position within the school and has more support.

MM: Inquired about regional locations with the host circulating

KB: Yes, except for Quebec can be a challenge for Ontario schools. NV: Longer-term sponsors?

CP: Could tie ourselves into something that’s not beneficial. The risk with long-term sponsorships if schools are funding it individually.

JG: Within your proposal, if more sponsorship puts less financial stress on institutions, can you write about where additional money would go?

CP: We are far away from this now.

10.  Adjournment ZL moved

SF seconded