AGM Motions 2026

NOTICE OF MOTIONS:

Proposed Amendments to the BCHPA Constitution & Procedures

Motion #1
Special Resolution: That Bylaw 9(a) of the BCHPA Bylaws be amended by replacing the existing provisions with the following:

Current Bylaw 9(a)

a) Elections for table officers shall be conducted at each BCHPA AGM.
i) The President shall appoint a member to act as a chairperson of a nominating committee.
ii) The committee shall attempt to ensure that there is at least one nominee for each vacant position.
iii) Nominations shall be accepted from the floor.

Amended to:

Bylaw 9(a)

a) Elections for table officers shall be conducted at each BCHPA AGM.
i) The BCHPA Executive shall appoint a member to act as an independent Election and Nominating Committee Chairperson at least thirty (30) days prior to the AGM. The Election and Nominating Committee Chairperson shall be responsible for conducting the election of BCHPA table officers at the AGM.
ii) The committee shall attempt to ensure that there is at least one nominee for each vacant position.
iii) Nominations shall be accepted from the floor.

Purpose of the Motion:
To establish that the Election and Nominating Committee Chairperson is responsible for conducting the election and is appointed by the BCHPA Executive at least thirty (30) days prior to the AGM, providing greater independence and clarity in the election process.

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Motion #2
Special Resolution: That Procedures of the BCHPA Meetings be amended by adding to the existing provisions with the following:

The Election and Nominating Committee Chairperson, in conducting the election of BCHPA table officers, shall appoint two ballot counters and one scrutineer, none of whom shall be candidates in the election.

Purpose of the Motion:
To establish a clearly defined election process that maintains the existing nomination procedures while ensuring that ballot counting and election scrutiny are conducted by individuals who are not candidates in the election.

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Proposed Amendments to the Boone Hodgson Wilkinson Trust Fund Constitution

MOTION #1
Special Resolution – Change of Name

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

1. All references to Boone Hodgson Wilkinson Trust Fund in the Constitution and any associated policies be deleted and replaced with Boone Hodgson Wilkinson Trust Foundation; and
2. The name Boone Hodgson Wilkinson Trust Foundation be used in all official records, documents, and communications of the Society going forward.

Rationale (for information only):
The addition of the term “Foundation” is required to meet applicable legal requirements.

MOTION #2
Special Resolution – Amendment to Financial Management Provision

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The Constitution, under the section titled “BHW Trust Fund Submission,” subsection “3. Duties of the Secretary and Treasurer or Secretary-Treasurer,” clause 3.2, be deleted in its entirety and replaced with the following:

3.2 The Society may engage a bona fide financial organization to provide professional management of the Trust Fund, with the objective of achieving appropriate investment returns while ensuring the prudent safeguarding of the Trust Fund assets. The Society must comply with all applicable laws and regulatory requirements and provide such documentation as may be required to establish and maintain the account.

Rationale (for information only):
The current wording is restrictive and limits the Society to basic deposit accounts. This amendment permits engagement with qualified financial institutions to improve investment management while maintaining appropriate safeguards and compliance.

MOTION #3
Special Resolution – Amendment to Statement of Activities

BE IT RESOLVED THAT:

The “BHW Trust Fund” Submission Statement of Activities be amended by deleting the line:

“Invest the trust funds in suitable low-risk investments”

and replace it with the following:

“The Trust Fund assets may be managed by a reputable, bona fide financial organization in accordance with prudent investment principles, with primary emphasis on the preservation and safeguarding of capital.”

Rationale (for information only):
This amendment clarifies expectations for professional management, emphasizes capital preservation, and strengthens accountability in the administration of Trust Fund assets.

Motion #4
Special Resolution – Restricted gifts

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the constitution of the Boone Hodgson Wilkinson Trust Foundation be amended by adding the following provision:

(a) The trustees may accept grants, gifts, and donations that are designated by the donor for a specific charitable purpose consistent with the objectives of the trust.

(b) Donor designations are expressions of preference within the objects of the trust. Final authority over the acceptance and use of all gifts rests with the trustees.

(c) The trust shall not accept any gift conditional on its transfer to an organization that is not a qualified donee.

(d) Restricted gifts shall not form part of the permanent capital of the trust foundation unless the donor expressly directs otherwise.

(e) Once accepted, restricted gifts shall be held separately in the financial records of the trust and shall be used only for the purpose designated by the donor.

Special Resolution: 
Motion 5: Payment of awards and grants

BE IT RESOLVED THAT the constitution of the Boone Hodgson Wilkinson Trust Foundation be amended so that the provision governing the payment of awards and grants reads as follows:

Awards, grants, and other approved expenditures shall be paid from the income earned on the permanent endowment of the Foundation, or from restricted donations, grants, or contributions received for specific projects or purposes consistent with the objectives of the Foundation. The capital of the permanent endowment shall remain intact except where otherwise permitted by this constitution or required by law.

Notes: Motion 4 & 5

These motions are subject to review by the Foundation’s legal counsel before the AGM.

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NEW BUSINESS MOTIONS:

Motion 1

Limit the AGM conference to 2 days

• • • Day 1: BCHPA business, followed by banquet
    • Day 2: Education Day through speakers and poster boards

Rationale: The current conference format of two education days preceded by the AGM is costly and places significant financial challenges on the BCHPA and participants. Registration fees have increased to the point that may limit conference participants. To reduce conference expenditures, it is proposed to limit the educational component to a single day following the AGM business day.

Motion 2

Develop and implement a Membership Promotion Program

Rationale: 

• • • There are approximately 5,500 registered beekeepers in BC who operate about 80,000 colonies. The BCHPA has a total of about 700 members which represent approximately 13% of all beekeepers. 
    • There are more than 30 local and regional beekeepers clubs/associations in BC where some are not affiliated with the BCHPA. 
    • While the BCHPA endeavours to represent all BC beekeepers at the national level, its annual fees to the Canadian Honey Council is based on the total number of colonies operated in the province. 

Suggested Program initiatives:

• • • Develop a video that highlights the services and benefits offered by the BHCPA
    • Distribute video copies to each regional director to present to each of the clubs in their region. 
    • Promote membership registration where each new paid member will be entered into a draw for a free membership the following year. A name will be drawn for each 100 new members. Alternative prices could be a new Queen, a Nuc, an OA-applicator, etc.

Motion 3

Change the name of BCHPA to “BC Beekeepers Association” (~BCBA)

Rationale:

• • • While for many years, BC’s beekeepers were primarily focused on honey production, the sector has diversified in recent decades and has become an integral part of the province’s agriculture industry. Honeybee crop pollination has become a key income stream for beekeepers. BC beekeepers have also increased queen breeding and bee stock production. The sector has also become interested in the production and management of non-Apis pollinators including Blue Orchard Mason Bees (~Osmia). To reflect the diversity of the beekeeping sector today, it is proposed to have the association change its name to the BC Beekeepers Association. The change will fall in line with the names of most provincial beekeeper organizations across Canada.