Our constitution

1. General Provisions

1.1 Definitions

In this by-law, unless the context otherwise requires:

“Act” means the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act, S.C. 2009, c. 23, including the Regulations made pursuant to the Act, and any statute or regulations that may be substituted, as amended from time to time;

“articles” means the original or restated articles of incorporation or articles of amendment, amalgamation, continuance, reorganization, arrangement or revival of the Association;

“by-law” means this by-law of the Association as amended and which are, from time to time, in force and effect;

“board” means the board of directors of the Association;

“director” means a member of the board;

“executive committee” means a committee composed of the Association’s president, the vice president corporate secretary, chairs of the board’s standing committees and a director representing the Association on the University’s Board of Governors;

“meeting of members” includes an annual meeting of members or a special meeting of members;

“member” means an individual admitted into membership of the Association in accordance with section 2.4 of these by-laws;

“special resolution” means a resolution passed by a majority of not less than two thirds (2/3) of the votes cast on that resolution; and

“University” means the University of Ottawa.

1.2 Fiscal year-end

The Association’s fiscal year-end (April 30) shall coincide with the University’s fiscal year-end. The Association may, instead of sending copies of the annual financial statements and other documents referred to in subsection 172(1) (Annual Financial Statements) of the Act to the members, publish a notice to its members stating that the annual financial statements and documents provided in subsection 172(1) are available at the registered office of the Association and any member may, on request, obtain a copy free of charge at the registered office or by prepaid mail.

1.3 Contracts, documents or any instruments

Contracts, documents or any instruments requiring the signature of the Association shall be signed by any two (2) members of the executive committee and all contracts, documents and instruments so signed shall be binding upon the Association without any further authorization or formality. The board shall have power from time to time by resolution to appoint the director or staff of the Alumni Relations Office to sign specific contracts, documents and instruments on behalf of the Association.

1.4 Meetings of the Association

The Morin Code shall govern meetings of the Association, except where a contrary intention is expressed in this by-law or the Act.

1.5 Communications with members

Governing documents of the Association shall be made available in French and English, by electronic means and on request.

In this by-law and in all other documents of the Association hereafter passed, unless the context otherwise requires, words importing the singular number or the masculine gender shall include the plural number or the feminine gender, as the case may be, and vice versa, and references to persons shall include firms and corporations.

2. Board structure and membership

2.1 Memorandum of agreement

The Association operates under a memorandum of agreement between it and the University.

2.2 Role of the board

The board is responsible for managing the affairs of the Association on behalf of its members.

2.3 Composition of the board

The board is composed of the number of directors specified in the articles.

2.4 Membership

Subject to the articles, there shall be one (1) class of members in the Association. Individuals who have received a certificate, diploma, degree or honorary degree from the University or who have completed no less than the equivalent of two (2) full-time academic years at the University shall automatically become members of the Association. Each member shall be entitled to receive notice of, attend and vote at all meetings of members of the Association, and each such member shall be entitled to one (1) vote at any such meeting.

2.5 Termination of membership

(a) Membership in the Association is terminated when:

the member dies;

the member resigns by delivering a written resignation to the president of the board, in which case such resignation shall be effective on the date specified in the resignation;

the member is expelled in accordance with section 2.6 below or is otherwise terminated in accordance with the articles or by-laws; or

the Association is liquidated or dissolved under the Act.

(b) Subject to the articles, upon any termination of membership, the rights of the member, including any rights to the property of the Association, automatically cease to exist.

2.6 Discipline of members

(a) The board shall have authority to suspend or expel any member from the Association on any one or more of the following grounds:

violating any provision of the articles, by-laws, or written policies of the Association;

carrying out any conduct which may be detrimental to the Association as determined by the board at its sole discretion;

for any other reason that the board at its sole and absolute discretion considers to be reasonable, having regard to the purpose of the Association.

(b) In the event that the board determines that a member should be expelled or suspended from membership in the Association, 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 Association. 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.

2.7 Absenteeism (new)

A Board member shall be considered for termination pursuant to section 2.5 of the By-laws where:

(a) The member has two (2) consecutive unexcused absences, without sufficient prior written notification, from Board meetings in a year; or

(b) The member has three (3) consecutive written notified absences from Board meetings in a year.

In the event of either of the excess absences in paragraphs (a) or (b) above, cause for removal will be assessed by the Board in accordance with the procedures described at paragraph 2.6(b) of the By-Laws.

(c) For purposes of Board assessment of termination, each Board member shall have the right to exercise one (1) vote. Voting may be conducted by electronic facilities or in person or any combination thereof.

(d) A majority of the votes cast by the Board members shall determine the question of termination due to absenteeism. (Annual General Meeting – December 12, 2020)

3. Mandate and Responsibilities

3.1 Mandate of the board

The board shall all be members and shall:

(a) set the direction of the Association and may exercise all other powers and undertake other actions as the Association is authorized by its by-law and articles;

(b) work with the Alumni Relations Office to engage its members to promote and support the University as an internationally renowned, bilingual centre of academic excellence;

(c) meet in person or by other means:

 not less than three times a year at the call of the president, who shall give at least 14 days’ written notice, unless two thirds (2/3) of the board agrees to waive this notice period or, by resolution, set a notice period of less than 14 days; or

within 30 days of the president’s receiving a written request from at least two thirds (2/3) of the board; and

(d) fill any vacancy on the board, by majority vote, as per the provisions of the Act.

3.2 Term of directors

Directors shall hold office for three year terms. No members may serve more than six years on the board with the exception of members representing the Association on the University's Board of Governors. Directors appointed to the Board of Governors may hold office for in accordance to with the University Governance Framework.

3.3 Meetings of the board and documentation

(a) Directors shall receive copies of the minutes of board meetings, minutes and/or reports from all standing committees of the board once they are available. Minutes shall also be available upon request.

(b) Directors shall see that all necessary books and records of the Association, in accordance with all rules of the Association or by any applicable statute or law, are regularly and properly kept.

(c) A majority of the number of directors from time to time constitutes a quorum of any meeting of the board. For the purpose of determining quorum, a director may be present in person or by teleconference or by other electronic means.

3.4 Responsibilities

(a) Directors shall:

perform duties that the board may assign to him or her from time to time; and

elect a president, a VP corporate secretary and committee chairs following the annual meeting of members.

(b) The president shall:

convene and chair meetings of the board, the executive committee and meetings of members;

participate in any committees of the board as requested;

represent the Association and act as its spokesperson;

perform the duties that the board may assign to him or her from time to time or delegate such duties to another member of the executive committee should he or she not be available; and

oversee a wide-ranging set of administrative duties, including preparing and chairing meetings for which he or she is responsible.

(c)The vice-president, corporate secretary shall:

perform the duties that the president may assign from time to time or delegate such duties should he or she not be available; and

oversee a wide-ranging set of administrative duties, including preparing and chairing meetings for which he or she is responsible.

(d) Committee chairs shall:

provide regular updates to the executive committee;

perform the duties that the board may assign from time to time or delegate such duties should the president or vice-president not be available; and

oversee a wide-ranging set of administrative duties, including preparing and chairing meetings for which he or she is responsible.

4. Board committees and officers

4.1 The board shall be composed of the following standing committees:

4.2 Ad hoc committees

The board may establish ad hoc committees to deal with a priority issue. The chair of an ad hoc committee shall be elected by the directors, and its mandate and timeline shall be determined by the Committee’s members.

4.3 Officers of the Association

The immediate past-president of the board and the director of the Alumni Relations Office shall be ex officio officers of the Association and shall be entitled to receive notice of and to attend meetings of the board and may perform duties that the board may assign to them from time to time.

4.4 Representatives to the Board of Governors of the University

As per the University’s Governance Framework, the Association shall appoint two (2) of its directors to the Board of Governors.

5. Annual meeting of members

5.1 Location

The annual meeting of members shall occur at a location to be determined by the board. The timing of the annual meeting of members may be in conjunction with, but not limited to, another University event.

5.2 Notice of meeting

(a) The notice of time and place of any meeting of members shall be provided by publication distributed electronically to the members entitled to vote at the meeting of members during a period of 21 to 60 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held and by affixing the notice, no later than 30 days before the day on which the meeting is to be held, to a notice board on which information respecting the Association’s activities is regularly posted that is located in a place frequented by members.

(b) The notice shall contain sufficient information to permit members to form a reasoned judgment on the decisions to be made and shall also notify members about how to submit proposals for debate.

5.3 Agenda

The agenda for the annual meeting of members which will be sent with the notice of meeting shall include, but not be limited to:

receiving reports from the board and its committees;

receiving the Association’s financial statements;

confirming the University’s auditors as the Association’s auditors for the ensuing year; and

considering other necessary and appropriate matters.

5.4 Proposals

Members shall have the right to add items to the agenda by submitting a notice that meets the requirements of section 163 of the Act—known as a “proposal”—to the Association 90 to 150 days before the anniversary of the previous annual meeting of members.

5.5 Election of directors

(a) A call for nominations to positions on the board that are scheduled to be filled that year must be published on the Association’s website and by other means selected by the board, on or before a date to be selected by the board, but no less than 250 days following the last annual meeting of members.

(b) The nomination period shall close on a date to be selected by the board, but no less than 30 days after the day on which the call for nominations was published.

5.6 Voting

(a) Each member present at the annual meeting of members shall have the right to exercise one (1) vote. There shall be no voting by proxy.

(b) A majority of the votes cast by the members present at the annual meeting of members shall determine the question except where the vote or consent of a greater number of members is required by this by-law, the articles or the Act.

5.7 Quorum

Subject to the Act, quorum at any meeting of members shall be 20 members present in person.

6. Amendments to the by-law

(a) This by-law may be repealed or amended, but must remain consistent with the Association’s articles and the Act.

(b) In accordance with the articles and subject to the Act, any by-law or amendment or repeal of a by-law shall require confirmation by special resolution of the members.

(c) Any such by-law, amendment or repeal shall be effective from the date of the special resolution of the members confirming such by-law, amendment or repeal. A board resolution shall not be required to make, amend or repeal any by-law which is made pursuant to subsection 197(1) of the Act.

7. Effective Date

This by-law shall take effect upon the issuance of a Certificate of Continuance of the Association by the federal government under the Act and the approval of the by-law by special resolution of the members.

ENACTED by the directors of the Association this 5th day of May, 2017.

Elizabeth Rody
President of the Board

Carole Theauvette
Secretary

APPROVED by the members of the Association this 5th day of May, 2017.

Carole Theauvette
VP, Corporate Secretary