Yesterday was our Annual General Meeting at the Waterford Grand and we thank Joe Price for access to such a great facility. In the next few weeks we will publish the minutes on the website and publish our annual report but until then, here are some of the highlights.

Executive Board Appointments

• President: Anne MacCorquodale – continues for 2nd year of term
• VP Programs: Colin Evans – continues for 2nd year of term
• Secretary: Corrine Lafontaine (Corrine will lead the approved working group to review and align our current bylaws with the Canadaian Not for profit Corporations Act (CNCA)
• VP Planning: Ross Annett – Ross will retain his Director Registration role and will be supported by Stephanie Hamel who will continue to coordinate field allocations and merchandise.
• VP Operations: Vacant – We have some pretty big events this year – club day, awards banquet and, in November, the 20 year anniversary of BSRFC. If you are interested in leading events and promoting the club while working with Amanada Burford as the events coordiantor, this is the role for you.
• VP Finance: Vacant – the last three Treasurers were Certified Professional Accountants and they have developed a streamlined way of reporting. We ask the membership to dig deep and help find any CPA’s within our group. This is a vital role in the organization.

Thank you to the volunteers who have stepped up and I really hope we can find some members to fill the two remaining roles and support the running of the club.

Approved New Crest

Members approved the updated crest which you will see attached to this email. Many thanks to Chantal Secours for the design work and John Dingwall for the mentorship. It will now become our official crest on all communication and club merchandise.

Public Accountant Appointment Waiver

Under the Canada Not-for-profit Corporations Act (CNCA) and its regulations, not-for-profit corporations (NFPs) are generally required to appoint a public accountant (PA) to perform an audit or review engagement. However, the CNCA allows for the waiver of the appointment of a public accountant based on the type of corporation (soliciting vs. non-soliciting) and its annual revenue.

The members voted to waive the appointment of a public accountant for this financial year on the premise the president will seek advice on the cost of this service and will advise members how it could be funded in the budget for the next financial year. If this is your line of work and you can provide any guidance, I would be really grateful if you could contact me directly (president@barrhavenscottish.com).

Honorary Members

I had the delight of celebrating our two new Honorary Member and I am sure you will agree, they are more than worthy recipients. Thank you Adele and Scott for all the amazing work you do.

Adele Dobson McCleery

Adele Dobson’s longstanding commitment to the club is rooted in her early connection to it. Her father, Tony Dobson, a founding member, served in several executive capacities—including President—during the organization’s formative years. Influenced by this legacy, Adele pursued rugby at Earl of March Secondary School before advancing to the Gee-Gees program. Her involvement coincided with a pivotal moment in the club’s development, marked by the establishment of its Senior Women’s Program. Through the leadership of Tony Dobson and the contributions of Adele and her Gee-Gees teammates, the program quickly gained momentum. Adele went on to enjoy a distinguished playing career, including opportunities to represent teams in New Zealand and Ireland during her years abroad with her husband.

In recent years, Adele’s dedication has come full circle. The success of emerging athletes such as Carys McCleery—a longstanding and committed club member whose U16 team achieved unprecedented accomplishments—created a renewed opportunity for Adele to re-engage with the organization. She has since become an active parent volunteer, joined the club’s executive, and emerged as a key contributor to its coaching staff. Her leadership has been instrumental in establishing the club’s first girls’ rugby program at West Carleton Secondary School, further advancing the sport’s growth and accessibility within the community.

Scott D’Souza

Scott first joined the club in 2001, and while he would never call himself a star, his achievements speak for themselves. Through unwavering commitment to training and a constant willingness to step up wherever needed, Scott has represented the Senior Men every single year. With the exception of the COVID pause, this upcoming season marks his 25th year wearing the Scottish jersey—an extraordinary milestone.

Across those 25 seasons, Scott has witnessed entire generations of players come and go. Yet through all the change, he has remained a steady, grounding presence. He is known as the calm voice in tough moments, the level head who always puts the best interests of the club first.

Scott’s dedication extends beyond his own playing career. His daughter Maggie, son Sam, and nephew Malcolm have all proudly worn the Scottish colours, continuing a true family legacy. Naturally, this led Scott into coaching—where, year after year, he continues to give back, both within the club and at Sacred Heart High School. Although the club’s historical cap records have been lost, as we approach our 50th anniversary, it is very possible that Scott D’Souza stands at or near the top of that list.

Have a fantastic week.