Bylaws of the Gabriola Health Care Foundation, hereinafter called the “society”:

Part 1 — Interpretation

• 1. Definitions

• (1) In these bylaws, unless the context otherwise requires:

• (a) "directors" means the directors of the society for the time being;
• (b) "Society Act" means the Society Act of British Columbia from time to time in force and all amendments to it;
• (c) "registered address" of a member means the member's address as recorded in the register of members.

• (2) The definitions in the Society Act on the date these bylaws become effective apply to these bylaws.

• 2. Words importing the singular include the plural and vice versa, and words importing a male person include a female person and a corporation.

Part 2 — Membership

• 3. The members of the society are the applicants for incorporation of the society, and those persons who subsequently become members, in accordance with these bylaws and, in either case, have not ceased to be members.
• 4. Members

• (1) All residents of Gabriola Island, B.C. who assent to the purposes of the society and who are at the time at least 19 years of age will be members of the society unless such person has ceased to be a member as provided herein.
• (2) In addition, any person may apply to the directors for membership in the society and on acceptance by the directors is a member.

• 5. Every member must uphold the constitution and comply with these bylaws.
• 6. The amount of the first annual membership dues will be nil. After that the annual membership dues, if any, must be determined at the annual general meeting of the society.
• 7. A person ceases to be a member of the society

• (1) by delivering his or her resignation in writing to the secretary of the society or by mailing (by electronic or regular mail) or delivering it to the address of the society,
• (2) unless he or she became a member under the provisions of section 4(2), by ceasing to be a resident of Gabriola Island, B.C,
• (3) on his or her death or, in the case of a corporation, on dissolution,
• (4) on being expelled, or
• (5) on having been a member not in good standing for 12 consecutive months.

• 8. Expulsion of a member

• (1) A member may be expelled by a special resolution of the members passed at a general meeting.
• (2) The notice of special resolution for expulsion must be accompanied by a brief statement of the reasons for the proposed expulsion.
• (3) The person who is the subject of the proposed resolution for expulsion must be given an opportunity to be heard at the general meeting before the special resolution is put to a vote.

• 9. All members are in good standing except a member who has failed to pay his or her current annual membership fee, if any, or any other subscription or debt due and owing by the member to the society, and the member is not in good standing so long as the debt remains unpaid.

Part 3 — Meetings of Members

• 10. General meetings of the society must be held at the time and place, in accordance with the Society Act, that the directors decide.
• 11. Every general meeting, other than an annual general meeting, is an extraordinary general meeting.
• 12. The directors may, when they think fit, convene an extraordinary general meeting.
• 13. Notice

• (1) Notice of a general meeting must specify the place, day and hour of the meeting and, in case of special business, the general nature of that business.
• (2) Notice of a general meeting must be provided or published at least two weeks prior to the scheduled time and date of the meeting.
• (3) The accidental omission to give notice of a meeting to, or the non-receipt of a notice by, any of the members entitled to receive notice does not invalidate proceedings at that meeting.

• 14. The first annual general meeting of the society must be held not more than 15 months after the date of incorporation and after that an annual general meeting must be held at least once in every calendar year and not more than 15 months after the holding of the last preceding annual general meeting.

Part 4 — Proceedings at General Meetings

• 15. Special business is

• (1) all business at an extraordinary general meeting except the adoption of rules of order, and
• (2) all business conducted at an annual general meeting, except the following:

• (a) the adoption of rules of order;
• (b) the consideration of the financial statements;
• (c) the report of the directors;
• (d) the report of the auditor, if any;
• (e) the election of directors;
• (f) the appointment of the auditor, if required; and
• (g) other business that, under these bylaws, ought to be conducted at an annual general meeting, or business that is brought under consideration by any report of the directors issued with the notice convening the meeting.

• 16. Except for special resolutions proposed by the directors, no special resolution will be considered or voted upon at a general meeting of the society unless a copy of that special resolution, in writing, has been deposited at the registered office of the society not less than forty-five days before the general meeting at which it is proposed to be considered. Any request that a resolution be considered at a general meeting must be signed by at least twenty-five members of the society.
• 17. Quorum

• (1) Business, other than the election of a chair and the adjournment or termination of the meeting, must not be conducted at a general meeting at a time when a quorum is not present.
• (2) If at any time during a general meeting there ceases to be a quorum present, business then in progress must be suspended until there is a quorum present or until the meeting is adjourned or terminated.
• (3) A quorum is three members present or a greater number that the members may determine at a general meeting.

• 18. If within thirty minutes from the time appointed for a general meeting a quorum is not present, the meeting, if convened on the requisition of members, must be terminated, but in any other case, it must stand adjourned to the same day in the next week, at the same time and place, and if, at the adjourned meeting, a quorum is not present within thirty minutes from the time appointed for the meeting, the members present constitute a quorum.
• 19. Subject to the following, the president of the society, the vice president or, in the absence of both, one of the other directors present, must preside as chair of a general meeting.
• 20. If at a general meeting

• (1) there is no president, vice president or other director present within fifteen minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, or
• (2) the president and all the other directors present are unwilling to act as the chair,
• (3) the members present must choose one of their number to be the chair.

• 21. Adjournment

• (1) A general meeting may be adjourned from time to time and from place to place, but business must not be conducted at an adjourned meeting other than the business left unfinished at the meeting from which the adjournment took place.
• (2) When a meeting is adjourned for ten days or more, notice of the adjourned meeting must be given as in the case of the original meeting.
• (3) Except as provided in this bylaw, it is not necessary to give notice of an adjournment or of the business to be conducted at an adjourned general meeting.

• 22. Resolutions

• (1) A resolution proposed at a meeting need not be seconded, and the chair of a meeting may move or propose a resolution.
• (2) In the case of a tie vote the chair does not have a casting or second vote in addition to the vote to which he or she may be entitled as a member and the proposed resolution does not pass.

• 23. Voting

• (1) A member in good standing present at a meeting of members is entitled to one vote.
• (2) Voting is by show of hands unless a secret ballot is requested.
• (3) Voting by proxy is not permitted.

• 24. A corporate member may vote by its authorized representative, who is entitled to speak and vote, and in all other respects exercise the rights of a member, and that representative must be considered as a member for all purposes with respect to a meeting of the society.

Part 5 — Directors

• 25. There shall be a minimum of five directors and up to a maximum of eleven directors elected by members of the society.
• 26. Powers

• (1) The directors may exercise all the powers and do all the acts and things that the society may exercise and do, and that are not by these bylaws or by statute or otherwise lawfully directed or required to be exercised or done by the society in a general meeting, but subject, nevertheless, to

• (a) all laws affecting the society,
• (b) these bylaws, and
• (c) rules, not being inconsistent with these bylaws, that are made from time to time by the society in a general meeting.

• (2) A rule made by the society in a general meeting does not invalidate a prior act of the directors that would have been valid if that rule had not been made.

• 27. Resignation or expulsion of a director:

• (1) If any director

• (a) delivers his/her written resignation as a director to the registered office of the society,
• (b) is suspended or expelled from the society in accordance with these bylaws, or
• (c) without prior explanation acceptable to the president fails to attend three or more consecutive meetings of the directors,
• then such director shall thereupon immediately cease to be a director and, if such director is also an officer of the society, shall also thereupon immediately cease to be an officer, without any further action required by the directors.

• (2) The secretary or president of the society shall be authorized to file a Notice of Change of Directors at the Office of the British Columbia Registrar of Companies evidencing the removal of such director and, if applicable, as an officer of the society.
• (3) The remaining directors may appoint a member to fill the vacancy.

• 28. The directors shall have the power to, from time-to-time, appoint a member as a director, provided the total number of directors does not exceed the maximum number of directors permitted by these bylaws. No member may be appointed under this provision more than twice without, in the meantime, having been elected as a director.
• 29. All appointed directors shall hold office only until the next annual general meeting of the members of the society, but they will be eligible for election or re-election at that meeting.
• 30. Subject to the Society Act, every director or former director of the society shall be deemed to have assumed office on the express understanding, agreement, and condition that every director or former director of the society, and his/her heirs, executors, administrators, and estate shall from time to time and at all times be indemnified and saved harmless out of the funds of the society from and against all costs, charges, and expenses whatsoever, including an amount paid to settle an action or satisfy a judgment incurred by him or her in a civil, criminal or administrative action or proceeding which such director or former director sustains or incurs in or about any action, suit, or proceeding which is brought, commended, or prosecuted against him or her for or in respect of any act, deed, matter or thing whatsoever, made, done, or performed by him or her or any other director or directors in or about the execution of the duties of his or her office as a officer or director, including an action brought by the society, and also from and against all other costs, charges, or expenses which he or she sustains or incurs on or about in relation to the affairs thereof, except such costs, charges and expenses as are occasioned by his or her own willful neglect or default.
• 31. The society may purchase insurance for the benefit of the directors and former directors against personal liability incurred by him or her as a director or officer.
• 32. A director must not be remunerated for being or acting as a director, but a director may be reimbursed for all expenses necessarily and reasonably incurred by the director while engaged in the affairs of the society.

Part 6 — Directors nominations committee

• 33. The directors shall, as soon as is reasonable after each annual general meeting, appoint a nominations committee comprised of at least two directors or members of the society who, if possible, are not officers of the society.
• 34. The nominations committee shall:

• (1) meet at least once in the period prior to the next annual general meeting;
• (2) determine the skills and expertise necessary for the effective operation of the board of directors;
• (3) determine, after consultation with the directors, the minimum and maximum number of directors to be elected in the particular year (These numbers will be not less than the minimum number of directors provided for in these bylaws nor more than the maximum number of directors so provided for, the number in each case reduced by the number of directors whose term will not expire at the particular meeting.);
• (4) determine and recommend, at least four weeks in advance of the next annual general meeting, a slate of potential directors to be nominated for election at that meeting (The number of nominated directors must be at least equal to the minimum number of directors to elected in the particular year and not more than the maximum number of directors to be so elected.);
• (5) obtain confirmation from the potential candidates that they are prepared to stand for election as a director of the society; and
• (6) publish the names of the candidates nominated by the committee, as well as the procedures by which the members may make further nominations, as part of the notice of the annual general meeting.

• 35. Further nominations from members of the society will be accepted by any member of the nominations committee up to 48 hours before the scheduled commencement of the next annual general meeting. Such nominations must be in writing and must be signed by the nominee and at least five other members of the society.
• 36. Repealed.

Part 7 — Election of Directors

• 37. The nominations committee shall oversee the voting process for the election of directors at the annual general meeting.
• 38. All decisions with regard to any matters pertaining to the election of directors made by the nominating committee members conducting the election will be final and not subject to appeal.
• 39. All directors shall be elected at an annual general meeting of the society and shall be elected to hold office until, at a maximum, the third following Annual Genera Meeting of the society. A director or directors may be nominated and elected for a term of less than three years if the nominations committee determines that this is desirable in order to more nearly equate the number of directors whose term will expire each year.
• 40. If the number of directors nominated for election is less than or equal to the maximum number of directors to be elected, as determined by the nominations committee, their election may be by acclamation. However, if requested by a member present at the meeting, the election must be by show of hands or, if requested, by secret ballot. In that event:

• (1) The first ballot or show of hands will be to elect, or to not elect, all nominated candidates (the “slate” of candidates).
• (2) If the majority of the votes are in favor of the slate, then all candidates will be declared elected.
• (3) If the majority of the votes are not in favor of the slate, then a separate ballot must be held with respect to each candidate. Each candidate that receives more favorable votes than unfavorable votes will be declared elected.
• (4) If the sum of the number of directors so elected and the number of directors whose term did not expire at the particular meeting is less than the minimum number of directors provided for in these bylaws, then sufficient number of the unsuccessful candidates necessary to bring the number of directors up to the minimum number, selecting those with the with the most favorable votes, will be declared elected.

• 41. If the number of candidates nominated exceeds the maximum number of directors to be elected, as determined by the nominations committee, then a single ballot must be held:
• (1) Each ballot paper must contain the names of all candidates.
• (2) Each member present at the meeting will be entitled to vote in favor of up to the maximum number of directors to be elected by making a mark of some nature in the appropriate area of the ballot. Ballots with an excess number of votes will be considered invalid and the votes thereon will not be counted.
• (3) The candidates will be ranked in accordance with the number of valid votes received, and the number of candidates equal to the number of directors to be elected at the meeting, starting with the candidate receiving the largest number of votes and working down the ranked list, will be selected and declared elected.
• 41.1. In the event that two or more candidates receives the same number of votes in any ballot for the election of a director and the tie is relevant in determining whether a particular candidate is elected the winning candidate(s) from those candidates with the same number of votes will be determined by lot, or by coin toss, as determined by the nominations committee.
• 42. In any election, ballots in which a voter’s intention is not clear, and those containing extraneous marks of any nature, will be rejected and not counted.

• 43. In the event of a ballot, one or more scrutineers who are prepared to abide by the provisions of the following two sections of these bylaws will, if requested by a candidate, be selected from the members attending the meeting by requesting volunteers or by other means acceptable to the candidates and the nominating committee. In the event of disagreement, decisions of the nominating committee will be final.
• 44. The nominating committee will conduct all vote counts. The scrutineer(s) will observe the vote counts, confirm the number of votes cast for each candidate, and confirm the names of the elected candidates. Each member of the nominating committee and each scrutineer will sign a report setting out the list of elected candidates.
• 45. The only information provided to the candidates and the members of the society regarding any ballot will be the names of those candidates declared elected. The number of votes received by each candidate will be known only by the nominating committee and the scrutineers, and will not be provided to the candidates, the members of the society, or to any other person.

Part 8 — Proceedings of Directors

• 46. Meetings

• (1) The directors may meet at the places they think fit to conduct business, adjourn and otherwise regulate their meetings and proceedings, as they see fit.
• (2) The directors may from time to time set the quorum necessary to conduct business, and unless so set the quorum is a majority of the directors then in office.
• (3) The president is the chair of all meetings of the directors, but if at a meeting the president is not present within 30 minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the vice president must act as chair, but if neither is present the directors present may choose one of their number to be the chair at that meeting.
• (4) A director may at any time, and the secretary, on the request of a director, must, convene a meeting of the directors.
• (5) Notice of a directors’ meeting must be given at least 48 hours in advance of the commencement of the meeting. Directors may waive notice of a particular meeting in writing, by electronic mail, or by means of a motion passed at the meeting, if a majority of those directors in office at the time are present at the meeting and are in favor of the motion.

• 47. Committees

• (1) The directors may delegate any, but not all, of their powers to committees consisting of a director or directors and other members of the society as they think fit.
• (2) A committee so formed in the exercise of the powers so delegated must conform to any rules imposed on it by the directors, and must report every act or thing done in exercise of those powers to the earliest meeting of the directors held after the act or thing has been done.
• (3) A committee must elect a chair of its meetings, but if no chair is elected, or if at a meeting the chair is not present within 30 minutes after the time appointed for holding the meeting, the directors present who are members of the committee must choose one of their number to be the chair of the meeting.
• (4) The members of a committee may meet and adjourn as they think proper.

• 48. For a first meeting of directors held immediately following the appointment or election of a director or directors at an annual or other general meeting of members, or for a meeting of the directors at which a director is appointed to fill a vacancy in the directors, it is not necessary to give notice of the meeting to the newly elected or appointed director or directors for the meeting to be constituted, if a quorum of the directors is present.
• 49. A director who may be absent temporarily from Gabriola, British Columbia may send or deliver to the address of the society a waiver of notice, which may be by letter, electronic mail, telegram, telex or cable, of any meeting of the directors and may at any time withdraw the waiver, and until the waiver is withdrawn,

• (1) a notice of meeting of directors is not required to be sent to that director, and
• (2) any and all meetings of the directors of the society, notice of which has not been given to that director, if a quorum of the directors is present, are valid and effective.

• 50. Voting

• (1) Questions arising at a meeting of the directors and committee of directors must be decided by a majority of votes.
• (2) Each director will be entitled to one vote. Every vote will be equal to every other vote.
• (3) In the case of a tie vote, the chair does not have a second or casting vote in addition to the vote to which he or she may be entitled as a director, and the proposed resolution does not pass.

• 51. A resolution proposed at a meeting of directors or committee of directors need not be seconded, and the chair of a meeting may move or propose a resolution.
• 52. Directors who are unable to attend a meeting may deliver their vote with respect to any particular resolution to be considered at a meeting in writing to the president prior to the meeting. If the director is subsequently attends the particular meeting, or a resumption of the meeting after an adjournment, then the written vote will be ignored.
• 53. A resolution in writing, signed by all the directors and placed in the minutes of the directors, is as valid and effectual as if regularly passed at a meeting of directors. Such resolutions may be in one or more counterparts each signed by one or more directors which together shall be deemed to constitute one resolution in writing. Such resolution shall be effective on the date stated therein.
• 54. An act or proceeding of the directors is not invalid merely because there is less than the prescribed number of directors in office.

Part 9 —Officers

• 55. The officers will be elected by the directors from among their number at the first meeting of the directors following an annual general meeting of the society, and from time to time as may be required in the event of a vacancy occurring during the term of office of an officer.
• 56. If a successor is not elected, the person previously elected or appointed to an office continues to hold that office.
• 57. The president

• (1) presides at all meetings of the society and of the directors,
• (2) is the chief executive officer of the society, and
• (3) must supervise the other officers in the execution of their duties.

• 58. The vice president must carry out the duties of the president during the president's absence.
• 59. The secretary must do the following:

• (1) conduct the correspondence of the society;
• (2) issue notices of meetings of the society and directors;
• (3) keep minutes of all meetings of the society and directors; have custody of all records and documents of the society except those required to be kept by the treasurer; and
• (4) have custody of the common seal of the society.

• 60. The treasurer must

• (1) keep the financial records, including books of account, necessary to comply with the Society Act, and
• (2) render financial statements to the directors, members and others when required.

• 61. Secretary-treasurer

• (1) The offices of secretary and treasurer may be held by one person who is to be known as the secretary-treasurer.
• (2) If a secretary-treasurer holds office, the total number of directors must not be less than 5 or the greater number that may have otherwise been determined.

• 62. In the absence of the secretary from a meeting, the directors must appoint another person to act as secretary at the meeting.

Part 9.1 Executive Committee

• 62.1 The officers and the immediate past-president, if still a director, will constitute the executive committee.

• (1) The executive committee will:

• (a) act on behalf of the directors for those matters and during those time periods for which the directors have passed a resolution delegating action to the executive committee, with the condition that action taken will be reported to the directors, and .
• (b) act for the directors in situations which, in the opinion of the executive committee, require immediate action prior to the next meeting of the directors, and report to the directors on any action taken.

• (2) The quorum of the executive committee shall be three members. In the event that a quorum of executive committee members is not available at any particular time the executive committee may invite another director of the society to temporarily become a member of the executive committee.
• (3) The executive committee may conduct its affairs by telephone or by electronic means, provided all members of the committee are able to participate in all exchanges of information related to a particular decision or action.

Part 10 — Seal

• 63. The directors may provide a common seal for the society and may destroy a seal and substitute a new seal in its place.
• 64. The common seal must be affixed only when authorized by a resolution of the directors and then only in the presence of the persons specified in the resolution, or if no persons are specified, in the presence of the president and secretary or president and secretary-treasurer.

Part 11 — Borrowing

• 65. In order to carry out the purposes of the society the directors may, on behalf of and in the name of the society, raise or secure the payment or repayment of money in the manner they decide, and, in particular but without limiting that power, by the issue of debentures.
• 66. A debenture must not be issued without the authorization of a special resolution.
• 67. The members may, by special resolution, restrict the borrowing powers of the directors, but a restriction imposed expires at the next annual general meeting.

Part 12 — Auditor

• 68. This Part applies only if the society is required or has resolved to have an auditor.
• 69. The first auditor must be appointed by the directors who must also fill all vacancies occurring in the office of auditor.
• 70. At each annual general meeting the society must appoint an auditor to hold office until the auditor is re-elected or a successor is elected at the next annual general meeting.
• 71. An auditor may be removed by ordinary resolution.
• 72. An auditor must be promptly informed in writing of the auditor's appointment or removal.
• 73. A director or employee of the society must not be its auditor.
• 74. The auditor may attend general meetings.

Part 13 — Notice

• 75. A notice may be given to a member, either

• (1) personally,
• (2) by electronic or regular mail to the member at the member's registered address, if any, or
• (3) by placing an advertisement in at least one issue of at least one newspaper regularly published on Gabriola Island, British Columbia.

• 76. Notice may be given to a director of a directors meeting, either

• (1) personally,
• (2) by telephone, or
• (3) by electronic or regular mail.

• 77. A notice sent by mail is deemed to have been given on the second day following the day on which the notice is posted, and in proving that notice has been given, it is sufficient to prove the notice was properly addressed and put in a Canadian post office receptacle. A notice published in a newspaper is deemed to have been given on the date the newspaper is published.
• 78. Notice of a general meeting must be given to

• (1) the members, and
• (2) the auditor, personally or by regular or electronic mail if Part 10 applies.
• (3) No other person is entitled to receive a notice of a general meeting.

Part 14 — Bylaws

• 79. On being admitted to membership, each member is entitled to, and if requested by the member, the society must either give the member, without charge, a copy of the constitution and bylaws of the society, or ensure that the member can access the constitution and bylaws of the society via the internet.
• 80. These bylaws must not be altered or added to except by special resolution.

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