Curling Club Converts to Non-Profit Society

Summary#

• This bill turns the Windsor Curling Club from a company into a non-profit society under Nova Scotia’s Societies Act.

• It keeps the club running with the same assets and debts, but changes how it is owned and governed.

• Key changes:

  • The club files new founding papers (memorandum of association) and rules (bylaws) with the Registrar of Societies.
  • After approval and filing, the company becomes the “Windsor Curling Club” as a society.
  • All current shareholders become members of the society, each with one vote.
  • All company shares are cancelled. They have no cash value, pay no dividends, and give no claim to assets if the society later closes.
  • Current directors and officers stay in place until the first annual general meeting. All assets and debts carry over to the new society.

What it means for you#

• Shareholders

  • You become a member of the new society if you are living at the time of conversion.
  • You get one vote as a member, no matter how many shares you had.
  • Your shares are cancelled. They cannot be sold or transferred, have no money value, will not pay dividends, and do not give you any share of the club’s assets if it dissolves later.

• Club members and curlers

  • Day-to-day use of the club should continue. The change is about legal status and governance, not activities on the ice.
  • As a member-based society, decisions are made on a one-member-one-vote basis.

• Board, staff, and volunteers

  • The same directors and officers stay on until the first annual general meeting of the society.
  • Existing policies may be updated to fit the Societies Act and the new bylaws.

• Creditors and business partners

  • All assets and liabilities move to the new society. Contracts and debts remain in place with the society as the successor.

• Community

  • The club will operate as a non-profit society (an organization that does not distribute profits to owners), which may better match a community sports club’s mission.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Aligns the club’s legal form with its purpose as a community, non-profit activity.
• Creates fair, simple governance with one vote per member.
• Prevents private gain from shares, keeping the club’s assets focused on serving members and the community.
• Provides a clean transfer of assets and debts, reducing disruption to operations.
• Keeps current leadership in place during the transition for stability.

Opponents' View#

• Shareholders lose any financial stake because shares are cancelled and have no value after conversion.
• Those who held many shares may feel their influence is reduced under one-member-one-vote.
• Changing legal status requires new paperwork and bylaw updates, which can take time and effort.
• Some may worry about clarity or disputes during the shift from a company to a society, even though the bill carries assets and debts over.