At its Annual General Meeting on Sunday, the Canadian Cycling Association approved by-law changes that will introduce a significantly different leadership structure to the organization. The major differences are:

– A board made up of a President, five Directors elected at large, not representing any particular geographical area or membership group and a National Team Athlete Director and a non-voting Past President.
– The elimination of the Executive Council that previously served as the management group
– The delegation of the authority to manage the organization to the Director General with staff and Program Committees
– The establishment of three new committees: Events Committee, Athlete and Coach Development, Officials Committee
– The establishment of the Inter-Provincial Council that will bring together the provincial cycling associations to work on common interests and concerns, to share best practices and focus on how they can work collaboratively to develop cycling.

The primary reason for these changes was to set up a clear distinction between the leadership role of the board and the management role of staff and committees. The board will look at the long-term and big picture and provide leadership through policy, strategic planning and budget. The day-to-day management of the association will be left to staff and program specialists.

In making this change, CCA follows the example of other national sport organizations who have radically revised their governing structure. Many of those NSOS have found new flexibility and responsiveness and attribute the change in governance to new levels of competitive and program excellence.