October 26, 2014 (Milton, ON) – The Cycling Canada AGM concluded on Sunday morning with president John Tolkamp proclaiming that the sport is on the cusp of big things as we are literally days away from the opening of the Mattamy National Cycling Centre in Milton.
The association’s overall budget of $6+million enjoyed a surplus of $122,800 marking the 8th year that Cycling Canada has recorded a surplus. Part of the reason was unanticipated High Performance funding of $720,000 which also means reserves now sit at $590,000 allowing the association more security should a rainy day scenario occur ($500,000 is recommended) – audited F/S here.
A new foundation is being formed to raise more funds from the private sector in association with the Canadian Olympic Foundation with the hopes of bringing in $3 to 4 million for development in the years to come says Tolkamp. Sport Canada and Own the Podium provide much of the association’s operational funds for high performance programs but not for development.
On the marketing side Global Relay came on board as a national sponsor this year and another new exciting initiative is a Brand Awareness Campaign that is rolling out in March/April of 2015 to raise the level of awareness of the association and inspire more people to ride their bikes. The Canadian Olympic Foundation is supporting this initiative and the program will cover all disciplines over a broad spectrum – more details will be forthcoming in the near future.
The High Performance Committee remains focused on major Games selection and the building of selection criteria for major Games, carding selection and the building of this criteria. New coaches have been recently been hired and the track component will be centralized at the Mattamy National Cycling Centre along with the Integrated Sport Medicine and Sport Science (IST) creating another important hub for the sport.
With the recent Not for Profit Corporations Act in place the association will need to adopt new procedures for its AGM which must be held within six months of its fiscal year-end of March 31 that coincides with Sport Canada.
The new game plan is to hold the AGM via conference call by Sept. 30 and stage an Annual Conference each year to encompass the other components of the Board of Directors and Provincial Sport Organization meetings and social activities, which is slated to be held from Oct. 30-Nov. 1, 2015 in St. Johns, Newfoundand.
Elections
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
Director at Large (2 years)
– Bill Kinash, Kevin Baldwin, Hannah Parish – acclaimed
PROGRAM COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Chair HPC Committee (2 years)
– Guy Vincent – acclaimed
Development Team Representative (2 years)
– Andrew Iler
– Brendan Arnold – elected
EVENTS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Chair Events Committee (2 years)
– Andrew Paradowski – acclaimed
Road & Track Representative (2 years)
– Andy Holmwood – nominated from the floor – acclaimed
OFFICIALS COMMITTEE MEMBERS
Road & Track Representative (2 years)
– Wayne Pomario – acclaimed
BMX Representative (2 years)
– Jason Howard – acclaimed
The following Awards were presented at the Annual General Meeting:
AWARDS
Event/Organizer of the Year:
– Road – Tour of Alberta – Edmonton / Calgary -AB
– Mountain Bike – Canadian XCO Championships – Hardwood Ski and Bike, ON
– BMX – Canadian Championships & Canada Cup Final – Drummondville, QC
– Paracycling- Global Relay Canadian Road Championships – Lac-Megantic, QC
– Cyclocross – Canadian Championships – Surrey, BC (2013)
National Commissaire of the Year 2014 – Anne Cobban (ON)
International Commissaire of the Year 2014 – Loyal Ma (AB)
Recognition Award for Paracycling Coach of the Year – Eric Van den Eynde (QC)
Recognition Award for Road Coach of the Year – Christine Gillard (QC)
Torchy Peden Award – Alberta Bicycle Association
Russ Copeland Award – Daina Tuchscherer (BMX) – 6th place at Junior BMX Worlds in Rotterdam NED
President’s Trophy – Catharine Pendrel (MTB) – World Champion XC event at MTB Worlds in Hafjell NOR
Builder of the Year – Louise Lalonde (QC)
Service Pins:
– 15 years – Jim Crosscombe / ON
– 10 years – André Michaud / QC Denise Kelly / ON
– 5 years – Dan Proulx / BC Sebastien Travers / QC
October 28th, 2014 at 2:43 am
Where has all the cycling interest and where have all the experienced passionate cycling people of all colours and nationalities gone?
Everyone on the CCA board acclaimed?
No one cares or have the old internationally thinking guard given up trying to crack the Maple Syrup McCycling clique?
Most of the awards were well deserved but let’s avoid blatantly politically correct awards being given to people that barely know the sport?
Due to lack of research a fifteen year service award being publicly given to a pseudo cycling person who connived to make themselves “Association Dictator for life” and who does not have the experience or ability to organize a new or maintain an old UCI event in his fiefdom? A fifty million dollar sophisticated international facility built in this inept pretend guy’s realm? Scary. Headline should read “Can kicking dictator for life held in high regard by dumb and blind Canadian Cycling “unchallenged” “acclaimed” Leadership”.
Cyclists, stand up for your sport and rid yourselves of stale, mediocre, dictators and demand democracy and CHANGE. As to mass acclamations those are the symptom of a sick, arrogant, exclusive, untouchable and unreachable organization and this situation if not changed does NOT bode well for the real growth of Canadian international level cycling.