The Operational Enhancement Initiative (OEI) is a key strategy launched by viaSport to support all Provincial Sport Organizations (PSOs) across British Columbia in strengthening their operational capacity in anticipation of the launch of Sport Safeguarding BC, an agency dedicated to ensuring safe and respectful participation in amateur sport across BC, due to open in early 2026. The Initiative also recognizes the challenges PSOs have faced over the past three years, particularly those stemming from the COVID-19 pandemic. The OEI aims to help PSOs stabilize and build resilience across the sector.

The OEI has focused on four priority areas critical to sustainable operations:

• Governance
• Financial Literacy
• Communications
• Emergency Preparedness and Risk Management

Through targeted funding and resources, the OEI assists PSOs in adopting best practices and improving their internal processes. The initiative is designed to ensure that BC’s sport sector can deliver safe and inclusive programs for athletes across the province.

Following a comprehensive five-month review led by the Sport Law Group and commissioned by viaSport, a series of internal and external recommendations have been formulated to enhance Triathlon BC’s governance framework. The review identified several key areas for improvement, including:

1. Membership & Participants: Differentiate between “Members” (with legal/statutory rights under the bylaws) and broader “Participants” (athletes, volunteers, others) to ensure organizational authority and oversight applies to all involved.
2. Affiliated Clubs: Redefine non-voting “Member Clubs” into “Affiliated Clubs” through a recognition process, requiring adherence to Triathlon BC policies and safe sport standards.
3. Youth Membership: Clarify the rights of youth members, ensuring that voting is aligned and consistent with best practices in both provincial and federal landscapes.
4. Board Structure: Remove bylaw provisions allowing arbitrary changes to Board size at general meetings; establish clear, limited options.
5. Directors vs. Officers: Clarify terminology so that only Chair, Treasurer, and Secretary (and potentially the Executive Director) are recognized as Officers with additional duties.
6. Governance Function: Strengthen member rights and responsibilities in the bylaws (electing Directors, appointing the auditor, amending bylaws) without requiring reliance on the Societies Act for detail.
7. Member Affiliation: Move detailed rules on membership refusal out of bylaws into a policy.
8. Financial Statements: Members should only receive financial statements at the AGM, not formally approve them.
9. General Bylaw Updates;
   • Ensure definitions are alphabetical and legally accurate.
   • Replace “Extraordinary General Meetings” with “General Meetings.”
   • Permit a parliamentarian to chair member meetings if necessary.
   • Adjust quorum to reflect only voting members.
   • Eliminate proxy voting, given virtual accessibility.
   • Allow Directors to be elected/appointed without requiring membership, increasing flexibility to attract skilled leaders.

Proposed Repeal and Replacement of Triathlon BC Bylaws
Given the breadth of recommendations and the need for consistency, it was advised by Sport Law that Triathlon BC repeal its existing bylaws in their entirety and replace them with an updated, consolidated document. This approach ensures clarity, eliminates outdated provisions, and aligns Triathlon BC’s governance framework with current best practices, legal requirements, and the operational realities of the organization.

• Existing Triathlon BC Bylaws filed with the BC Registries
• Bylaws highlighting proposed changes to existing Bylaws
• Proposed New Bylaws

Why Change is Needed
Triathlon BC’s existing bylaws were drafted many years ago, with the last update approved by the members in 2019, and no longer provide the clarity or flexibility needed to effectively govern a modern provincial sport organization. Specific gaps include:

• Unclear distinctions between members and participants (athletes, volunteers, event registrants).
• Outdated provisions regarding youth membership and voting.
• Governance risks related to terminology.
• Redundant or overly detailed rules that belong in policies, not bylaws.
• Language and definitions that require modernization and alignment with the Societies Act.

Why Repeal and Replace
Rather than updating the bylaws in a piecemeal fashion, the most effective and transparent approach – recommended by Sport Law – is to repeal the existing bylaws entirely and replace them with a new, consolidated document. This ensures:

• All recommended changes are implemented consistently.
• Members and participants have a clear understanding of rights, roles, and responsibilities.
• Triathlon BC aligns with provincial and national best practices for safe, inclusive, and accountable governance.

Next Steps
At the 2025 Annual General Meeting, being held on Sunday, October 19^th, Triathlon BC will put the following motion on the floor:

“Be it resolved, as a special resolution, requiring a 75% supporting vote, that the existing bylaws of Triathlon BC be repealed in their entirety and replaced with the bylaws as circulated to the membership.”

If the resolution is approved with the required majority, Triathlon BC will file the new bylaws with the BC Registries and take effect immediately.

Summary
Updating Triathlon BC’s bylaws represents best practices in governance, and a critical step toward reinforcing our governance framework. This initiative underscores our commitment to transparency, accountability, and effective stewardship thereby ensuring we continue to serve our members, participants, and the broader triathlon community with integrity and excellence.

For more information or inquiries about viaSport’s Operational Excellence Initiative or the Bylaw update process, please contact Triathlon BC (info@tribc.org).