What it means for you and how you can engage
With the Field Hockey Canada Annual General Meeting (AGM) approaching on September 26, this is a timely opportunity to look at how the organization is governed, how decisions are made, and how members and the broader field hockey community can stay informed and engaged.
Good governance is about more than rules and meetings. It is about transparency, accountability, clear decision-making and creating meaningful ways for people across the sport to contribute.
Our Bylaws: The Foundation of Field Hockey Canada
The FHC Bylaws are the foundational document that establishes how the organization is structured and governed. They set out matters such as the role and authority of the Board, the rights and responsibilities of Members, meetings, elections, committees and other key governance requirements.
FHC’s governance framework operates within Canadian not-for-profit legislation, with the Bylaws providing the specific framework for how the organization operates.
(LINK)
Who Are FHC’s Members?
An important part of understanding FHC governance is understanding the distinction between Members and Registered Participants.
FHC’s formal Members are the provincial sport organizations (PSOs). These Members have the formal voting rights associated with membership and participate in key governance decisions of the national organization.
Across the country, thousands of athletes, coaches, officials, volunteers, clubs, universities and other participants make up the broader field hockey community. FHC recognizes these individuals and organizations as Registered Participants.
This means that while Registered Participants may not hold the same formal voting rights as FHC Members, there are many ways for them to contribute to the development and direction of the sport including through committees, advisory groups, consultations, athlete engagement and other initiatives.
Understanding this structure is important because good governance requires both clear formal authority and meaningful engagement across the broader system.
The Annual General Meeting
The AGM is the formal annual meeting of FHC’s Members and is an important part of organizational accountability.
At the AGM, Members receive reports on the organization’s activities and governance, review the audited financial statements, participate in elections and consider other business properly brought before the meeting.
LINK TO AGM
The 2026 AGM is scheduled for Saturday, September 26 at 1:00 p.m. PDT. The published agenda includes Board elections, reports from the Board’s standing committees, the audited financial statements for 2025–26 and the appointment of the organization’s auditors for the coming fiscal year.
The AGM is therefore much more than a formal annual requirement. It is an important opportunity for Members to understand how FHC is performing, ask questions, participate in governance and help shape the future direction of the organization.
AGM information, agendas, financial reports and previous AGM minutes are available on the FHC website.
Membership and Participant Fees
At this year’s AGM, Members will also consider a proposal for a modest increase in membership and participant fees. FHC has maintained its fee structure for more than a decade. During that period, the cost of delivering national programs, events, governance, insurance, technology, travel and other services has increased significantly.
At the same time, the scope of FHC’s work and the services delivered across the Canadian field hockey system have grown substantially. The proposed change is therefore intended to ensure that the organization has an appropriate and sustainable revenue base to continue delivering for athletes, Members and the broader field hockey community.
As with all formal governance matters, the proposal will be considered through the appropriate Member process.
Board of Directors: Governance and Oversight
FHC’s Board of Directors is elected by the Members and is responsible for the governance and strategic oversight of the organization. The Board’s role is different from that of the operational team. The Board establishes strategic direction, oversees organizational performance, financial controls, risk and governance, and delegates day-to-day management to the CEO.
FHC’s Board Terms of Reference specifically identify responsibilities including strategic planning, financial oversight, risk management, Safe Sport, governance documents and Board effectiveness. The Board meets throughout the year, with a minimum of four meetings required under its Terms of Reference, and may meet more frequently depending on the organization’s needs.
Board meetings are supported by formal agendas, materials and minutes. Once approved, Board minutes are made available to Members through the website or by request, providing an important mechanism for transparency and accountability. You can review Board meeting archives on the FHC website. [link to board archives]
Committees: Bringing More Voices Into the Work
Committees are another important part of FHC’s governance and operating model.
The FHC Bylaws establish three standing Board committees:
- Governance Committee
- Human Resources Committee
- Finance & Audit Committee
These committees support the Board in areas such as governance effectiveness, human resources and financial oversight. Beyond these standing committees, the Board can establish additional committees and working groups where specific expertise or community engagement is required.
Today, FHC’s committee network extends across areas including:
- Athlete engagement
- Coach Education
- Officials
- Masters
- U SPORTS
- Equity, Diversity & Inclusion
- Sponsorship and fundraising
- Canadian Olympic Foundation initiatives
- Hall of Fame
This broader network reflects FHC’s Team of Teams approach, bringing together expertise from different parts of the field hockey community to help address specific opportunities and challenges.
One example has been the work around U SPORTS, where community engagement and collaboration have helped strengthen the relationship between university hockey and the national sport system.
[Link to committees]
Governance Is More Than Meetings, it’s engagement
Perhaps the most important part of good governance is engagement.
A healthy national sport system needs people from across the country contributing their knowledge, experience and perspectives.
That engagement can happen in many ways:
- Members participate in formal governance and voting processes.
- Athletes contribute through the Athlete Council and other athlete engagement initiatives.
- Coaches and officials contribute through their respective committees and working groups.
- Clubs, universities and volunteers contribute their experience and expertise through committees, consultations and system initiatives.
- And the broader field hockey community can participate through opportunities such as Collaborative Conversations, consultations and other engagement initiatives.
Our recent governance work has reinforced the importance of listening across the system. The goal is not simply to create more meetings or committees it is to make sure that the right people, knowledge and perspectives are connected to the right conversations.
Transparency Starts With Access to Information
FHC is committed to making key governance information accessible.
Our website provides a growing library of resources, including:
- Bylaws and constitutional documents
- Board Terms of Reference
- Board meeting minutes and archives
- AGM agendas and minutes
- Audited financial statements
- Strategic plans
- Board and committee information
- Governance and operational policies
- Athlete documents
We encourage Members and Registered Participants to use these resources, ask questions and stay informed.
Looking Ahead
Governance is ultimately about creating the conditions for the sport to succeed. That means having clear roles and responsibilities, sound financial oversight, effective decision-making, strong accountability and meaningful engagement across the country. FHC is committed to continuing to build a Team of Teams approach where Members, athletes, coaches, officials, clubs, universities, volunteers, staff and partners can contribute to the development of Canadian field hockey.
As we approach the AGM, we encourage everyone across the community to stay informed, stay engaged and stay connected. The strength of Canadian field hockey comes from the people who contribute to it every day. Together, we can continue building stronger communities and a stronger national sport system across Canada.
