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A Report on GOVERNANCE MODEL and STRUCTURE Beaver Hills

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A Report on GOVERNANCE MODEL and STRUCTURE Beaver Hills A report on GOVERNANCE MODEL AND STRUCTURE For the Beaver Hills Initiative May, 2017 INTRODUCTION Starting in November 2016, Otago Consulting looked at developing a new governance model for the Beaver Hills Initiative (BHI) given the designation earlier in 2016 by UNESCO to an official Biosphere Reserve and BHI’s intent to formalize into an incorporated stand-alone organization. Through meetings, workshops and interviews with current members, other Biospheres and local non- governmental organizations and legal consultation, we have arrived at several recommendations for the BHI Board. This report provides details of those recommendations and some of the background required for the next step of incorporating Beaver Hills Biosphere Reserve with a new structure of membership, funding and governance. PROJECT SCOPE Otago Consulting was commissioned to develop a governance model and recommendations to determine a corporate or other structure for the Beaver Hills Initiative. The project outline included two main goals: Goal 1: Development of a governance model to meet the needs of the BHI partners and compliant with UNESCO: . Review of current governance policy and procedures of the BHI. Research governance models based on the existing BHI partnership collaboration and the recent designation of the Beaver Hills Biosphere. Review other Biosphere Reserves governance models. Facilitate a working session with the Executive Committee and the Board to discuss: o Principles of Governance and Boards of NGO’s o Board structure, roles and procedures o Board leadership, duties and responsibilities o Sequencing and timeframe for implementation of Governance model o Recommend the appropriate governance structure (non-profit corporation, society, other incorporated or unincorporated delivery vehicles) for the Beaver Hills Initiative . Consultation with legal experts Goal 2: Develop and submit draft documents required for delivery of the recommended governance model . Research models of other Biospheres to determine the best model for the Beaver Hills Biosphere . Develop bylaws and policies in compliance with recommended structure and delivery vehicle and UNESCO . Apply for and receive legal status for the BHI . Develop a transition plan for the BHI and its partners to fulfill requirements under the Act 2 | P a g e PROJECT TEAM Gary Redmond – lead consultant Brenda Barber – research, interview and bylaw support Zack Lindop – legal support Edwin Radke – financial/audit support PROJECT PROCESS AND TIMELINES 1. Document Review The project started in early November, 2016 with a review of documents provided by BHI and other sources: . Policies and Procedures . Canadian Biosphere Reserve structures . Indigenous inclusion workplan . Board minutes . Augustana Campus and the Beaver Hills Biosphere (Glen Hvenegaard, Augustana Campus) . Governance Matters! Part 3 (George Francis, U of Saskatchewan) . Learning From Each Other: Proven Good Practices In Canadian Biosphere Reserves (U of Saskatchewan) . Bylaws of several Canadian Biosphere Reserves . MOU between Strathcona County and the BHI 2. Board and Member Engagement On November 9, 2016, the BHI Board was briefed on the project scope and planned activities which would engage members through individual interviews and two working sessions. Between mid-November and mid-December, 25 BHI participants (members) provided information through either a telephone interview, face to face meeting or by email. The interviews were done in confidence and questions around understanding of current governance structure, issues resulting from current governance structure and preferred future governance structures or preferred elements or characteristics of a future governance structures were asked. On January 20, 2017, a workshop was conducted with the BHI Board. The workshop agenda included: - Project scope - History of the BHI - Current Governance status – what we heard - Biospheres in Canada - Profile of 6 local NGOs and their governance structure - Participants were split into 3 groups – Elected officials, municipal employees, everyone else and answered a series of questions related to preferred state of: o Membership and funding o Organizational Structure and Funding o Incorporation (type of organization) 3 | P a g e On March 8, 2017, a workshop was conducted with the BHI Board to test the validity of draft recommendations for: - Legal Status - Membership and funding - Board governance - Organizational structure Information on timelines and pproposed initial budget were also provided. 3. Review of other Biospheres and local non-governmental organizations Throughout the course of the project, other Biospheres were consulted for guidance and examples. This included document review, email, telephone and one face to face meeting. Contact was also initiated with the Canadian Biosphere Reserve Association. Most biosphere reserves in Canada are incorporated as non-profit organizations, and some have charitable status. The others are administered through an existing organization in their area. Biosphere reserves program activities are decided locally, but some can be linked to national or international programs. 4 | P a g e Clayoquot Sound Biosphere Reserve, BC Clayoquot Sound BR was incorporated as a non profit society in 2000 and is a registered charity. The membership of the CSBR is made up of eight participating communities. Each of the participating communities appoints a participating member; three of the communities may jointly appoint up to two additional persons to be members. Each participating member is a director; each participating community also appoints an alternate. The Board also has advisors – three from the Canadian Government; one from the BC Government and the Board may appoint up to five persons. Mount Arrowsmith Biosphere Reserve, BC Mount Arrowsmith BR was incorporated as a society in 2000. In 2014, it dissolved its society status and handed the management over to Vancouver Island University and the City of Parksville (Memorandum of Understanding to co-manage). MABR has built a roundtable involving First Nations, Municipal and senior levels of government, private industry, conservation groups and other regional representatives. Tsa Tué Biosphere Reserve, NWT The first biosphere reserve north of the 60th parallel in Canada, and among the largest in the world, Tsa Tué BR is led entirely by Indigenous Peoples. Waterton Biosphere Reserve, AB The Waterton BR was designed by UNESCO in 1979 and established as an informal association in 1980 by staff of Waterton Lakes National Park and members of the local community. , the The Waterton Lakes National Park Waterton Biosphere was incorporated as a non-profit association in 1990. The Board is comprised of community, academic, scientist, Parks Canada and municipal. Redberry Lake Biosphere Reserve, SK Redberry Lake BR was incorporated in 2000 as the Redberry Regional Economic Development Authority Corporation. Redberry Lake BR has a Board of Governors made up of Regional Municipalities, the Town of Hafford, the Redberry Lake Regional Park and representatives from UNESCO (Education, Culture and Science Sector). Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve, MB Launched in 1971, Riding Mountain National Park Riding Mountain Biosphere Reserve Management Committee, it is made up of 15 municipalities, Environment Canada and Parks Canada. Long Point Biosphere Reserve, ON The Long Point BR is a non-profit charitable organization, incorporated in 1986. Individual members are individuals and sole proprietorships who have been appointed as individual members by the Board; Institutions members are companies, corporations, partnerships and unincorporated associations who have been appointed as institutional members by the Board. 5 | P a g e The board is made up of 16 board members elected by the individual and institutional members. Niagara Escarpment Biosphere Reserve, ON The Niagara Escarpment BR is a regulatory agency commission that operates at arms length from the Ontario Government. Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve, ON The Georgian Bay Biosphere Reserve was incorporated as a non-profit corporation in 2004. Frontenac Arch Biosphere Reserve, ON The Frontenac Arch BR was incorporated as a non-profit organization in 2002. The Board is comprised of 21 volunteers. Mont Saint-Hilaire Biosphere Reserve, PQ The Nature Centre at Mont Saint-Hilaire has been working with McGill University since 1972. Members, either through payment, volunteer hours or a combination of both are entitled to attend and vote in the annual general meeting and apply to the Board of Directors. Lac-St-Pierre Biosphere Reserve, PQ The Lac-St-Pierre BR incorporated as a society in 1994. Membership is made up of citizens, stakeholders and community organizations, political bodies, financial partners, educational institutions and major industries. Charlevoix Biosphere Reserve, PQ Charlevoix BR obtained UNESCO status in 1988 and is incorporated as a non-profit corporation. Manicouagan-Uapishka Biosphere Reserve, PQ The Manicouagan-Uapishka BR was incorporated in 2007. Southwest Nova Biosphere Reserve, NS The Southwest Nova BR was incorporated as a non-profit association in 2001. Board Composition: Five Municipal Government; Two First Nations, Five Industry; Five Community Seven NGO; Three Academic. Advisors appointed to the Board with representation from Provincial and Federal Government Departments including Parks Canada, Environment Canada and Government of Nova Scotia. Fundy Biosphere Reserve, NB The Fundy BR incorporated
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