In five provinces of the Maple Leaf County are 12 cities with 18 affiliated GAA clubs. Going from West to East (7,349 km in total) one finds British Columbia’s Vancouver Irish Sporting and Social Club; Alberta’s Calgary Chieftains, Red Deer Eire Ogs (Mens), Edmonton Wolfe Tones, Fort McMurray Shamrocks (Mens); Ontario’s Toronto Hurling Club, St. Mikes, St. Pats (Mens), St. Vincents (Mens), Gaels (Mens), Toronto Camogie Club; Durham Robert Emmets, Brampton Roger Casements, Michael Cusacks (Ladies), Ottawa Gaels, Quebec’s Montreal Shamrocks, Quebec City Les Patriotes and Newfoundland and Labrador’s St. John's Avalon Harps. The Canadian Board is twinned with the Ulster Council GAA. The name of the Gaelic Athletic Association, as it applies to Canada, is the Canadian County Board, Incorporated (CCB). The basic aim of the CCB is to preserve and promote Gaelic Games and pastimes in Canada. The founding of the CCB took place on Sunday, November 15th 1987. The meeting was chaired by GAA President Dr. Mick Loftus of Crossmolina, County Mayo. Among those in attendance were Toronto’s Cormac O’Muiri, Ottawa’s Pat Kelly, Montreal’s Paul Moran and Paddy Dunne (R.I.P.). The first elections of officers were Toronto’s Paul Kennedy as Chairman, Vancouver’s John O’Flynn as Secretary and Ottawa’s Michael Connolly as Treasurer. Others who have served on the County Board since its foundation include Diarmuid O’Connor, Noelle Russell, Sean Harte, Matthew Healy, Fionnuala McGovern, Pat Donnelly and Billy Millar. Today the County Board consists of President Brian Farmer (Toronto), Vice-President Jarlath Connaughton (Ottawa), Treasurer Eddie Mangan (Toronto), Secretary John O’Flynn (Vancouver) and Development Officer Lorraine Morley (Toronto) with over 400 registered players from five Provinces within Canada – British Columbia, Alberta, Ontario, Quebec and Newfoundland and Labrador. The CCB is a democratic organization comprised of the following units: Affiliated Clubs, Divisional Boards of Toronto and Western Canada, and the County Committee. Chairman Vice Chairman Secretary Treasurer Development Officer Lorraine Morley lorrainemorley@rogers.com Regional Games Development Officers Lorraine White (Durham), Damian Higgins (Brampton) and Dermot Guinnane (Ottawa).
2012 BYE LAWS
10.02.’12 : Bye-Laws of Canadian Co. Board approved by Coiste Bainistí . Table of Contents 1. Incorporation and Governance 1 2. Election of Officers, Entitled to Vote 1 4. Canadian County Board Committee 2 5. Competitions Control Committee. 2 8. Basic Aim of the Canadian County Board 3 9. Units of the Canadian County Board 3 11. Jurisdiction of the Canadian County Board. 3 14. Divisional Board Regulations 4 15. Divisional Boards, Minor Board and Club Failure to Function. 4 16. Club Registration and Affiliation Fees. 4 19. Separately Affiliated Hurling and Football Clubs 5 20. Inter County and Out of County Competitions, Tournaments and Challenge Games 5 23. Cumann Peil Gael na mBan 6
1. Incorporation and Governance
1.01 The Incorporated and Governing Body of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Canada is The “Canadian County Board Incorporated” hereinafter referred to as the Canadian County Board, the Canadian County Board shall govern the affairs of the Gaelic Athletic Association in Canada, including, but not by way of limitation, Ladies and Men’s Gaelic Football, Hurling, Camogie and Handball.
2. Election of Officers, Entitled to Vote
2.01 The Canadian County Board Committee shall be elected at the Annual Convention of the Canadian County Board, which shall be held no later than December 31st, at which Convention the following representatives are entitled to vote: (a) The outgoing Committee of the Canadian County Board (b) The Chairpersons of Clubs, along with one additional Representative from each Club. (c) The Chairpersons of the Divisional Boards and the Chairperson of the Toronto Minor Board. 3. Term in Office
3.01 The delegates at the Annual Convention of the Canadian County Board shall elect the following Officers to the Canadian County Board Committee.
Chairperson: (Three year term) Vice Chairperson, Secretary, Treasurer, Development Officer & Registrar: (One year term). In the event that there is an “Outgoing President” the Outgoing President shall be appointed as the Honorary President of the Canadian County Board: (Three year term) 4. Canadian County Board Committee
4.01 The Canadian County Board Committee shall consist of the Officers elected at the Annual Convention of the Canadian County Board. 5. Competitions Control Committee.5.01 In accordance with Rule 3.22 (ii) The County Committee shall appoint a Competitions Control Committee, consisting of five people, for each of the Divisional Boards under its jurisdiction. These shall be responsible for all arrangements including the appointment of Referees, for and control of any matters arising from games under their jurisdiction as determined by the County Committee, including disciplinary matters other than those functions reserved to the County Hearings Committee. It shall investigate and process matters relating to the Enforcement of Rules, including hearing Objections and Counter Objections. The Divisional CCCs shall have Plenary Powers. Each Committee shall have five (5) members, who shall be appointed from members of the County Committee and/or suitable personnel. Together with the Divisional Referees’ Administrator, who shall be entitled to vote only on the appointment of referees? The County Committee may delegate other Plenary Powers to each CCC and in such cases Appeals may be made only to the Appeals Committee.
6. Hearings Committee.
6.01 In accordance with Rule 3.22(iii) The Canadian County Board shall appoint a Hearings Committee, it shall adjudicate on all Disciplinary Matters where a Hearing is prescribed and requested, relating to the Enforcement of Rules arising from matters under the Jurisdiction of the Canadian County Board. Exception: A Hearing of an Objection or Counter Objection is the function of the Divisional Boards Competitions Control Committees It shall consist of Five (5) Members who shall be appointed from Members of the County Committee and or other suitable personal. No Member of a Divisional Board Competitions Control Committee may serve as a Member of the Hearings Committee. The powers of the Hearings Committee shall be plenary powers.
7. Appeals Committee.
7.01 Selected Members of the Canadian Country Board Committee shall form and act as The Appeals Committee in the Jurisdiction of the Canadian Country Board. The Appeals Committee shall consist of three (3) Members, mandated as the authority of Last Resort to Adjudicate and deal with disciplinary matters including, but not by way of limitation, player appeals of decisions rendered by the Hearings Committee in respect of disciplinary actions or rulings pronounced by the Competitions Control Committee. As to all matters within the authority of the Appeals Committee, the findings of the Appeals Committee shall be final and without further recourse or Appeal. 8. Basic Aim of the Canadian County Board
8.01 The basic aim of the Canadian County Board is to preserve and promote Gaelic Games and Pastimes in Canada. 9. Units of the Canadian County Board
9.01 The Canadian County Board is a democratic organization comprised of the following Units: 1. Clubs 2. Divisional Boards 3. Toronto Minor Board 4. County Committee 10. Protocols and Controls.
10.01 All Clubs, Divisional Boards and the Minor Board are subject to the Protocols and Ultimate control of the Canadian County Board. 11. Jurisdiction of the Canadian County Board.
11.01 The Canadian County Board, as approved by Central Council and Congress, shall be the Final Authority on all matters within its Jurisdiction. 12. Membership
12.01 Membership of the Gaelic Athletic Association shall be granted only by a Club. 12.02 The rules regarding application for admission to Membership and Suspension or Expulsion from Club activities shall be as set out in the Current Official Guide of the Gaelic Athletic Association. 13. Divisional Boards
13.01 The Clubs of the Canadian County Board, with the exception of Quebec City Les Patriotes, Montreal Shamrocks and St. John’s GAA Newfoundland shall be formed into Divisional Boards, the Divisions shall be known as follows:
1. Toronto Divisional Board: Comprising of Clubs from Toronto, Brampton, Durham and Ottawa.
2. Western Canada Divisional Board: Comprising of Clubs from Vancouver, Calgary, Red Deer, Edmonton and Fort McMurray.
3. Toronto Minor Board: Comprising of Clubs from Brampton, Durham, Ottawa and Toronto.
4. Each of the Divisional Boards, and Toronto Minor Board, shall be administered by a Committee elected at the Annual General Meeting of the Outgoing Committee 14. Divisional Board Regulations
14.01 Divisional Boards shall draft Regulations to govern its own Jurisdiction and Operations, Subject to the following Conditions:
1. All such Regulations are subject to the Approval of the Canadian County Board and must be submitted by the Divisional Boards to the Canadian County Board for review and approval prior to January 1
2. The Canadian County Board shall forward a copy of the Divisional Board Regulations to Central Council by February 1 for Review and Approval by Management on behalf of Central Council. 15. Divisional Boards, Minor Board and Club Failure to Function.
15.01 When a Divisional Board, Toronto Minor Board, or Club Fails to Function, the Canadian County Board, through its Chairperson and Secretary shall assume full control of that Division, Minor Board or Club. 16. Club Registration and Affiliation Fees.
16.01 Each Club shall register with the Canadian County Board Development Officer & Registrar, by way of the Divisional Board Registrar, its Players, Officials and Team Colors no later than April 30th.
16.02 The Annual Affiliation Fee shall be $100 per Club
16.03 Fees must be received by the Canadian County Board no later than April 30th.
16.04 Annual Registration fees shall be $5 per member.
16.05 Registrations Fees must be paid to the respective Divisional Boards, and, the Divisional Boards shall forward registration fees to the Canadian County Board no later than July 1st.
16.06 The Canadian County Board shall forward €2 per member to Central Council. 17. Player Sanctions
17.01 The maximum number of Sanctioned Players permitted to register with any Club under the Jurisdiction of the Canadian County Board is Seven (7). A Club fielding a Second Team is permitted to register Three (3) additional Sanctioned Players.
18. Player Transfers
18.01 In Accordance with Rule 6.13 (c) (I)
A player who remains permanently (i.e. beyond one playing season in the Jurisdiction of the Canadian County Board shall be eligible to obtain an Inter County Transfer. Application for such Transfer shall be lodged in Croke Park .
Divisional Committees shall consider requests for Transfers between Clubs within the Division, and make recommendations to the Canadian County Board whose decision shall be final.
Requests for Inter-Divisional Transfers shall be considered by the Canadian County Board whose decision shall be final.
19. Separately Affiliated Hurling and Football Clubs
19.01 A player of a Separately Affiliated Hurling Club may play Football with a Separately Affiliated Football Club and vice versa. He may do so only with the prior permission of the County Committee.
20. Inter County and Out of County Competitions, TournamentsAnd Challenge Games
20.01 Clubs, within the jurisdiction of the Canadian County Board intending to participate in Inter County or Out of County Competitions and Tournaments must seek the written Permission of the Canadian County Board at least twelve weeks prior to the proposed date Of said Competition or Tournament, and Clubs within the Jurisdiction of the Canadian County Board intending to participate in Inter County or Out of County Challenge games Must seek the written permission of the Canadian County Board at least four weeks prior To the proposed date of said challenge game..
21. Annual Convention
21.01 A delegate to the Canadian County Board Annual Convention must be a member in good standing of the Club he/she represents, and must be duly authorized in writing by the Club, as the Club’s representative to the Annual County Convention.
21.02 The Canadian County Board will not accept Motions from the floor at the Annual Convention. Motions submitted in writing to the Canadian County Board Secretary, prior to the Canadian County Board Convention, and found to be in order by the Canadian County Board, shall be heard. 22. Congress
22.01 Canadian County Board Representation at Congress shall comprise of:
1. Chairperson of the Canadian County Board and one other member of the Canadian County Board 2. Chairperson of the Toronto Divisional Board or an Alternate Member of the Toronto Divisional Board 3. Chairperson of the Western Canada Divisional Board, or an Alternative Member of the Western Canada Divisional Board
In the event that any of the Chairpersons or Alternates is unable to travel, the Canadian County Board may select a replacement delegate.
23. Cumann Peil Gael na mBan
23.01 The Canadian County Board shall affiliate annually with Cumann Peil Gael na mBan in Ireland, and shall adopt all regulations and playing rules of Cumann Peil na mBan and shall regulate and play Ladies Gaelic Football in Canada in accordance with the regulations and playing rules of Cumann Peil na mBan..
24. Camogie Association24.01 The Canadian County Board shall affiliate annually with the Camogie Association in Ireland, and shall adopt all regulations and playing rules of the Camogie Association, and shall regulate and play Camogie in Canada in accordance with the regulations and playing rules of the Camogie Association.
25. Effective Date25.01 These Bye Laws shall come into force when approved by the An Coiste Bainisti Enacted by the Committee of the Canadian County Board: On the 10th Day of February 2012 _________________________ __________________________ Brian Farmer John O’Flynn Chairperson Secretary 26. ResolutionResolved that the foregoing Canadian County Board Bye Laws are hereby enacted by the
Officers of the Canadian County Board Incorporated (the Corporation), Pursuant to the Ontario Corporations Act as evidenced by the
DATED as of the 10th day of February 2012
________________________ ________________________ Brian Farmer John O’Flynn
________________________ _________________________ Jarlath Connaughton Eddie Mangan
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