Bowl Canada acknowledges that its resignation from the Bowling Federation of Canada (BFC) has caught members, and the entire bowling community, by surprise. We’ve been asked several questions by members and provincial associations so we’ll address them here for all members to read.
Why did Bowl Canada resign from BFC?
For the last several years relations at the BFC have been strained. We’ve tried on a few occasions to get the 3 groups to consider working together as one, more formally than we do in BFC, to streamline the support system for the Canadian bowling community and put all our efforts moving in a coordinated and strategic direction. Unfortunately, it seems our attempts to work together only drove us further apart.
At some point the CTF and C5PBA began working together at the BFC level. Together they realized they had control of the Board, and therefore the Federation, via their 6 votes (combined) to Bowl Canada’s 3 votes. Ever since they’ve maintained control on all issues, including elections and funding decisions.
In April 2020, BFC’s Sport Consultant (our Sport Canada representative) advised us rather suddenly that Bowl Canada was no longer eligible for funding due to Bowl Canada’s being a profitable business. When we explained we were a federally incorporated “Not-For-Profit” they then claimed that since our members were profitable businesses we remained ineligible. We asked for a copy of this policy in order to explain the situation to our members, which they agreed to send. In the meantime we were removed from the new BFC funding agreement.
At this time Sport Canada also suggested to C5 and CTF that umbrella groups would no longer be funded, so they should consider a formal merger to ensure they remain eligible for funding. We learned later that they quickly struck a committee to consider a merger, and for a few months there was no, or very little, contact between Bowl Canada and its BFC partners.
Bowl Canada, in the meantime, appealed to superiors at Sport Canada, and we learned that the policy we were told prevented us from receiving funding does not exist. To correct the error of their consultant, Sport Canada eventually reinstated Bowl Canada claiming it was an omission error on their part, and added Bowl Canada back into the funding agreement. At this point they advised that it is up to BFC to make the funding decisions internally. Although we were “reinstated”, to this day we question why we were told of this supposed policy in the first place, and why a new consultant to our sport would put out false statements with such significant consequences.
Believing we’d had some success at overturning a wrong and unfair decision, we began communications with C5/CTF once again, and over the next several months we made attempts to work together, and even discussed a merger of all 3 groups. But it was clear that CTF and C5PBA were settled in to their 2-way merger and, as they’ve stated, they did not feel the proprietor’s perspective was required or desired in building a new organization for bowling, even if the new organization included Bowl Canada. Parents, athletes, coaches, volunteers… yes, but input from proprietors was not welcome.
What happened at the last meeting?
As mentioned earlier, Sport Canada had put the onus on BFC to decide for itself what would be funded. Prior to the last meeting on March 18th, a BFC committee comprised of one delegate from each partner group had been asked to look into how to share the funding amongst the partners. The committee was unable to come to a consensus. Sport Canada had advised that they would not fund duplicate events, such as two 5 Pin Youth Nationals (YBC Nationals and Youth Challenge). It therefore came down to one or the other, and based on recent history we had a good idea of how the Board would decide.
BFC had released an agenda and proposed budget in advance of the meeting which showed funding for Youth Challenge and no funds allotted to YBC or Bowl Canada. Following a review of the committee’s results, which provided no recommendation to the Board, we made a motion to fund the YBC Nationals (at a significantly decreased amount form the Youth Challenge budgeted amount listed). The vote was taken and the motion was defeated. YBC no longer had any funding, nor did it have Sport Canada standing as a recognized national championship, nor did it have any support from BFC.
Without YBC Nationals in the funding equation, and based on how relations between Bowl Canada and the C5/CTF groups had devolved, we knew our purpose at BFC was at an end. CTF /C5 had a new direction to follow with their merger, and they’d made it clear we did not fit in with their plans. Our resignation was announced, and we left the meeting so they could get on with the business of BFC.
Why did Bowl Canada leave the meeting before its conclusion?
Based on all of the above there was no reason to remain. The binary choice of one or the other youth fivepin event decided if Bowl Canada had any remaining role to play in BFC. The funding that had been shared with us over the year, even with all national championships cancelled ($7,500 out of $417,000) showed clearly how we were rated as partners. While their national championships were also cancelled, they were allowed to divert funds to other areas. We were not so fortunate.
Why did the committee have a right to resign from BFC?
The decision to resign was one the Board of Directors had been discussing for many months. The resignation was a Board of Directors decision, not a decision of the committee. The resignation was delivered both verbally and formally in writing by Bowl Canada’s President. The entire Board was regularly updated on BFC and aware of the situation every step of the way. Additionally, 60% of the Bowl Canada Board was part of the Committee until February, when one delegate resigned… leaving 40% of the Board involved on the BFC committee, with the rest being perpetually updated on events.
Bowl Canada resigned its membership in March of 2021, but we were effectively out of BFC since the Sport Canada consultant incorrectly announced we were ineligible for funding almost a full year earlier.
Why haven’t you told the members about this?
We’ve reported on many of these things as they happen in issues of Nexus and E-news… in reports at the Annual Meeting, and more regularly we’ve updated the Delegates’ Council (your provincial reps) at least twice a year at our formal meetings, and on occasion via emails, etc. as warranted. We have made our struggles with the C5PBA/CTF well known, although not in complete detail.
What will Bowl Canada do without this funding?
Good question. But it’s important to note that the loss of funding was not decided by Bowl Canada. Our resignation came after it had been taken from us… first by Sport Canada (wrongly) and then by C5PBA and CTF (purposely). It was not our decision to lose funding and all influence in the Federation.
Fortunately, Bowl Canada has made adjustments over the last few years to ensure we are not financial unstable. We moved our office to a much smaller and more affordable location, and this savings alone covers half the loss of the funding. We’ve also reduced expenses in many areas, such as reducing teams at YBC Nationals to Doubles…. replacing the National Classified event which was losing $50,000 per year, etc. There is no reason for immediate concern thanks to the work of the Board over the last few years. And of course YBC is very fortunate to have a successful fundraiser and the great support of YBC bowlers and their awesome local volunteers. As a result we are somewhat stable despite the loss of funding.
How does this all affect the Bowl Canada member?
For the moment the resignation does not affect member bowling centres. The loss of perpetual funding, however, means that increases in fees for programs and services may be required sooner than we would have hoped. But no immediate action is planned at this time. Additionally, there are rumours that the newly merged CTF/C5PBA will launch a fivepin youth program. Rather than streamline support for your centre, as we’ve invited them to do with us, this, if true, will further fraction the bowling community and create duplication of services and competition for our YBC program. This is not the direction we envisioned and worked towards, but this direction is not for Bowl Canada to decide.
