AGM for troubled ag society clouded in concern
Uncertainty continues to swirl around Niagara Regional Agricultural Society and its fairground property in north Welland.
The society attempted to hold its annual general meeting on Jan. 11 at Welland City Hall, but it was cancelled due to a lack of quorum from both board members and general membership, as was a special meeting to follow.
Among items to be discussed was a potential sale of the valuable 21hectare fairgrounds property, which is surrounded by residential neighbourhoods and by properties expected to be part of new developments.
The January meeting, although unable to conduct any official business, devolved into chaos as observers and society members sought answers regarding the fate of the property.
A second attempt at an AGM is scheduled for Sunday24 at Welland Community Centre on Lincoln Street.
The meeting is scheduled to last four hours, starting at 1:30 p.m. And it’s wondered if enough people will be in attendance for quorum to be reached among either the board of directors or general membership.
Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) District 6 president Michael Philpott remains concerned membership issues could affect the meeting.
He said the Niagara society has not complied with the Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations Act “for a long time.”
The act sets out rules under which agriculture societies must operate.
Philpott said he’s been told by a board member “they don’t have enough members” to meet legislated requirements.
Societies are required to have 40 general members, per rules which were updated at the start of this year.
Philpott has previously said the Niagara society may not have half that number, although it has been difficult to get information from the current board and its president, Colin Bowman.
That board itself may also not be able to muster quorum for the
meeting as its ranks have been reduced since the January meeting.
Board member David Gill appeared to resign during the aborted AGM, as he shouted his resignation while leaving the meeting.
A week later, two long-serving board directors — treasurer Mary-Louise Ravazzolo and her brother Ray Ravazzolo, a past president — were dismissed by the board after they had publicly shared concern over governance and sale of the fairgrounds.
It’s not known if a new treasurer or any other board member has been added since, as the society does not list board members on its website, as do most other societies.
The Agricultural and Horticultural Organizations Act requires a copy of an audited financial statement be delivered to the Ontario Agriculture Ministry within 90 days of an AGM, one of the duties of the treasurer.
It’s also not known if new society memberships have been sold since January.
Philpott is unaware of any effort to recruit new members to the organization. But even if new members have joined, he said, the society’s constitution prevents them from voting on any motions that may come forward.
According to the organization’s constitution, last updated in 2017, he said recruits “have to be members for a year before they’re able to vote.”
While the OAAS acts as an advisory group for agricultural societies throughout the province, Philpott said the Niagara society’s board has yet to reach out for help despite the challenges it faces.
Nevertheless, Philpott said he plans to be at the AGM.
“We’ll see what happens,” he said.
“We have done as much as we can do, and whatever happens from here forward is whatever is going to happen.”
Niagara Centre MPP Jeff Burch shares Philpott’s concerns about NRAS’s upcoming meeting.
“There seems to be some general confusion and a lack of information about when and if any decisions have been made,” he said. “We’re trying to keep track of that, and we’re going to keep investigating and follow up.”
Burch said he also plans to attend the AGM, if possible, “and we’ll see what happens.”
His office penned another letter to Ontario Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs Lisa Thompson, again raising concerns about transparency.
“We’re definitely concerned,” Burch said.
“Usually, with a sale of property, especially one that involves something in the public interest, you’d like to see much more transparency and questions being answered. It shouldn’t be this difficult to get answers to questions.”
One aspect of public interest is the fact the society does not pay property taxes on the land it occupies, as it’s exempt under the agricultural society legislation “so long as the land or the proceeds from the rental of the land is used solely for the purposes of the society.”
Despite the uncertainty, the society’s plans for this year’s Niagara Regional Exhibition appear to be moving forward.
Under the act, agriculture is to be the primary focus of agricultural fairs like the exhibition, which is set to run May 31 to June 2.
Posted on NRAS’s website, niagaraex.com, there are links to entry forms for competitions taking place as part of the event, as well as applications for vendors.
The exhibition has been held almost annually since 1967. It was cancelled in 2016, and again in 2020 and 2021. The last two cancellations were due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
This year’s event is to feature midway rides, live music, vendors, food trucks, a beer garden, an ATV mud bog, truck and tractor pulls, a demolition derby and exhibits, according to the website.
Under the legislation, one goal of a society must be to encourage awareness and promote improvements in the quality of life of persons living in an agricultural community, hold agricultural exhibitions featuring competitions for which prizes may be awarded, encourage the beautification of the agricultural community, and support and provide facilities to encourage activities intended to enrich rural life, among others.
Nothing listed for this year deals with any of those aspects, though there may be something under exhibits, which does not say what they are.
Philpott said a board member told him “they haven’t had any agricultural venues (at the fair) since before COVID-19.”