Transitioning an Existing Society: A How-to Guide for Non-profits in BC

Cover of Transitioning an Existing Society

Aimed at those who work at a non-profit society in British Columbia or sit on a board of directors, Transitioning an Existing Society: A How-to Guide for Non-profits in BC covers the steps in transitioning a society under the new Societies Act.

Contents

• What the New Societies Act Means for Existing Societies
  • Requirement to "transition" · For your society's constitution · For your society's bylaws · Member-funded societies · New electronic filing system

• 10 Changes in the New Act You Should Know About
  • Access to society records · Disclosure of remuneration · Conduct of members' meetings · Voting threshold for special resolutions · Member proposals · Member remedies · Senior managers · Conflicts of interest · Who can be a director · Directors' pay

• Preparing for Transition under the Act
  • Optional preliminary step · Step 1. Consider member-funded status · Step 2. Update Registry filings · Step 3. Prepare society constitution · Step 4. Prepare consolidated bylaws  · Step 5. Review society bylaws

• Reviewing Your Society's Bylaws
  • Options for reviewing bylaws · Conducting a clause-by-clause analysis · Key clauses to consider · Bylaws that can't be amended · How to amend bylaws

• Filing a Transition Application
  • Are you ready to file? · Step 1. Get the Registry Key · Step 2. Get a BCeID · Step 3. File the application · Step 4. Notify Revenue Canada · Common questions

• Further Help
  • The new law · Read more · Learn more · Get support in your community · Get individualized help

Videos

Accompanying the guide is a set of videos on how to transition an existing non-profit society under the new Societies Act:

Load video YouTube YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy ContinueDismiss What BC's new Societies Act means for existing societies	Load video YouTube YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy ContinueDismiss 10 changes in the new Societies Act you should know about
Load video YouTube YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy ContinueDismiss Preparing for transition under BC's new Societies Act	Load video YouTube YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy ContinueDismiss Reviewing your non-profit society’s bylaws
Load video YouTube YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy ContinueDismiss Key clauses to consider in your non-profit's bylaw review	Load video YouTube YouTube might collect personal data. Privacy Policy ContinueDismiss Filing a transition application under BC's new Societies Act

Contributors

This how-to guide for BC non-profits was written by Drew Jackson, a lawyer and librarian who writes about law for the public, and reviewed for legal accuracy by three British Columbia lawyers who advise non-profit societies.

Drew Jackson Writer

Mary Childs Reviewer

Michael Blatchford Reviewer

Steve Carey Reviewer

Copyright & Disclaimer

Transitioning an Existing Society: A How-to Guide for Non-profits in BC © Drew Jackson is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 2.5 Canada Licence.

The information is produced for educational purposes and is not intended as legal advice. If you need advice about a specific legal problem, please contact a legal professional. Some sources of legal help are highlighted in the "Further Help" section.