By-laws of
South Asian Heritage Association of Hamilton and Region
(SAHAHR)
(Revised 2021)
You can download a copy of the by-laws here.
VISION
We envision a community that is inclusive, democratic, respects and celebrates the
the cultural diversity of Canada, and where the South Asian community plays an active and
integrated role in all aspects of the civic, political, social, and cultural life of Canada.
MISSION
Our mission is to educate, showcase and promote the cultures of South Asia through
cultural, literary, and other events in Hamilton and beyond.
OBJECTIVES
by showcasing South Asian cultures.
the civic, social, and cultural life of Canada.
Canada through partnership and cooperation with various levels of the municipal,
provincial and federal governments and other organizations within Hamilton.
organizations.
religious or political activities.
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DEFINITIONS
South Asia is defined to include the nations of (alphabetically) Afghanistan,
Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, Maldives, Nepal, Pakistan, and Sri Lanka.
People of South Asian Origin are defined as individuals who trace their ancestry from
any country of South Asia, irrespective of their place of birth or residence.
BY-LAWS
These by-laws and articles related to the transaction of affairs of the South Asian
Heritage Association of Hamilton and Region. They will be reviewed every 5 years
when a strategic review is conducted.
Amendments to bylaws can be made any time by the Board and ratified by the General
Body, as needed.
APPENDIX
These by-laws include an Appendix which contains information that can change from
time to time. If the Board elects to change any information in the Appendix, the
An appendix must be revised by the Secretary and approved by the Board through a
majority vote. Previous appendices will be retained as historical records with effective
dates of changes.
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BE IT ENACTED as the by-laws of the South Asian Heritage Association of Hamilton
and Region (SAHAHR) as follows:
HEAD OFFICE
The Head office of the organization shall be located in the City of Hamilton-Burlington
and Region in the Province of Ontario at a location indicated in the Appendix. If the
Board of Directors elect to change the location of the Head Office, the Appendix must
be revised by the Secretary and approved by the Board.
SPECIAL PROVISIONS
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Charitable Gifts Act, 1990 of Ontario.
MEMBERSHIP
The organization shall have the following classes of membership:
family;
activities of the Organization;
Directors are deemed to have given distinguished service or support to the
Organization;
GENERAL BODY MEETINGS
fix a date for the Annual General Meeting (AGM) of members. At every AGM, in
addition to any other business that may transact, the report of the President and
the financial statements shall be presented and approved by the members.
General members may also elect the Board of Directors at the AGM.
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transaction of any business, the special nature of which is specified in the notice
calling the meeting.
and the general nature of the business to be transacted shall be given at least ten
(10) days before the date of the meeting to each member.
a quorum of voting members present in person or by proxy. The President would
not normally vote, however, in the event of a tie, the President will cast the
deciding vote.
of at least 30% of Regular members entitled to vote, either present in person,
virtually, or represented by proxy.
shall be chair of any general body meeting. If no such officer is present within
fifteen (15) minutes from the time fixed for holding the meeting, members present
and entitled to vote shall choose one of their members to be the chair. If the
Secretary is absent, the chair shall appoint an individual, to act as Secretary of the
meeting.
greater than fifty percent (50%) majority, any proposal at a general body
meeting shall be decided by a show of hands.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
general body meeting. the organization shall be governed by a Board of Directors
composed of between eight (8) and seventeen (17) directors. All directors
must be eighteen (18) years of age or older and be a general member.
country, with one and preferably two Board members from each South Asian
country.
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age) from any country to promote the needs and interests of youth in the South
Asian community.
If for medical or other personal reasons, a Board member is unable to carry out
their responsibilities, he/she will be allowed to take a leave of absence for up to
one year at the discretion of the Board.
directly or indirectly receive any profit from their positions as such, provided that
Directors may be paid reasonable expenses incurred by them in the performance
of their duties.
TERM OF OFFICE
of members. Notice of such election will be sent to all members at least 2 weeks
prior to the election asking for nominations. The Board will aspire for
representation from all South Asian countries on the Board, if possible.
after the organization is incorporated, half of the founding board members may
take an additional one-year term to ensure continuity of board governance in the
organization’s early stages. An individual may serve up to two (2) consecutive
terms, after which the individual must take at least a one (1) year break. At each
AGM, the directors whose terms of office have expired, shall be retired, but shall
be eligible for re-election if otherwise qualified.
or his/her behaviour is considered inappropriate for the image or the functioning of
SAHAHR, the Board will create a special subcommittee, chaired by an impartial
non-Board member to investigate and report to the Board. Based on the
recommendation of the subcommittee the SAHAHR board will take appropriate
action, which may include the removal of such a member from the Board, if
necessary.
ELECTION OF OFFICERS
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among its members a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Cultural Secretary,
Treasurer and Youth Representative. Only Board members who have served on
the Board for at least two years are eligible for an Officer position. One person may
hold more than one office except for the offices of the President and Vice-President,
and Youth Representative. The President shall be elected by the Board of
Directors from among Board Members at the first meeting of the Board after the
annual election of such Board of Directors.
via e-mail) to the President or specially constituted Selection Committee of the
Board of Directors at least seven (7) days in advance of the meeting at which
the election is to take place.
QUORUM OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
quorum for the transaction of business and, notwithstanding any vacancy among
the directors; a quorum of directors may exercise all of the authorities of the Board.
No business shall be transacted at a meeting of directors unless a quorum of the
Board of Directors is present.
MEETINGS OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS
from time to time be determined. Directors meetings may be formally called by the
President/Vice-President or by the Secretary, or on the direction in writing of any
two directors. Notice of such meeting shall be hand-delivered or sent via
electronic communication (i.e. telephone, fax, text message, or e-mail) to each
director not less than five (5) days before the meeting is to take place, or shall
be mailed to each director not less than seven (7) days before the meeting is to
take place.
meeting at an hour to be named and of such a regular meeting a reminder will be
sent.
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BOARD ATTENDANCE
during a fiscal year is encouraged to re-evaluate with the Board President his/her
commitment to the Organization. The Board may deem a Director who has missed
three consecutive meetings without informing the Board is considered to have
resigned from the Board. Exceptions can be made for valid circumstances, such
as health, grieving, extended travel, etc.
DECISION-MAKING PROCESS, BOARD OF DIRECTORS
agreement of all directors present at the meeting. Decision-making will be carried
out in the following manner:
majority will decide. The majority is determined as more than fifty percent of a
quorum of directors present;
President will cast the deciding vote;
A confidential ballot can be used at the request of any director present;
AUTHORITIES
the initial approval and any changes to the By-laws will be ratified at a General
Body Meeting.
REMUNERATION OF DIRECTORS
receive any profit from their position as such; PROVIDED that a director maybe
paid or reimbursed for reasonable expenses incurred in the performance of duties.
OFFICERS AND THEIR ROLES
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The Board shall elect officers of the South Asian Heritage Association of Hamilton
and Region which shall include a President, Vice-President, Secretary, Cultural
Secretary, Treasurer, and such assistants and other officers as the Board shall
from time to time be determined. One person may hold two or more offices.
its powers and duties and shall, in general, supervise and manage all of the
business and affairs of the Organization.
organization.
the Board members to get approval. If it is not possible to get responses
from all the Board members within a reasonable time, the President can make
a decision; however, such a decision must be ratified by the Board at the next
meeting.
a decision must be ratified at the next Board meeting.
the President’s absence, disability, or disqualification, or during any vacancy
in the position of President, and such other powers or duties assigned by the
President, the Board, or the Bylaws.
responsibilities.
organization to be recorded and distributed within seven days of such
meeting being held to all Board members;
records, correspondence, contracts, and other documents belonging to the
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an organization which the Secretary shall deliver up only when authorized by
resolution of the Board of Directors to do so and to such person or persons as
maybe named in the resolution; and
cultural events. The responsibilities will include:
performers, as appropriate.
auditions, reviewing video clips or other means to ensure that a proposed
performance is in line with the values and expectations of SAHAHR.
requests made by the performers.
budget for the event.
belong to SAHAHR to be safely stored after the event.
shall:
organization in proper books of account and shall deposit all monies or other
valuable effects in the name and to the credit of the in such bank or banks as
may from time to be designated by the Board of Directors.
Directors and shall render to the Board of Directors at regular meetings or
whenever required, an account of all transactions as Treasurer of the
Organization. The Treasurer may delegate administrative duties to such
person or persons as the Board of Directors shall approve. The Treasurer
shall also perform such other duties as may from time to time be determined
by the Board of Directors.
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assist in carrying out the tasks and responsibilities agreed on at a Board meeting.
Board members are expected to:
the direction of the organization.
and submit original receipts to the Treasurer for reimbursement.
BOOKS AND RECORDS
required by the by-laws of the organization or by any applicable statute or law are
regularly and properly kept.
COMMITTEES
as deemed necessary. Each Board committee shall be chaired by a Director. Non-
Board members may be appointed to any Board committees at the discretion of
the Board.
DEPOSIT OF SECURITIES FOR SAFEKEEPING
more bankers, trust companies or other financial institutions to be selected by the
Board of Directors. Any and all securities so deposited may be withdrawn, from
time to time, as shall from time to time be determined by resolution of the Board of
Directors and such authority may be general or confined to specific instances. The
institutions which may be so selected as custodians by the Board of Directors shall
be fully protected in acting in accordance with the directions of the Board of
Directors and shall in no event be liable for the due application of the securities so
withdrawn from deposit or the proceeds thereof.
RESERVE FUND
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sponsors.
DISSOLUTION
paying all the bills will be donated to local charities and/or local arts and cultural
organizations to be decided by the Board members.
AMENDMENTS
by-laws of the Organization, provided such amendments are subsequently ratified
by at least two-thirds of the members at a general body meeting duly called for
the purpose of considering such amendments to the by-laws.
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Appendix
(Effective February 1, 2021)
[This Appendix contains information that is liable to change from time to time by the
Board of Directors. It can be amended as needed without the formal process of
amending the by-laws. If changes are made to the Appendix, a copy of previous
An appendix will be retained with the effective date as a historical record.]
Hamilton, ON, L8S 4A5.
Associate Members; Twenty Five ($25) for family (parents and children).
each year.
Thank you for visiting our website. South Asian Heritage Association of Hamilton and Region is a non-profit corporation formed to give spirit to the South Asian Heritage Act, 2001 in the Ontario Legislature.
South Asian Heritage Association of Hamilton and Region exists to educate the public on matters relating to the rich heritage, culture, history, traditions,and languages of South Asian community by providing courses, seminars,workshops and other educational programs on such matters. The Organization will also work with other charitable, educational or Governmental agencies in program to advance the South Asian Culture, Traditions art and language.
The South Asian Heritage Association of Hamilton and Region (SAHAHR) By-Laws:
Read our by-laws here or you can download a copy of our by-laws.
South Asian Heritage Month is an opportunity for us as South Asians to celebrate our heritage and culture and showcase our rich culture with other too.
We very strongly believe that it is most important that our children should never forget their roots and feel proud of South Asian heritage by sharing their culture in school community,friends and neighbours.
We take the opportunity to invite you to our Seventh Annual South Asian Heritage Month with your family, friends and neighbors. Our event is free of charge because we very strongly believed no body should be left out of this important and fun fill celebration.
Yours sincerely,
South Asian Heritage of Hamilton and Region
TD Canada Trust |
Egg Farmers of Ontario |
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TD Canada Trust |
SAHAHR is proudly supported by the Egg Farmers of Ontario. |
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