Sad News

On March 5, 2026, the Community Coordinators sent the following letter to members: 

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We write to sadly inform you that we consider it necessary to step down as Coordinators for Retrouvaille Vancouver, and to propose resolutions to wind up the Society. We have spent many months discerning over the community's fate, and see no way to carry on. The combined impact of waning demand for the program, fewer volunteers, financial unsustainability and geographical dispersion mean that we see no feasible way to pass on the torch. We are extremely grateful to those who have remained involved...

 

We have advised the Archdiocese and [local priest] of our proposal. We will continue to host the monthly CORE Zoom meetings as long as there is an interest. 

 

The BC Societies Act and Society's Bylaws provide for dissolution on ordinary resolution, passed by a majority vote at a general meeting (which may be by email), of persons that attended CORE within the past 12 months. We have included you in this email either because we believe that applies to you, or as a courtesy. If you attended CORE once or more times after March 8, 2025, you may vote on the resolutions below by return email, OR by attending CORE on Zoom, on March 14, 2025, at 7:00 p.m. Pacific ...

 

Before dissolution, pursuant to the Bylaws, the Society must be liquidated by paying debts and distributing remaining funds to a qualified donee. That does not include Retrouvaille International or a US community, so it is likely the Board will decide to send the small balance of funds that will remain (if any) to another Canadian Retrouvaille community such as Calgary or Edmonton. We propose that be done by Board resolution after the dissolution resolutions below are passed, after all debts are paid, and after discussions with the eligible communities. If you have views on that, please feel free to share them. The 2025 financial statements went out with the AGM notice that you received in December, but we can provide them on request. 

 

The resolutions we propose are therefore as follows. 

1. Be it resolved that: The Retrouvaille Vancouver Society Board of Directors be authorized to liquidate the Society by paying all its debts and liabilities, and distributing its remaining property to qualified donees as described in subsection 149.1(1) of the Income Tax Act, as may be determined by the Board of Directors at the time of distribution. 

2. Be it resolved that: Pursuant to Section 126(2)(b) of the Societies Act, Carol Ellan be appointed as the record keeper of the Society.

3. Be it resolved that: Following its liquidation, the Retrouvaille Vancouver Society Board of Directors be authorized to file a dissolution by request application with the registrar, pursuant to Section 126 of the Societies Act.

4. Be it resolved that: The Retrouvaille Vancouver Society Board of Directors be authorized to take any and all further steps necessary to dissolve the Society, and to maintain the Society's records as required by Section 20 of the Societies Act. 

 

Love and blessings, 

Tim and Carol Ellan

Community Coordinators 

Retrouvaille Vancouver