The Vancouver Yukoners’ Association was established in 1928. Its purpose was to provide social gatherings for those who had moved “outside”, or were spending the winter in Vancouver. In time, former Yukon residents, now living in the Lower Mainland of B.C., met four times a year for social reasons and to organized an annual reunion. In the pre Covid years we would often see 250 plus people in attendance.
In my duties as a former Director and President of the VYA, I have been designated by VYA members and Directors, in attendance, at a meeting held at Burnaby Golf and Country Club on December 7, 2023, to publicly share that a motion and subsequent vote to proceed with the dissolution of the association was taken. All were in favour.
Although the formal portion of the association has been decided by this motion and will be officially dissolved as of 31st December 2023 in accordance with the May 2023 amendments to the British Columbia Society Act, it will take a three year process to exit the Societies Act.
It was a difficult and emotional action to take but the realities of an aging and attritional membership, the challenges of Covid and the changing dynamics of the organization made it a respectful, compulsory decision. Please find attached the formal Dissolution Resolution motion proposed at the meeting on December 7,2023.
Whereas the Vancouver Yukoners’ Association:
- Has few members living the the Greater Vancouver Area
- Has been unable to elect either a President or Vice President for several years.
- Has directors and a webmaster who have served several terms in their current role.
- Has no Newsletter Editor
- No longer rents a meeting space for the fewer meetings now held
- Accepts that there will be no more Annual Reunions.
- Has given responsibility for the Scholarship Funds to the Yukon Foundation.
Be it Resolved:
- That the Yukoners’ Association be Dissolved as of December 31, 2023 in accordance with the May 2023 amendments to the British Columbia Society Act.
- That all required fees be paid.
- That sufficient funds be retained to support the duties of the record keeper, and that all remaining funds be transferred, in time, to the Yukon Foundation, Whitehorse Yukon in the name of the Vancouver Yukoners’ Association for the benefit of all Yukoners.
In conclusion, it is appropriate to recognize all those members who were voted in as Directors and Presidents of the Association for their outstanding and selfless dedication to the preservation of the Association . A collective “Thank You” to these individuals who showed outstanding leadership in keeping the association viable over its ninety-five year history.
Respectfully Submitted on behalf of all the directors of the Vancouver
Yukoners’ Association 2023
James Perry