No, the members vote on changes to our bylaws, we are not reliant on the provincial government to move change forward as long as we have sufficient member education, member consultation and member support through vote. That is why it is vital that members get involved and provide their feedback.

Bylaws govern the administration of the AAA. They are written rules that provide the framework for the operation and management of the AAA. Bylaws generally provide guidance for roles and duties of Council directors and officers, rules and procedures for holding meetings, electing councillors and other essential governance matters. They facilitate the orderly operation of both the governing body and the association.

The AAA bylaws belong to the membership who must vote on any amendments following consultation.

Policies and committee terms-of-reference support the bylaws with more specific operational and policy details. These documents can evolve over time to accommodate changing needs and changing norms. The documents may be developed under the direction of Council and/or Administration. 

Yes. Bylaws work in conjunction with the Architects Act and General Regulation. Some elements within these pieces of legislation establish core requirements for the make up of Council and are quite prescriptive. The bylaws cannot override anything in the legislation.

For example, the Architects Act, Part 2, Section 8 prescribes Council membership and election of officers. Also, certain committees are established under legislation (Registration Committee, Complaints Review Committee, Practice Review Board), with the make up of members set. The bylaws or policies cannot ignore these legislated directives.

Further, if any practice or licensing requirement is clearly stated in the Act or General Regulation, the bylaws cannot be used to change the rules.

Changes were made to our bylaws quite recently. As the membership was unable to meet in person for our most recent AGM due to the COVID-19 pandemic, changes to the bylaws were proposed and accepted by the membership that allowed the AAA to facilitate an online AGM. This amendment also enabled Council to authorize remote voting for ratifications of future bylaw amendments and changes to the General Regulation.

We continue to evolve to meet the association’s ever-changing needs.

All members have access to the information regarding the proposed amendments. All members have the ability to provide feedback on the on the proposed amendment. Only voting members which includes registered architects, licensed interior designers and active life members will be able to vote on the proposed amendments.

There are a number of ways for you to find information regarding the recommended changes:
 

• Read information online here
• Watch video that communicates key information here
• Register to attend one of two live webinars that provide background information, and address questions and answers from members here.

We will be gathering feedback via several channels to ensure members have every opportunity to be heard:

• Use the website form here
• Submit an email to [email protected]
• Participate in one of two town hall webinars that address questions and answers from members here.

A date for final receipt of member feedback has not currently been set, however members will be given ample time to provide their opinions.

Voting on the bylaw recommendations will be done by online vote only. 

In the last several years, since implementation of online voting, we have continued to have an option for paper ballots. At first we made a point of letting our members know this was still available even though we had switched to online voting. Then we simply kept the option, but did not promote it. Not a single member has requested paper ballots in lieu of online voting. The changes in the bylaws reflect the broad acceptance of online voting as the modern way of managing voting on various matters.

Voting will be tabulated for each individual change – not as a whole concept. Each amendment will be voted on individually. Amendment can still be made to proposed bylaw changes if there are changes necessary after consultation and before the vote.

Legislation restricts the number of LIDs on council to one voting member. In our work with the Provincial Government on the legislative review, increasing the number of LID voting members is being proposed. In the interim, the AAA requires more manpower to move the appeal process forward. 

We have added 1 ex-officio (non-voting) LID member to Council in previous bylaw changes.  
 

Increasing the number of Council members will provide more opportunity for the membership to participate in Council matters and the future of their professions. As a self regulated body, it is critical that AAA members are present to create change where necessary. 

By modifying the term of President for up to three years (3 successive 1-year terms) we hope to be able to provide better continuity within leadership. It also opens an opportunity within the entire composition of council to put their name forward for the President position.

The two new council committees; Governance & HR, and the Finance, Audit & Risk committee provide opportunities for leaders within Council to step forward and demonstrate their leadership skills, knowledge and other abilities. Council members will have an opportunity to see the strengths of their colleagues on display through their work on these committees. This will inform their subsequent selection of a candidate for President.
 

Giving a subset of Council extra power and authority undermines the Council as a whole. The responsibility for management of the AAA is that of the Executive Director who reports to all members of Council. 

The Nominating Committee responsibility is shared by Council as a whole. They will have authority under the bylaws to delegate some nomination responsibilities to other committees (in this case the Governance & HR Committee).

Holding PLI is in the best interest of public safety and representing the public interest is the primary mission of the profession and the association. Additionally, Alberta remains the only province without liability insurance and 81.73% of members recently voted in favour of the practice. 

Membership as a whole does not have an opportunity to see the leadership skills demonstrated up close and personally the way other council members are able to see them. A proven track record of performance leading committees and policy decisions.

Student members are not a regulated professional category. Students are in the process of completing their post-secondary education and have not yet met any other registration requirement. AAA researched a number of other professionally regulated organizations and found that they did not have a dedicated student category. The student category is the only category that is not a natural derivative of an existing regulated category as members of this categories are pre-graduation and pre-registration. Other categories are post-graduation and post registration. A post-nominal is intended to recognize the completion of study so in essence, students have not yet earned the privilege of a post nominal. With their free membership, students still have access to attend the AGM as non-voting members at a reduced rate, receive the newsletter, and receive Council information so they can stay aware of association news and events.