Bill ID 1435 (Legislature 15, Session 3)
L15 S3 1435
Alberta — Bills
No. Pro 15 3rd Session, 15th Legislature, Alberta 14 Elizabeth II BILL Pre 1 5 A Bill to Incorporate the Lethbridge Foundation and to Empower such Foundation to Receive and Administer Donations in Trust for Charitable Purposes MR. LANDERYOU Printed by L. S. WALL, Printer to the Queen's Most Excellent Majesty, Edmonton, Alberta, 1966
Preamble
Short title Interpre tation "Foun dation" "Lethbridge district" "Board" "l~omi nators" ConstLtution of Foun dation BILL No. Pro 15 of 1966
An Act to Incorporate the Lethbridge Foundation and to Empower such Foundation to Receive and Administer Donations in Trust for Charitable Purposes (Assented to , 1966)
WHEREAS certain citizens of the City of Lethbridge have by their petition prayed for the passing of
an Act incorporating the Lethbridge Foundation, and that the said Foundation be empowered to receive and admin ister donations in trust for charitable purposes; and
WHEREAS it is expedient to grant the prayer of the said petition; THEREFORE Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Alberta, enacts as follows: 1. This Act may be cited as tiThe Lethbridge Founda tion Act". 2.
In this Act, (a) "Foundation" means the Lethbridge Foundation incorporated by this Act; (b) "Lethbridge district" means the City of Leth bridge and such part of the surrounding areas as, in the opinion of the Board, are readily accessible thereto; (c) "Board" means the Board of Directors as consti tuted pursant to this Act; (d) "N ominators" means the Committee of Nominators constituted pursuant to this Act. 3. Ralph A. Thrall, Senior, Businessman; Reed Ellison, Manager; William Fairbairn, Retired Bank Manager; Violet Broder, Assistant Manager; L. Sherman Turcotte, Judge; Charles J. F.
Beny, Businessman; Sven Ericksen, Busi nessman; Ralph C. Tennant, Manager; and Frederick M. Pritchard, Barrister; all of the City of Lethbridge, in the Province of Alberta, and such other persons as are from time to time appointed members of the Board are hereby constituted and established a body corporate and politic, under the name of "The Lethbridge Foundation",
The Oom panie8 Act and by that name shall have perpetual succession and a common seal with power to change, alter, break and renew the same when and so often as it shall think proper for and with the following objects, powers and purp~ses, namely: (a) (b) (
c) to accept gifts, grants, legacies, devises or bequests in trust, of real or personal property of every nature and wheresoever situate, for the objects of the Foundation and according to the terms and conditions set forth in this Act; to acquire by purchase, gift, transfer or otherwise real or personal property of every nature and wheresoever situate, and have, hold, possess, en joy, take and receive the same for the general uses, and purposes of the Foundation; to contract and 'be contracted with, sue and be sued, implead and be impleaded with, answer and defend in all courts and places whatsoever; (
d) to, from time to time, give, sell, exchange, convey, transfer, assign, encumber, demise or otherwise dispose of all or any of the property, real or per sonal of the Foundation, or any interest therein, and of all or any property held in trust, subject only to the provisions of this Act; (
e) to borrow, raise or secure the payment of, money for current operating expenses of the F'oundation in such manner as it deems expedient, and, in particular, by negotiable instruments; (/) to invest all moneys of, or in possession of, the Foundation arising from or connected with its objects or operations, or any of them, in such securities, real or personal, as by law or statute in force in the Dominion of Canada, trustees may lawfully make investments; (
g) to pass on and entrust to one or more trust com panies, banks or other fiscal institutions the cus tody and management of all or any portion of the property at any time or from time to time received or held by the Foundation, in such manner and in such portions as the Boa!d may deem proper, ~nd enter into agreements WIth such trust companIes, banks or other fiscal institutions in regard thereto; (
h) to lease any lands at any time held by the cor- poration; and . (
i) to have all the other powers and priv!leges and immunities vested by law in a corporatIOn, neces sary or proper for the carrying out of its objects. 4. The Foundation is exempt frol!l sections 7, 81, 82, 87, 120, 130, and 266 of The CompanM8 Act. 2
Objects Committee of Nom inators First Board mee.ting Committee of Nom inators meetings 5. The objects of the Foundation are to use the funds available to it in each year for: (
a) pron10ting educational advancement or scientific research for the increase of human knowledge and the alleviation of human suffering; (
b) promoting the cultural aspects of life in the com munity; (
c) any other charitable, educational or cultural pur pose, that, in the opinion of the Board, makes for the mental, moral and physical improvement of the inhabitants of Lethbridge and its surrounding area regardless of race, color or creed. 6.
(1) The Board of the Foundation shall be nominated and appointed, in conformance with the provisions of this Act, by a Committee of Nominators, which shall be the persons from tilne to time holding the following offices: (
a) the Mayor of the city of Lethbridge, who shall be chairman; (
b) the senior judge, resident in Lethbridge, of the district court; (
c) the President of the Lethbridge Chamber of Com merce; and (
d) the President of the Lethbridge and District Trades and Labor Council.
(2) In the event that any office holder as designated above refuses or is unable to carry out his duties as a member of the Committee of Nominators, or in the event that any such office ceases to exist, or become·s known by another name, or that any such office is reconstituted, the Board, by resolution unanimously approved, and with the approval of a two-thirds vote of the Nominators, may temporarily or permanently substitute for the offices named in the preceding subsection such other offices as may in their belief more nearly meet the original intent of this Act, and shall file a copy of such resolution as approved by the Nominators with the Registrar of Companies. 7.
(1) Within six weeks of the coming into force of this Act the first named of the petitioners shall call a meeting of the petitioners who shall constitute the first Board of the Foundation.
(2) At the first meeting of the Board, the members shall determine by lot the terms of the members of the Board so that the term of three members shall expire in each successive year. 8.
(1) The Committee of Nominators shall meet at the call of the chairman during the month of March, 1967 and the month of March in each year thereafter for the pur- 3
Board of Directors Tenure of Board members pose of nom~nating and appointing such number of persons as are requIred to succeed members whose terms expire.
(2) The committee may act by a majority of its members present at a meeting, but shall not act unless a majority of the committee are present.
(3) Each member of the committee shall have one vote. 9.
(1) The Foundation shall, subject to the provisions of this Act, be managed and administered by a governing board of nine members, nominated and appointed by the Committee of Nominators from among men and women who in the opinion of such Nominators have evinced an interest in the welfare of the community, which shall be known as the Board of Directors of the Foundation. 10.
(1) Each member of the Board shall, with the ex ception of the first Board, serve for three-year terms except when a member has been nominated and appointed to com plete the unexpired portion of a previously serving member's term, he shall serve only for as rnany years as are required to complete such term.
(2) No member of the Board shall serve for more than six continuous years; but any member who has so served shall be eligible for re-nomination and re-appointment after one year's absence from the Board, for a further period of three years.
(3) The term of office of members of the Board shall begin on the first day of May of the year of their appoint ment, and shall terminate on the last day of April of the year in which their term expires.
(4) The term of office of any member of the Board shall immediately terminate: (
a) upon his death, resignation, or removal from the Lethbridge district; or (
b) upon his having served six continuous years, or a total of nine years as a member of the Board; or (
c) in the event of his absence without excuse accept able to the Board from three consecutive meetings of the Board; or (
d) by resolution of the Board, when in the opinion of the Board, a member is guilty of gross misconduct; or (
e) by resolution of the Board, because of incapacity for any cause which in the opinion of the Board may prevent him from discharging his duties for nine months or more.
(5) Upon any vacancy occurring in the Board the Chair man of the Board shall notify the Chairman of the Com mittee of Nominators.
(6) The Chairman of the Committee of Nominators may 4
Board meetings J'owers rf Board lncome call a special meeting of the Nominators to nominate and ap point a suitable person to fill such vacancy for the unexpired portion of the term, and shall call a special meeting for such purpose if the numbers of the Board have by such vacancy fallen below a maj ori ty of the full Board. 11.
(1) The Board shall meet at least once in each quarter of the year.
(2) The Board shall act by a majority of its members present at a meeting, but shall not act unless a majority of the Board are present.
(3) Each member of the Board shall have one vote. 12. The powers of the Foundation are vested in and shall be exercised by the Board, and without restricting the gen erality of the foregoing, the Board may (
a) elect its own president and vice-president, and appoint a treasurer and a secretary, or a secretary treasurer, and such other officers and employees of the Foundation as it deems expedient, and may prescribe their respective duties, powers and author ity, and may determine the tenure of each such office or the period of employment of each such employee; and such officers and employees, other than the president and vice-president of the Board, need not be members of the Board; (
b) fix and determine the remuneration of officers and employees of the Foundation, provided that mem bers of the Board shall receive no compensation for their services except reasonable expense; (
c) in each year, use and distribute such portion of the funds that become available to the Foundation in the preceding twelve months, according to the provisions of this Act; (
d) act by such committees of, or appointed by, the Board as it deems proper to constitute or appoint; (
e) make by-laws, resolutions, rules and regulations, not inconsistent with any of the provisions of this Act, touching or respecting any or all of the afore said powers of the Foundation or of the Board, and also in respect of all matters pertaining to the business, meetings and proceedings of the Board; and (
I) subject only to the provisions of this Act, shall ex ercise in its full and absolute discretion all powers and authority that under this Act are exercisable by the Foundation or the Board, saving such as are vested in the Committee of Nominators. 13.
(1) The Board shall, prior to the end of each fiscal year use or distribute not less than ninety percent of its in come (including donations received, unless such donations 5
Use of funds Property held in trust Appoint ment of trustees are directed by the donor to be held permanently by the Corporation to earn an investment income) to carry out the objects of the Foundation.
(2) To effect th~ objects of the Foundation the funds may be use.d for the aS~Istance of such institutions, organizations, agencIes, and bodIes as may be engaged in the promotion or advancement of the objects of the Foundation or any of them; and the Board may determine what institutions or ganizations, agencies or hodies, whether or not the ;ame are within the Lethbridge district, are to henefit by that assistance in each year, and to what extent.
(3) Notwithstanding any other provisions of this
section the funds of the Foundation shall be allocated only for charitable purposes to individuals in Canada or to charitable institutions, organizations, agencies or bodies in Canada. 14.
(1) The Board shall, in deciding the manner in which funds shall be used or applied, respect and be governed by any trust imposed by the donor in the instrument creat ing the trust or affecting any gift to the Foundation.
(2) In the absence of any direction by the donor all dona tions and gifts received as a result of bequests or legacies contained in wills, codicils or other testamentary disposi tions shall be invested and the net income therefrom devoted in perpetuity to charitable purposes as herein provided.
(3) If no conditions are imposed by a donor of a gift inter vivos with regard to the use of his gift, the Board may in its absolute discretion use and apply such gift for such purposes as it may deem proper having regard to the pro visions of this Act. ( 4) This
section of this Act shall be deemed to have been assented to by every donor to the Foundation, as a condition to accepting his gift. 15.
Where any person holds any property in trust for any purpose of a nature similar to the objects of the Founda tion, and by reason of the object of the trust having ceased to exist, or the trust having for any cause become incapable of performance, or the trust having for any cause become difficult to perform, such a person as trustee may upon notice to the Foundation apply to a judge of the district court of the District of Southern Alberta for an order di recting him to hand over such property to the Foundation to be used by the Foundation in the same manner and for the same purposes as other donations made to the Foundation under this Act; and such judge is hereby empowered to make such order for the handing over of such property to the Foundation' and any trustee complying with such an order shall thereupon be relieved and discharged of an further re sponsibility in respect of such property. 16.
(1) The Foundation, as soon as practica~le after a donation has been received, shall appOInt, subject to the 6
Trans'fer of prcper,ty Powers of trustees provisions of any trust imposed by the donor, one or more trust companies, banks or other fiscal institutions author ized to carryon business in the Province, to assume the custody and management of the property comprising such donation, or such portion or portions thereof as may be allotted by the Board to such trust companies, banks or other fiscal institutions, and to act as trustees for the Foundation.
(2) The Foundation may at any time, by resolution of the Board, revoke the appointment of any trust company, bank or other fiscal institution as such trustee, and may appoint such other trust company, bank or other fiscal institution as trustee in place thereof, as the Board may deem advisable. 17.
All transfers, assignments or conveyances of property by the Foundation shall be executed by and on behalf of the Foundation in such manner as the Foundation may from time to time by resolution prescribe, and shall further be executed by the trustee for the time being of the property to be so transferred, assigned or conveyed. 18. Every trust company, bank or other fiscal institution during its continuance in office as trustee for the Founda tion shall: (
a) have the custody of and efficiently manage all property entrusted to it by the Foundation or by any donor on behalf of the Foundation and make all investments, reinvestments, conversions, sales or dispositions thereof which may at any time or from time to time appear necessary or desirable, but no trust company shall make any new investments or reinvestments in any property or security other than securities in which a trustee or trust company may invest trust moneys under the laws of the Dominion of Canada; (
b) observe, carry out, perform and give effect to all terms, provisions and conditions expressed in any instrument creating a trust; (
c) give effect to and observe all directions with regard to any property entrusted to it by the Foundation under the provisions of this Act, which may at any time or from time to time be given in writing by the Board, provided such directions are consistent with the provisions of this Act; (
d) distribute from the moneys in its possession such sums and in such manner as the Board shall at any time or from time to time by resolution direct; (
e) pay all such accounts and expenses of the Founda tion as the Board shall direct in writing. Donations 19.
(1) Any form of words shall be sufficient to con- stitute a donation for the purposes of this Act as long as the donor indicates an intention to contribute presently or 7
prospectively to a fund or foundation of the general character indicated in this Act.
(2) This. Act is to be construed liberally and in further ance of the Idea that the courts of the Province will assist in making effectiye gifts for charitable pusposes, and will in case of any .fallure .on the part .of the Foundation or those entrusted with the powers of appointing the Board or otherwise howsoever, do what is necessary to carry out the true intent and purpose of this Act. Rul~ t 20. The rule against perpetuities shall not apply to dona- ~~'f~ft~es ~er- tions made to the Foundation. Donations in trus.t Use of donations Annual audit 21.
When a donation has been made to the Foundation in trust of any property to take effect in future, the Board is empowered to accept and exercise any powers of appoint ment, settlement or distribution with respect to the income in whole or in part derivable from such property in the interim, and also power to nominate executors and trustees in the manner provided in the instrument creating the trust. 22.
Where property has been donated to the Foundation and the donor is desirous that the donation shall be used in accordance with the objects of the Foundation but in whole or in part for the benefit of persons not resident in the Lethbridge district, the Board may accept and exercise the trust in respect of such donation as fully and effectually as if it were made for the benefit of residents of the Lethbridge district. 23.
(1) The Foundation shall cause an audit to be made at least once in every fiscal year of the receipts and disburse ments of each separate donation, by an independent auditor, and shall cause to be published in a daily newspaper pub lished in the city of Lethbridge a certified statement by such auditor showing the investments made of all funds donated to and vested in trustees for the Foundation, the amount of income received during the preceding fiscal year, and the purp.ose for which the income has been used, and a classified statement of the expenses of the trustees and of the Board.
(2) It shall be the duty of the trustees to give such auditor full information and permit him to make all neces sary inspections to enable such audits to be made. Rep?rts to 24. The Secretary .of the Board shall, once in each cal ~~~~z~~ of endar year, file with the Registrar of Companies the follow ing: 8 (
a) a statement in the form of a balance sheet, audited and signed by the F?undation's .audi~or! .a!ld con taining general partIculars of Its lIabIlItIes and assets, revenue and expenditure ;
Adminis trative expenses (
b) a list of members for the time being of the Board, with their addresses and occupations; and (
c) a copy of any resolution made in the preceding year required by this Act to be filed with the Registrar. 25. Reasonable administrative expenses incurred by the Board may be charged against all trusts, on a pro rata basis. commenc~ t 26. This Act comes into force on the day upon which it is ment of c assented to. 9
No. Pr.15 THIRD SESSION FIFTEENTH LEGISLATURE 14 ELIZABETH II 1966 BILL
An Act to Incorporate the Lethbridge Foundation and to Empower such Foundation to Receive and Admin ister Donations in Trust for Char itable Purposes Received and read the First time ........... . Second time ..................................... . Third time ...................................... . MR. LANDERYOU Title: 1966 (15th, 3rd) Bill Pr15,
An Act to Incorporate the Lethbridge Foundation and to Empower such Foundation to Receive and Administer Donations in Trust for Charitable Purposes