Atlantic Regional Executive Meeting Minutes
The Westin, Halifax, NS – November 28, 2025
CHAIRPERSON:
Mark Bellefleur
EXECUTIVE:
Christine LeDrew, Secretary
Lori Rowe
Carolyn Hynes
Leslie Hill
Tamara Critch
Mike Pauley
Kimberley Keats
Paul Hubley
Chad Lacoste
Greg Hues
REGRETS:
N/A
1. Welcome and Directors’ Opening Remarks
Mark called the meeting to order at 9:03am. Mark welcomed everyone to the meeting and wanted to start by saying that being new to the executive take the year to learn the role and help out where you can. Mark read the land acknowledgement for Nova Scotia.
2. Ice Breaker
Leslie proceeded with a light fun Ice Breaker. Chad volunteered to do the Ice Breaker for the January meeting.
3. Agenda
Mark asked for any additions to the agenda. Greg noted that he would like to have access to the agenda ahead of time not 3 days in advanced. Greg added ARC Resolutions.
Action: Executive to cc Christine when sending agenda items. She will make a temporary list of items.
Action: Donna to send email to executive requesting agenda items.
Motion # 1 Tamara Critch moved, and Lori Rowe seconded that the agenda be approved as amended. CARRIED.
4. Approval of Regional Executive Minutes
Mark asked if there were any corrections to the October 23, 2025, minutes.
Motion # 2 Greg Hues moved; Carolyn Hynes seconded that the minutes be approved as presented. CARRIED.
5. Action Items Review
Mark reviewed the Action Items, and the document has been updated accordingly. Carolyn will post the final guide version for the end of the year. It was noted that Kentville will be joining the Greenwood
branch in the recommendation to the board of directors. Chad noted that the Greenwood branch executive will extend an invitation to the Kentville branch president to be a member at large. Mark did inquire if any other branches in the Atlantic were out of the scope of the by-laws.
6. Calendar of Events
Kim noted that the meeting in March 2026 has a conflict with the SP AGM. Executive discussed and determined if the Hotel can accommodate changing the date we will move to March 20-21 or March 13-14. Greg suggested since it is no longer a seasonal social to do it as a meet and greet at the January meeting instead. Will look into this further later in 2026. Chad questioned about the executive meetings having to be in Halifax and why can it not be outside of Halifax. Christine noted that the executive holds 2 of meetings outside of Halifax and we try to determine them around the ARC.
Action: Donna to check with hotel in NL for March 2026 meeting if can be moved to March 20- 21 or 13-14.
7. Regional Director’s Report
Mark advised that his Director’s Report is on the drive and some focal points are:
- Board of Directors and Regional Director’s meetings
- Attended PEI AGM, St. John’s AGM, Halifax AGM
- Attended CLC Lobby Day
- Executive Training Bowling event
It was noted that pertinent information is being discussed at the Board of Director’s meetings and not being pass along to the regional executive members in the regional director’s report. Christine noted she has read the Board minutes that have been posted and there is some significant information not being relayed to the executive and would like some more details on topics in the report.
Motion # 3 Mark Bellefleur moved; Mike Pauley seconded that the Regional Director’s Report be approved as presented. CARRIED.
8. Training Committee Chairperson’s Report
Carolyn stated her written report is located on the google drive. Some main points are:
- Steward council was a great success and look forward to seeing the evaluations. The board of directors enjoyed it.
- November 8th TEAM meeting introduced the new chair, John Purdie.
- Core training for constituent body executives was held Nov 21-22 with Ellen Careen and Lori Rowe as member facilitators. Twenty-two new executive members attended with seven of those considering becoming stewards.
- Continued to work on the training budget for 2026-2027 with the budget going for approval is reasonable. Currently working on a business case to add an additional cohort to our 2026
Training school (three classes vs two, 60 vs 50 participants), which will be member facilitated.
- Basic Steward Training Feb 19-21, 2026, is in the final stages and expression of interest has been sent.
- New steward guide – thank you Tamara, Paul and Greg for the feedback.
- Approved two lunch and learns since the last meeting. There are changes to the Better Together funding underway and it may impact lunch and learn funding moving forward.
Motion # 4 Carolyn Hynes moved; Lori Rowe seconded the approval of the training chairperson’s report as presented. CARRIED.
9. Atlantic Young Professionals Committee Report
Christine noted Erika’s report is on the google drive. Some main points are:
- Welcomed new members to the committee
- Patrice will take over the role as secretary.
- Christine provided an update from the YPN committee of the board.
- Discussed timing for stand alone meeting and determined March would be best and in Moncton.
- Discussed scheduling another virtual information session.
- Will continue to send the welcome emails.
- Debrief on event at Durty Nelly’s Thursday night.
Christine provided the quotes for AYPC stand alone March 6-7, 2026 in Moncton or Charlottetown.
Motion # 5 Christine LeDrew moved; Kim Keats seconded the AYPC hold their stand alone meeting on March 6-7, 2026, in Moncton. CARRIED.
Motion # 6 Christine LeDrew moved; Greg Hues seconded that the AYPC report be approved. CARRIED.
10. Financial Reports
a. Interim Financial Report as of Nov 2, 2025
Kim noted that she dropped off the cheque to the North Shore Fire fundraising and they were extremely appreciative of the donation. Paul noted that there is a very healthy balance for the Atlantic executive as of November 4th. Bank account is reconciling to the income statement. Paul provided explanation of the notes for the transactions.
Motion # 7 Paul Hubley moved; Chad Lacoste seconded that the financial report be approved as presented. CARRIED.
b. Budget vs Actuals as of Nov 4, 2025
Paul went over the budget vs actuals from November 4. It was briefly discussed as not many transactions since the October meeting.
Motion # 8 Paul Hubley moved; Carolyn Hynes seconded that the budget vs actual report be approved as presented. CARRIED.
c. Budget and Spending Review
Paul provided an update on what the financial situation will be at the end of the year and what items we need to purchase. Mark purchased the AGM visibility item and opened it to the Branch and Subgroups. PIPSC is paying the bill and will obtain the funds from the different constituent bodies. Legacy Cup limit is $XX plus taxes per province. Paul noted about replenishing the items for ARC participants’ gift. Mark priced different yeti cups and can select various colors with our logo at approximately $XXX for 120.
Motion # 9 Christine LeDrew moved; Lori Rowe seconded that the executive purchase 120 yeti cups in different colors at $XX+taxes and shipping for ARC gift. CARRIED.
Further discussion occurred on Steward council visibility item. Mark will provide quotes of items to the executive. Mark provided the update on the sweaters purchased for the regional executive.
Action: Paul to update the form to change from 7 staff to 8.
Action: Mark to purchase 120 Yeti Cups for ARC.
Action: Mark to provide quotes to executive on SC visibility item before AGM.
11. Committees of the Board Reports
The regional executive reviewed the reports on the google drive that were submitted. It has been noted that not all committee representatives are submitting reports. Kim noted that we have not seen any reports from the Science Advisory Committee in a while.
a. ITSP
b. YPN
c. BLPC
d. Finance
e. TEAM
Motion # 10 Paul Hubley moved, and Tamara Critch seconded that the Committees of the Board reports be moved as presented. CARRIED.
12. New Business
a. AGM Resolutions
The Atlantic regional executive went through all the national AGM resolutions and Christine recorded the recommendations with speaking points.
Action: Christine to compile the recommendations sheet for delegates of the AGM.
b. Communications Committee - Carolyn
Carolyn noted that there were issues with the committee trying to nail down a date with everyone’s schedules within the last month. Greg suggested having the committee members be members from outside of the regional executive. He noted this would help with succession planning and more people involved. Mike stated that PIPSC will not pay for nonexecutive members to attend. Paul noted that they might not be meeting regularly but the work is getting done. Greg asked why the executive is not being given reports from these subcommittees. Paul suggested if there is a need not being met then we can prepare it for the strategy meeting. Christine suggested adding survey questions into the evaluations sent to attendees of the events. Fulsome discussion occurred.
c. 2027 Steward Council
Donna provided room rate, meeting room rate and discounts for Delta Halifax. Greg will submit this into the spreadsheet so we can decide on the two different quotes.
Action: Greg to input two quotes for SC 2027 in spreadsheet.
d. Committees of the Board Selections
The executive looked at all applications provided from Atlantic members for the committees and had a fulsome discussion on the applications.
Motion # 11 Carolyn Hynes moved, and Chad Lacoste seconded that the treasurer of the regional executive be the representative of the finance committee. CARRIED.
Discussion occurred on providing a second recommendation.
Motion # 12 Mark Bellefleur moved, and Lori Rowe seconded that Patrick Phu be selected as second choice for finance committee. CARRIED.
Motion # 13 Carolyn Hynes moved, and Christine LeDrew seconded that Selena Glover be Atlantic representative at BLPC and Joe Rosessiter be second choice. CARRIED.
Motion # 14 Greg Hues moved, and Leslie Hill seconded that Monica Brewer as first choice for elections committee. DEFEATED.
Motion # 15 Kim Keats moved, and Chad Lacoste seconded that James Vey as first choice for elections committee and Monica Brewer as second choice. CARRIED.
Motion # 16 Leslie Hill moved, and Mike Pauley seconded that Monica Brewer be a member of the elections appeals committee. CARRIED.
Motion # 17 Tamara Critch moved, and Paul Hubley seconded that Malcolm MacDonald as first choice for ITSP and Rachel Doucet as second choice. CARRIED.
Motion # 18 Carolyn Hynes moved, and Christine LeDrew seconded that Anica Stowe as first choice for PRQC and Tyler Veinot as second choice. CARRIED.
Motion # 19 Christine LeDrew moved, and Kim Keats seconded that Kanwal Chadha as first choice for HRDC and Niraj Nitheanandan as second choice. CARRIED.
Committee selections are:
FINANCE: Paul Hubley, Second choice: Patrick Phu BLPC: Selena Glover, Second Choice: Joe Rossiter
ELECTIONS: James Vey, Second Choice: Monica Brewer ELECTIONS APPEALS: Monica Brewer
ITSP: Malcolm MacDonald, Second Choice: Rachel Doucet PRQC: Anica Stowe, Second Choice: Tyler Veinot
HRDC: Kanwal Chadha, Second Choice: Niraj Nitheanandan
13. Round Table
Carolyn provided Mark with a Thank you Christmas gift from the regional executive.
Motion # 20 Mark Bellefleur moved, and Leslie Hill seconded that the meeting be adjourned. CARRIED.
The meeting was adjourned at 5:00pm.