Why the changes in the Articles and Bylaws for Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada to become Scots of Canada, the National Scottish Organization for all Canadians
What’s New?
Until recently, Scottish organizations in Canada have been segmented, limited by specific interests, heritage, geographical boundaries, and traditional means of communication. They have mostly been constrained by a sense of community equating to physical proximity.
Today, however, we possess the tools necessary for persistent, meaningful connections across distances—tools like Zoom, YouTube, and social media platforms have demonstrated that a vibrant, cohesive community can thrive beyond physical boundaries.
Why Now?
Our culture and heritage face unprecedented challenges—from a benign "wallpaper effect" to more insidious forms of cultural appropriation, historical neglect, and suffering under a broad brush of blame. Voices from the past have told us there is no room or need for protection of our Scottish culture because we are a founding nation, a claim that has led to our contributions being diminished and dismissed. Thus resulting in our potential being ignored.
Many Scottish organizations around the world face a sustainability crisis, with aging populations and a lack of new membership threatening their very existence. Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada, like the majority of its member organizations, suffers from this threat of non-continuity. We know that our organization has undergone extinction-level events in the past and, as a volunteer organization relying on those who are already volunteers in their own organizations, we will face such challenges again unless changes are made.
As in Scotland, the majority of Canadians of Scottish heritage do not have a clan or family with which they may associate. Nor are there always local societies or other options for them to connect with. Currently, there is no national organization as an alternative for these Canadians without a clan or family heritage. The president of one of our clan members, in a recent editorial, has even put it as having pity for them because “they do not belong.”
Yet, amidst these challenges lies a wealth of opportunity with that vast majority of Canadians who possess some form of Scottish ancestry or connection: they are a deep, untapped well of potential community members. We, in Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada, often encounter them at highland events where we assist visitors in researching their clan or family affiliations. Sadly for some, we must almost apologize with “You don’t belong to a clan or family” and offer no further recourse for their desire to belong.
There lies the solution in this combination of challenges for our heritage, all of our sustainability and the untapped potential in the community combined with another challenge for our organizations of limited financial resources. This being opening up membership to households all across Canada where such have those within them who are Scottish by birth, by descent or even by inclination. In exchange we'll provide them with a greater sense of community, of belonging and hope for continuity of their proud Scottish heritage.
What is the Vision?
We envision these changes as to how Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada will evolve into that broader National Scottish Organization in Canada which transcends traditional limitations, harnessing modern tools to foster a sense of belonging, purpose, and hope for all Canadians who carry our Scottish spirit in their hearts.
This expanded and renamed as Scots of Canada organization will not be confined by narrow interests, location, or the need for physical proximity. Instead, it will be a dynamic, inclusive community that nurtures individual growth and celebrates our collective heritage. It will strive to identify, address, and share solutions for the common problems we see in our own current members and many other heritage organisations around the world.
Our ambitions with these changes are clear:
- To unite young and old through the concept of household membership thus bridging the gap between generations and fostering intergenerational dialogue and learning.
- To provide a path and reason for individuals to have a meaningful and gratifying participation in the community of the Scottish Diaspora in Canada.
- To embrace our past while rejecting the notion that it defines our future. We recognize our history, wars, warts and waywardness, as a source of learning and strength.
- To constantly provide a means for the exchange of ideas and solutions amongst those individuals and organisations of Scottish heritage in Canada and globally.
- To build a sustainable future for Scottish culture and heritage in our nation, ensuring that it thrives and adapts in a changing world.
- To measure success not just by numbers, but by the impact we have on the lives of our members, our community, and the world at large. Success means bettering the lives of those we serve, now and in perpetuity.
- We commit to serving our current generations and those to come with dignity and respect, doing what is right, not what is easy.
As a testament to our shared history, traditions, and the unyielding spirit of the Scottish blood in our veins, this new Scots of Canada represents a call to all who share in our Scottish heritage, to those who seek a community of purpose, hope, and belonging.
Whether you are driven by a passion for athletics, entertainment, academics, history, or social activism, there would be a place for you within this reborn Scots of Canada.
To paraphrase from the stone on Rob Roy’s grave : “Scottish despite them!”
How Will It Work?
This national organization will have two base classes of membership. One would be an organizational type of membership, equivalent to the current single class of membership that Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada currently has. Each of these members would have representation for elections and other acts of governance similar to how Clans and Scottish Societies of Canada members currently have delegates. Our current single class of members will become this organization class of members as well as have their membership converted into being perpetual. Rights and benefits would vary based upon a status of Active or Inactive aligned with payment of current dues.
A new, separate class of membership would be for households separate from existing members. These members would have representation by elected delegates from among themselves, based on groupings of regionality, commonality and/or interests.
As with the change for organization members, this new class of household membership would be perpetual but varying as to being active or inactive with associated variations on benefits and rights. The strategy with this is to help maintain an ongoing pipeline of participation for membership as those in the household transition through the natural phases of life and engagement.
This national organization would have the expanded resources to undertake activities including scholarships, grants, and educational programs that are beyond our current reach. These resources would come from the much larger number of members who will contribute both financially and through volunteerism, drive, and imagination.
This national organization would be able to hold and/or sponsor events such as a Tartan Day Parade in parts of Canada where there wouldn't be one otherwise. It could hold and/or sponsor Ceilidh, Tattoo, and Festival events at various exhibitions and fairs where there's value in a Scottish presence that is not currently being fulfilled. Events at the PNE, Stampede, Royal Winter Fair and CNE come to mind.
This national organization would not act as a replacement for existing organizations but instead would be a partner in helping to fund and provide a pipeline of members to those organizations. This national organization would actively encourage its members to form new organization class member groups whenever possible. Conversely, a waning organizational class member could elect to be subsumed into the national organization as a chapter or council, with the knowledge that a return to an organizational class membership is not only possible but strongly encouraged.
This national organization would offer to support local chapters of international clans and families where such support would bypass barriers that we know some international organizations currently experience.
As the national organization would have authority to speak nationally regarding the support of Scottish culture and history. Far beyond what we may dream of doing right now.
Note that a key tactic in setting up the changes to the Articles and Bylaws is the pulling back from wording and detail in them. Based upon legal recommendations, a much larger reliance on policies, procedures and board control has been enabled. More on the policies and procedures will be provided at a date closer to the Spring General Assembly.
The core governance of this national organization would rest with the organization class members, our existing class of membership. We know that if this national organization was to be formed separately from us, then this core governance aspect disappears unless this national organization implements an organization class membership itself. In this later scenario, this separate national organization becomes a competitor and a serious threat to our current organization's survival. We would become irrelevant.
What Are Steps?
The Board has completed the steps of defining the classes of membership for the national organization as well as defined the form of governance for the new national organization. Updated Articles and Bylaws have been created in accordance with the expanded membership and form of governance.
We are now at the point of seeking membership approval then regulatory acceptance. For the latter we are working closely with a national charity legal firm who has also arranged pre-approved of the 'Scots of Canada' name.
To follow after the approval and acceptance is implementation of the ways for households, the new class of membership, to join, participate and share in the benefits we will bring to our greater community.
Your input on this, as always, is welcomed. Please contact us at bylaws@scotscanada.ca