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2025-2026 Annual General Meeting

Union House Arts

Annual General Meeting 2026

Tuesday, June 16th, 2026, 7:00PM (NST: -3:30)
via Google Meet

Directors Present:

Bethany Mackenzie, staff

Megan Samms, Chair
Emily Jan, Vice Chair
K. Claire MacDonald, Secretary
Kate Golding, Member at Large
Cy Byrne, Member at Large
Chelsea Mitchell, Member at Large
Diana Chisholm, Member at Large

Members Present:

Rose Bouthillier
Donna Butt
Jerry Ropson
Noémie Pomerleau-Cloutier

1. Call to Order

With a quorum present ( Members,  Directors), the Meeting was called to order at 7:04 pm

2. Welcome, Housekeeping, Land Acknowledgment

Megan opened the meeting, and Bethany shared a Land Acknowledgement.

3. Code of Conduct and Integrity at UHA

-Megan did a brief overview the Code of Conduct and Anti-Harassment Policy shared with all attendees in advance of the meeting (attached)

4. Introduction of Board Members

The board of directors introduced themselves, as well as the two staff members in attendance, Bethany Mackenzie and Shaunae Squires.

5. Approval of the Agenda

  • There was a call for any additions to the agenda.
  • There was a motion to adopt the agenda (attached)

There was a motion to adopt the Agenda.
Motion: Cy Second: Noémie 

6. Approval of minutes from 2025 AGM

There was a motion to adopt the Minutes of the 2025 AGM (attached)
Motion: Jerry Second: Chelsea

7. Treasurer’s Report / Finance Committee: Diana

Diana presented the Treasurer’s Report 

  • Financial statements (attached)
  • Profit and Loss statements (attached)
  • Started using Wave bookkeeping software, which has been highly beneficial in organizing the UHA bookkeeping records
  • UHA is in a good financial position to pursue our strategic plan and goals

Motion to approve the financial report:
Motion: Noémie Second: Cy

8. Fundraising Report: Kate

Kate presented the Fundraising Report (attached)

2025 Highlights:

  • Chummuyjiggers: 2nd annual online silent auction
  • 51 pieces of art were donated to the auction (increase from 43 the previous year)
  • Attracted purchases from all across the country
  • 34 pieces sold, total amount raised for UHA was $3437.47 
  • 50/50 raffle was held, tickets sold around the peninsula
    • $352.70 was raised from the raffle
  • Merch- t-shirts and totebags (in collab with local print company, Tooporama)
  • postcards featuring art by AIR alumni, exhibitors and supporters of Union house Arts (portion of sales go to each artist).
  • After expenses $1,471.90 was generated from merchandise sales

2026 (upcoming)

  • host 3rd annual chummyjiggers
  • continue to sell UHA merch
  • not doing 50/50 fundraiser
  • will be hosting a headshot fundraiser with photographer Johnny CY Lam (date tbd, fall 2026)
  • upcoming trivia night July 9th at Port Rexton Brewery
  • Application has been submitted to achieve charitable status, awaiting results
  • This will hopefully be very beneficial to future fundraising endeavors

9. Presentation of 2025-2026 Programming Review: Bethany

Bethany presented the 2025 Programming recap, and upcoming plans for 2026-2027. (Attached) (attached)

Highlights

  • 16 AIR from April-Nov
  • hosted three international artists
  • Two of the major exhibitions funded by CCA:
    • Queer Newfoundland Hockey League (QNHLL) by Lucas MorneauKendal Sweeney
    • D-iD (Dad): by Kendall Sweeney
  • Hosted four workshops
  • Hoping to increase the number of workshops for 2026 (all scheduled in advance on the calendar)
  • Hosted two artist talks (very well attended!) 
  • Partnered programming
    • Nature NL- guided hikes + workshop (arts programming)
    • Port Rexton Pride
    • Lawnya Vawnya
    • Bonavista Biennale (brought over 1200 visitors over only a month!)
    • Riddle Fence
  • Community programming
    • Movie nights
    • Bonfire night
    • Makers night
    • Community exhibitions
    • Annual garden gathering
  • Open call AIR
    • Changed from project-based to practise-based applications
    • This change felt more accessible to a broad range of artists
    • Over 150 applications to most recent call
  • Workshops/Community programs
    • asking AIR to submit workshop proposals in early spring to allow for planning
    • partnered program will be evaluated on case-by-case basis
  • 2026
    • Wetland social with Nature NL
    • AIR info session (in-depth presentation about application process)
    • Opened two exhibitions
    • Hosted 3 AIR so far, and one workshop
    • 12 more artists to come
    • New youth programming this summer (UHA received specific funding for this, creating a new staff position) 
    • Art camp in partnership with the MUN folklore program

10. Strategic Planning Review and Future Planning: Bethany

See strategic plan here

Bethany announces she won’t be renewing her contract with UHA

11. Election of Board Members

  1. Introduction of Board Members up for Renewal
  • Kate Golding
  • Emily Jan
  • Megan Samms
  • K. Claire MacDonald
  1. Declaration of nominations
  • Kate Golding
  • Emily Jan
  • Megan Samms

No additional members come forward for nomination.

  1. Election of Nominees
  • Kate Golding
  • Emily Jan
  • Megan Samms

All in favour.

Megan is up for term of chair and Emily is up for term of co-chair, this will be discussed at the upcoming board meeting.

12.Varia – Open the floor for comments etc.

Diana suggested moving the financial report to later in AGM instead of first 

14.Closing Remarks

Megan removed the chair report from AGM because we now have committee heads who are responsible for presenting respective reports.

Megan gives a big thank you to everyone in attendance.

Bethany expresses thank you to everyone as this will be her last AGM as director

Donna says she is happy to be involved at the committee level 

15.Adjournment

The meeting was adjourned at 8:14pm