BCPA Facts

The British Columbia Paleontological Alliance (BCPA) is a union of professional and amateur paleontologists working to advance the science of paleontology in the province by fostering public awareness, scientific collecting and education, and by promoting communication among all those interested in fossils.

Executive

Chair - Tom Cockburn

Vice-Chair - Graham Beard

Secretary - Pat Trask

Treasurer - Bob Campbell

Board of Directors

• Graham Beard, Qualicum Beach
• Dan Bowen, Courtenay
• Timon Bullard, Victoria
• Bob Campbell, Prince George
• Andrew Caruthers, Vancouver
• Jim Chambers, Little Fort
• Ted Danner, Vancouver
• Jim Haggart, Vancouver
• Renée Haggart, Vancouver
• Richard Hebda, Victoria
• Charles Helm, Tumbler Ridge
• Bill Hope, Parksville
• Garry Howell, Comox
• Helga Knechtel, Prince George
• Rich McCrea, Tumbler Ridge
• Mitchell Grant, Victoria
• Perry Poon, Vancouver
• Vera Pospelova, Victoria
• Dave Price, Tumbler Ridge
• John Storer, Sechelt
• Marjorie Thorpe, Courtenay
• Mike Trask, Courtenay
• Pat Trask, Courtenay
• Rick Tucker, Kamloops

Regional Societies

Northern British Columbia Paleontological Society (NBCPS)
c/o The Exploration Place
P.O. Box 1779, Prince George, BC V2L 4V7
Chair: Bob Campbell

Thompson Nicola Paleontological Society (TNPS)
1296 Foxwood Lane, Kamloops, BC V2C 5E3
Chair: Rick Tucker

Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation (TRMF)
P.O. Box 1348, Tumbler Ridge, BC V0C 2W0
Chair: Charles Helm

Vancouver Island Paleontological Society (VIPS)
2-2001 Blue Jay Place, Courtenay, BC V9N 4A8
Chair: Dan Bowen

Vancouver Paleontological Society (VanPS)
12-8171 Steveston Highway, Richmond, BC V7A 1M4
Chair: Jim Haggart

Vancouver Island Paleontological Museum Society (VIPMS)
151 West Sunningdale, Qualicum Beach, BC V9K 1K7
Chair: Graham Beard

Victoria Palaeontology Society (VicPS)
406 - 1155 Yates Street, Victoria, BC V8V 3N1
Chair: Timon Bullard

Supporting Organizations

• Courtenay and District Museum, Courtenay
• The Exploration Place, Prince George
• Geological Survey of Canada
• Tumbler Ridge Museum Foundation, Tumbler Ridge
• Royal British Columbia Museum, Victoria
• School of Earth and Ocean Sciences, University of Victoria
• Thompson Rivers University, Kamloops
• Science World, Vancouver

Constitution

1. The name of the Society is: British Columbia Paleontological Alliance

2. The purpose of the Society is to:

   1. foster the appreciation of fossils and knowledge about paleontology in British Columbia;

   2. promote linkages among individuals and organisations with an interest in fossils;

   3. act as an umbrella organisation to serve the needs of its members in areas where a province-wide approach is deemed the most efficient and effective;

   4. act as a common voice for paleontology in matters of heritage conservation, scientific investigation and public education;

   5. disseminate knowledge about paleontology and related matters through a newsletter, symposia and any other technical means deemed by the board to be appropriate in the carrying out of its purposes.

3. It is an unalterable provision of this constitution that the society will operate for charitable purposes only, and will cooperate with other charitable and non-profit organisations when such collaboration is deemed beneficial to carrying out the purposes of the society.

4. It is an unalterable provision of this constitution that members of this society shall have no interest in the property and assets of the society; and that, upon dissolution of the society, funds and assets of the society remaining after the satisfaction of its debts and liabilities, shall be distributed to another charitable organisation in British Columbia as determined by its members at the time of dissolution.

5. It is an unalterable provision of this constitution that the purposes of the society shall be carried out without purpose of gain for its members and any profits of the society shall be used for promoting its purposes.

Bylaws

The bylaws of the society are those set out in Schedule B to the Society Act, with the following amendments:

Part 5, 27. (1) The directors may at any time and from time to time appoint a member or non-member to fill a vacancy in the directors.

Part 5, 28. (1) If a director resigns his office or otherwise ceases to hold office, the remaining directors may appoint a member or non-member to take the place of the former director.

Part 6, 31. (2) The quorum of directors required to transact business is 8 (eight).

Notes

1. The constitution was amended at the AGM held on Saturday, September 14, 1996.

2. Amendments were made to Part 6, 31 (2) bylaws at the AGM held on Saturday, September 13, 1997.

3. Amendments were made to Part 5, 27 (1), 28 (1) bylaws at the AGM held on Saturday, September 26, 1998.

Note: No changes were made to the bylaw in Part 4, 16. (3) which states that a quorum of 3 members must be present at an (annual) general meeting. Since the BCPA has 7 legal members (the 7 regional societies) it seems unlikely that representatives from at least 3 of these will not be present at an AGM, therefore no specific changes have been suggested for this section.

The official members of the BCPA are the regional societies. The members of the regional societies become BCPA societal members upon payment by the regional society of an annual fee for each member of its society.