Montreal Bridge League

Minutes of the Annual General Meeting

August 24, 2025

AGENDA

1. Welcome from the President
2. Verification of quorum and opening of the meeting
3. Adoption of the agenda
4. Adoption of the minutes of the 2024 AGM
5. Presentation of the 2024-2025 Annual Activity Report
6. Issues and priorities 2025-2026
7. Presentation of the 2024-2025 financial statements
8. Presentation of the LBM directors for 2025-2026
9. Varia
10. Adjournment of the meeting

Welcome

Beginning of the meeting at 1:35 p.m.

Simon Babin welcomes everyone and thanks them for their presence.

He nominates Sylvain Dionne as president of the assembly and Bernard Boire as secretary. The proposal was made by Francis Savaria and seconded by Johanne Sévigny.

Accepted unanimously

Verification of quorum and opening of the meeting

The members of the Board of Directors present:

Simon Babin, President

Francis Savaria, Vice-President

Bernard Boire, secretary

Members : 54 are present. The President declares the meeting open.

Adoption of the agenda

The agenda was communicated via the League’s website. It is read. No changes or additions were requested, and Michel Boileau, seconded by Francine Lamarche, moved its adoption and it was unanimously accepted.

Adoption of the minutes of the 2024 AGM

These minutes were communicated via the League’s website. No changes were requested, and Jean Latraverse, seconded by Dyane Maurice, moved for its adoption and it was unanimously accepted.

Annual Report of Activities 2024-2025

Francis Savaria gave a brief overview of CANAM and the three sectionals held. All of them have been successful despite the sometimes difficult conditions, but have all resulted in a small (except for CANAM) financial loss.

He recalls that the Holiday Inn experienced a major flood last year, which required emergency action (so as not to cancel an event with a few days’ notice) to move the CANAM to the Sheraton Laval. This resulted in high additional costs, but the event was very popular with the players.

In response to various questions:

1. The hotel did not have insurance to cover an event cancellation. It is unlikely that it exists for an ‘act of God‘.
2. None of our equipment was damaged in the flood.

Issues and priorities for 2025-2026:

President Simon Babin thanked everyone present for participating once again in such large numbers in this year’s tournament – an increase of 9% over last year. We can feel that the resumption of bridge activities is well underway everywhere and that the membership is in good health.

The major point of the 2024-2025 activities was the relocation of the Can-Am tournament a few days before the event. The Holiday Inn hotel was flooded and was then closed for a year. Thanks to the mutual aid between all the members of the Board and the support of Bridge Québec, we relocated the tournament, but with unplanned costs.

Great things have been achieved once again during the year that is ending. The Fall Festival was held in Bridge Quebec. Thank you to the team for their appreciable help. The Spring Festival, which took place at the Piedmont Golf Club, and the Saint-Bruno Golf Club were a great success. A special thank you to Alain Naud and Gisèle Lavallée who ensured the success of the Piedmont event, helped by an army of volunteers. Thank you also to all the members of the Laurentian bridge clubs for their support of the event. For Saint-Bruno, thank you to all the volunteers.

The attendance of most of the clubs that are part of our League has increased this year, which is a good sign for the sustainability of the League.

Our priorities for the coming 2025-2026 fiscal year will be to maintain the Can-Am tournament and our 3 festivals (fall, spring, summer).

Thank you to all the outgoing members of the council: Simon Babin, president, Francis Savaria, vice-president, Gilles Benoit, treasurer, and Bernard Boire, new secretary. A special thank you to Christine Bourbeau who has been managing the website and Info-bridge for so many years.

Presentation of the 2024-2025 financial statements

In the absence of Gilles Benoît (retained for family reasons), Bernard Boire explained the financial statements as at May 31, 2025 of the Montreal Bridge League, a copy of which was distributed to the participants.

The fiscal year ended May 31, 2025 was marked by uncertainties. The League’s current operations remain in deficit. The 4 tournaments had a total deficit of $24k (vs. $2k the previous year). The difference has three sources:

1. The CanAm was almost cancelled following the flooding of the Holiday Inn, its move to the Sheraton was very expensive (an additional cost approx +$15k).
2. Storage and transportation costs have increased sharply (approx +$5k). We have since changed warehouse.
3. Investment income has not been sufficient to compensate for losses this year (the stock market has performed less well this year and the return is made on lower investments due to our operating losses).

Our net worth is $181k.

Attendance is on the rise, although it is still much lower than the pre-pandemic situation. The club assistance program is becoming more and more popular and many new players are being trained; the challenge remains to enroll them as members of the ACBL.

A discussion ensued on various points:

1. Simon Babin indicates that our assets have been invested for many years through the firm Givernay Capital.
2. Francis Savaria specifies the conditions for subsidy to clubs.
3. There are questions about the possibility of finding other cheaper venues for future tournaments. Simon Babin replied that it would be investigated during the year.

Presentation of the LBM directors for 2025-2026

Simon Babin encourages all people who have a little time and energy to put in to ensure the good continuity of our league to come forward.

The Chief Electoral Officer, Alain Hénault, presents all current members of Council who are standing for re-election:

1. Simon Babin
2. Francis Savaria
3. Gilles Benoit (absent)
4. Bernard Boire

He says he has also received a candidacy from Benita Stermer.

There are two more open seats.

In the absence of other applications and objections, these 5 people will form the board of directors of the league for the current year. Unanimous approval.

Varia

1. It is suggested to have annual ‘pins’ made rather than T-shirts. Costs and timelines will be investigated.
2. Jean Latraverse proposed to relaunch a campaign to obtain a possible NABC in Montreal. The proposal received unanimous support. J. Latraverse offered to take care of it.

Adjournment of the meeting

The presiding officer adjourned the meeting at 2:10 p.m.