Key Takeaways
- The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) received the Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) Award for Organizational Governance in November.
- The award recognizes the organization’s commitment to good governance and its efforts to modernize its framework.
- Strong governance is essential for an organization’s long-term success, enabling it to operate ethically and in compliance with its legislative framework.
- The CSGA’s governance work involved modernizing its internal governance, renewing its bylaws, and updating its membership structure.
- The organization’s commitment to governance is ongoing, and it will continue to strengthen its foundations as it grows and adapts alongside the sector it serves.
Introduction to Governance
Governance work is rarely glamorous, yet it is the backbone of any well-functioning organization. The Canadian Seed Growers’ Association (CSGA) recently received the Governance Professionals of Canada (GPC) Award for Organizational Governance, which is a testament to the organization’s commitment to doing things the right way. This award is a recognition of the years of effort, discipline, and dedication that the CSGA has put into its governance work. Caroline Lafontaine, the chief operating officer of the CSGA, notes that governance is the discipline that anchors effective, accountable, and resilient organizations.
Learning to Lead Governance the Right Way
The CSGA’s journey to receiving the GPC award began when Executive Director Doug Miller and Caroline Lafontaine pursued the GPC accreditation. This program provided them with a more rigorous understanding of governance best practices and reinforced the importance of governance in enabling an organization to operate ethically and in compliance with its legislative framework. The accreditation also underscored the importance of clarity in governance, including understood expectations, defined responsibilities, and consistent and transparent decision-making. These lessons gave the CSGA the grounding to strengthen its governance framework and position the organization for the future.
Modernizing the Framework
The CSGA’s first focus was on internal governance, which involved modernizing all major policies. The organization worked with its Governance Committee and board of directors to review and update its policies, ensuring that they were aligned with best practices. The second major component was renewing the organization’s bylaws, which defined many responsibilities and structures. As the CSGA reviewed how the board operates, it became clear that many responsibilities and structures were defined in the bylaws themselves. At the same time, Seed Regulatory Modernization was prompting sector-wide discussions about who participates in the seed system and how. If regulatory modernization required governance modernization, then updating the CSGA’s membership structure became essential.
A Team Effort
Although Caroline Lafontaine accepted the award on stage, she notes that this recognition belongs to many people. The CSGA’s Governance Committee, board, senior leadership team, and provincial branches all played essential roles in the organization’s governance work. They reviewed proposals, provided guidance, and demonstrated openness to change, which was essential in modernizing the organization’s framework. This award reflects their commitment to ensuring the CSGA remains a strong and forward-looking organization. The work that the CSGA has done to modernize its governance framework represents a strategic investment in the future of the seed sector.
Ongoing Commitment to Governance
Even with the progress that the CSGA has made, governance is never "finished." It evolves as the organization evolves, and the CSGA’s commitment is to continue strengthening its foundations as it grows and adapts alongside the sector it serves. Good governance is essential for an organization’s long-term success, and the CSGA is dedicated to maintaining high standards of governance. The organization will continue to review and update its policies and procedures to ensure that they are aligned with best practices and that the CSGA remains a strong and effective advocate for the seed sector. By prioritizing governance, the CSGA is positioning itself for success and ensuring that it can continue to serve the seed sector effectively.
