ORGANIZED CHAOS OR PLANNED DEVELOPMENT??

by Pierre Filion pierrefilion@bell.net

Let’s first start by acknowledging progress that has been done at Lacrosse Canada. The minutes of Board meetings are now on the website for all to read a few days after the meetings. That in itself is progress and will help the lacrosse community to be aware of what the elected leaders are discussing and voting on. This is a first step towards accountability.

However, what remains to be done is to inform the members that the minutes are somewhere to be found on the website once they are posted. What also needs to be done is to inform the members of the calendar of meetings and the schedule of other Lacrosse Canada’s meetings. This lack of information does not speak positively on the trail towards accountability. Secrecy never does.

SEARCH FOR AN EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lacrosse Canada posted, on March 30^th, an information on the website that it was searching for an Executive Director. It never indicated however that the past Executive Director had been ‘’terminated’’ (without cause) at a February 12^th meeting of the Board of Directors. It also did not inform the members of the resignations of Brad Cann and Alan Preyra who were elected as Board members at the September annual meeting. Obviously, it did not also inform the reading members that the Provincial Presidents were asking for the removal of Matt Shearer (Lacrosse Canada’s president) and Barbara Lockhart (Board member) as directors of the Corporation. Why disturb the members with information that might trouble them and suggest that chaos was the order of the day.

The post calls for candidates interested in the position of Executive Director to submit their brief before April 24^th.

Let’s remember that there is a Members’ Council meeting on April 21^st to discuss the removal of Lacrosse Canada’s president Matt Shearer and Director Barbara Lockhart. On that day the Board could be down to five members if the provincial presidents do remove Shearer and Lockhart: two ‘’old timers’’ (Leblanc and Currier) and three rookies (Goldthrope, Lazare and Pagan). Organized chaos at best. Five dedicated volunteers asking themselves why on earth did we run for positions with this Association.

Now, if the provincial presidents do not remove Shearer and Lockhart they will lose most of their credibility and could go hide themselves when federal/provincial meetings will spring up. They might be nowhere to be seen or even heard from. And Shearer might just end up as a Trumpian bully!

Lacrosse Canada’s post indicates the qualifications that the candidate would need to lead Lacrosse Canada. I have had a close look at the long document, at the requirements and benefits and have a suggestion for a qualified candidate.

He knows Canada well having worked with rich and quality organizations both in Calgary and in Toronto; he has been associated with credible associations, has seen their successes but somehow was connected with their difficulties and the hard times they are going through now. But, regardless, the man still remains a credible manager and needs to be trusted, especially at Lacrosse Canada. Our man! The one and only: Brad Treliving !

Hey, who would want to become Lacrosse Canada’s Executive Director, even at 140,000$. There is so much chaos that the job will become a mine field or a graveyard for anyone interested.

NO WHERE TO GO AND EVERYTHING TO REBUILD

Look at it with empathy. Don’t just brush it aside and appoint a new person in charge without going to the bottom of Lacrosse Canada’s poor performances in financial terms, in terms of governance and in terms of integrity. Don’t touch this with a ten-foot pole. It’ll kill you! But someone needs to go to the bottom of things; here is a list of ‘’things to look at’’ for starters.

The strategic plan is a word salad with no measurable goals. Our National Association has no measurable goals.

There is never an evaluation of performance related to goals as there are no goals. Anyone can claim success when there are no measurable goals.

Lacrosse Canada’s vision is an illusion. It’s a belly button vision of self.

Lacrosse Canada’s values are just words that are there to fill into sentences.

The financial situation (over 1,000,000$ deficit over the past two years) is a shame and will be a problem for the paying members.

The upcoming audit for 2025-26, when finalized, will be a genuine surprise!

The 2026-27 adopted budget is for dreamers.

There is no plan to nationally develop the game. Lacrosse Canada leaves this ‘’task’’ to the provinces who simply cannot fund such a challenge.

Provincial development is an urgent national concern that Lacrosse Canada ignores.

Trust between the provinces and Lacrosse Canada is at a high time low.

The 2028 Olympic Games are coming and there is no national strategy for anyone to benefit from the Games.

Important issues (such as the resignations of Cann and Preyra) are dragged under the rug and not publicly dealt with. They resigned for reasons of failed governance. Let’s hear about it.

Lacrosse Canada talks about growth, stability and a new era for lacrosse. There is no growth and no stability. Let alone a new era!

Sign of impatience, the Members are requesting the removal of Lacrosse Canada’s president! Not just a second fiddle, the president!

Three provinces dominate and control the game; the other eight are useful bystanders or participants, at best.

80% of the playing membership is in three provinces.

75% of the playing membership is under 17 years old. This will determine who our commercial partners will be; if any!

There is no recreational component to the game of lacrosse; adults simply don’t play lacrosse.

There is no plan to nationally penetrate the school system, academically and technically. Not an iota of a plan. Yet there are million of students in schools throughout Canada.

The concentration of resources towards the National Teams paralyzes growth and provincial development.

Lacrosse Canada has 8 National Teams and spends 38.8% of its resources on less than 200 players.

This needs to be repeated: Lacrosse Canada has 8 National Teams and spends 38.8% of its resources on less than 200 players.

The paying members contribute 52.1% of Lacrosse Canada’s financial resources yet they receive 19.3% of the investments.

Communication on Lacrosse Canada’s rosy website is a collage of National Teams’ pet projects, priorities and a concentration on Lacrosse Canada’s needs. Never is there a serious discussion on the game’s challenges and problems.

There is never a post, on the rosy website, informing the members of the appearance of a financial statement or minutes of Board meetings somewhere on the website. Click here, there and everywhere and you might find it.

The members are totally unaware of Board or committee meetings as there is no schedule of events on the website.

The members are unaware of the make up of the ‘’Finance committee’’ or of the ‘’Governance and ethics committee’’, let alone who sits on the ‘’Nominations committee’’; and obviously no reports from those committees; closed shop with closed windows.

Gone are the numerous sectors committees where the membership could influence the future of the game. The only committee left is the Members’ Council (a consultative committee) where the members can express their opinions, wishes, requests or frustrations.

Come to think of it, it seems Brad Treliving has probably been Lacrosse Canada’s Executive Director for some time now! The Flames, the Leafs and now Lacrosse Canada; he’s left ashes along the way.

Seriously Lacrosse Canada needs much more than changes in personnel; it needs a change in ethics, governance and democratic processes.