CRPU Constitution

The CRPU Charter is made up of three sections; The Constitution, The Club Rules and the Race Rules. We have put each section on its own page to make a lengthy document easier to process and load in your browser.

UNION CHARTER
By the Honourable NORMAN ALEXANDER McCLARTY
Secretary of State
Canada

GREETING:

WHEREAS, in and by Part II of the Companies Act, 1934, it is, amongst other things, in effect enacted that the Secretary of State of Canada may, by Letters Patent, under his/her Seal of Office, grant a Charter to any number of persons, not less than three, who having complied with the requirements of the act, apply therefore, constituting such persons, and others who thereafter become members of the Corporation thereby created, a Body Corporate and Politic without share capital, for the purpose of carrying on in more than one province of Canada without pecuniary gainto its' members objects of a national, patriotic, religious, philanthropic, charitable, scientific, artistic, social, professional or sporting character, or the like, upon the applicants therefore establishing to the satisfaction of the Secretary of State of Canada due to compliance: oance with the several conditions and terms in and by the said Act set forth and thereby made conditions precedent to the granting of such Charter, AND WHEREAS GORDON WALLACE, Assistant Manager, and, JOHN WILLIAM MATTHEWS, Chief Clerk, both of the City of Toronto, in the Province of Ontario, and ERNEST GEORGE LARNER, of the City of Hamilton, in the said Province of Ontario, Superintendent, have made application for a Charter under the said Act, become members in the
Corporation thereby created, a Body Corporate and Politic, under the name of
CANADIAN RACING PIGEON UNION Incorporated for the purposes hereinafter mentioned, and have satisfactorily established the sufficiency of all proceedings required by the said Act to be taken, and the truth and sufficiency of all facts required to be established previous to the granting of such Letters Patent, and have filed in the Department of the Secretary of State a duplicate of the Memorandum of Agreement executed by the said applicants in conformity with the provisions of the said Act, NOW KNOW YE, that I, NORMAN ALEXANDER McCLARTY, Secretary of State of Canada under the authority of the hereinafter in part recited Act, do, by these Letters Patent constitute and said GORDON WALLACE, JOHN WILLIAMS MATTHEWS and ERNEST GEORGE LARNER, all others who become members in the said Corporation, a Body Corporate and Politic without share capital by the name of CANADIAN RACING PIGEON UNION Incorporated with all the rights and powers given by the said Act.

March 1944
We, the undersigned, do further severely covenant and agree each with the other and each of them that the Corporation shall be carried on without pecuniary gain to its' members and that any profits or other accretions to the Corporation shall be used in promoting its' objects. The subscribers hereto shall be the first members of the Corporation and the Corporation shall consist of the subscribers and of those who shall hereafter duly become members of the Corporation in accordance with the by-laws from time to time in force.
The first directors of the Corporation shall be as set out in the petition herein.
The following shall be the by-laws of the Corporation:
The following are the names in full and the address and calling of each of the applicants:–
GORDON WALLACE, 8 Monarch Park Ave., Toronto, ON, Assistant Manager;
ERNEST GEORGE LARNER, 218 Ottawa St., South, Hamilton, ON, Superintendent;
JOHN WILLIAM MATTHEWS, 412 Jones Ave., Toronto, ON, Chief Clerk.

ARTICLE I
Section 1: NAME – The name of the Corporation shall be the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union Incorporated.
Section 2: HEAD OFFICE – Head Office of the Corporation shall be in the Province of Ontario at a location agreed to by the Board of Directors and the Secretary-Treasurer of the C.R.P.U.
Section 3: OBJECTS – The objects of the Corporation shall be:
(1) To promote pigeon racing in the DOMINION OF CANADA; and
(2) To promote and hold pigeon races and to give prizes, awards and distinctions to persons and associations, incorporated or unincorporated, which may be interested in racing pigeons; and
(3) To promote the breeding and distribution of knowledge of all matters related to pigeon racing; and
(4) To provide for and procure the lectures, conferences, contests, shows and holding of public meetings, exhibitions, other gatherings calculated directly or indirectly to advance pigeon racing; and
(5) To provide means for registration and identification of racing pigeons, and to promote uniform standards and classifications in all kinds of matters related to racing pigeons; and
(6) To provide a central bureau to deal with all matters relating to lost and straying pigeons and the transfer or other disposition of racing pigeons; and
(7) To establish a central bureau for the collection and dissemination of information and knowledge relating to racing pigeons; and
(8) To render aid and assistance to persons and associations, incorporated, or unincorporated, interested or likely to be interested in racing pigeons; and
(9) To consider and discuss all questions affecting the interests of racers of pigeons and to promote the welfare of racers of pigeons; and
(10) To subscribe to or become a member of or co-operate with any other association whose objects are wholly or partially similar to those of the Corporation; and
(11) To buy, sell and otherwise acquire and dispose of or deal with any goods, wares, apparatus, devices, buildings or other real or personal property which may be requisite for the purposes of, or can conveniently be used in connection with any of the objects of the Corporation; and
(12) To carry on in the same or a modified form and extend the work heretofore undertaken by the unincorporated association known as Canadian Racing Pigeon Union; and
(13) To do all such other things as are incidental or conductive to the attainment of the above objects.
Section 4: SEAL – The Corporation shall have a Seal, an impression whereof shall be stamped on the margin hereof.

ARTICLE II
MEMBERSHIP
Section 5: ELIGIBILITY – Any individual person, whether or not a member of any club or association of pigeon racers, shall be eligible to apply for membership. There shall be two categories:
1. Affiliated Membership - Members who are members of C.U. Clubs
2. Individual Membership - Members who are not members of a C.U. Club (or have not b e e n expelled from one). New members must be on probation for a period of at least one year.
3. Family memberships – are families who would qualify as CU members but have more than one member of the family that is active in the sport. The family membership is limited to immediate family members, living in the same physical address and includes on adult, spouse, and any number of participating dependent children under the age of 18. Voting is limited to one voter per membership.
Section 6: APPLICATION AND ELECTION – Any applicant for membership shall apply to the Secretary of the Corporation in any form prescribed by the Board of Directors or in the absence therein such form as may be satisfactory to the Board of Directors and such application shall be placed by the Secretary before the Board of Directors for consideration. The Board of Directors shall have the right to determine whether any applicant for membership shall be required to be proposed or sponsored by one or more existing members. The Board of Directors may grant or reject any application for membership upon such grounds as it may have deemed reasonable and
prudent, and the decision of the Board of Directors shall be final.

Section 7: SUSPENSION – Any member may be suspended from membership upon failure to pay his/her annual dues hereunder mentioned, promptly when due, upon resolution of the Board of Directors. Any member may be suspended from membership for any reason other than the non-payment of dues, upon the vote of not less than two-thirds of the Directors present and voting at any meeting of the Board of Directors duly held and in accordance with the Laws of the Land and Section 4 Human Rights Code - 1981 - C53 will not be infringed.

ARTICLE III
MEMBERSHIP FEES
Section 8: ADMISSION FEE – Such admission fee, as may from time to time be fixed by the Board of Directors, shall be paid by each proposed new member and payment for such amount shall accompany each application for membership. In case of rejection of an application for membership, such payment shall be returned to the applicant.
Section 9: ANNUAL FEES – Each member shall pay upon the date in each year which shall be fixed by the Board of Directors the sum fixed by the Board of Directors for the continuation of his/her membership for the period of time fixed by the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE IV
MANAGEMENT
Section 10: BOARD OF DIRECTORS – The affairs of the Corporation shall be managed by the Board of (7) Directors, who may exercise all such powers and do all such acts and things as may be exercised or done in a reasonable and prudent manner, by the Corporation and which are not by the By-Laws of the Corporation or by Statute expressly directed or required to be done by the Corporation at general meetings of the members.
Section 11: QUALIFICATION – The qualification of a Director shall be that he/she is a member of the Corporation in good standing and not in arrears of admission fee or annual fees.
Section 12: ELECTION OF DIRECTORS – The election of directors shall be by ballot. Only one (1) director to be appointed from any county.
Section 13: TERM OF OFFICE – The term of office of a Director shall be for 2 years from the meeting at which he/she is elected for such further time thereafter until his/her successor replaces him/her. The remaining Directors may appoint a member to fill a vacancy on the Board of Directors. A member appointed by the Directors to fill a vacancy on the Board shall hold office for the balance of the unexpired term of the vacating Director. The terms of office of all Directors shall end at the annual meeting at which Directors are to be elected but such Directors shall be eligible for re-
election if otherwise qualified by ballot or acclamation. Nomination forms and ballots shall be distributed by the Secretary to all members in good standing, for voting purposes.
Section 14: VACATION OF OFFICE – The office of a Director shall ipso facto be vacated:
(a) if he/she ceases to be a member in good standing;
(b) if by notice in writing to the Corporation he/she resigns his/her office;
(c) if he/she is removed from office by a two-thirds vote of the members present and voting at a general meeting of the members duly held.
(d) If a Director misses two meetings of the Board of Directors, he/she may be removed from the Board at the discretion of the President, and replaced by the next highest member on the result of the vote ballot of the last Annual Meeting.

ARTICLE V
DIRECTORS MEETINGS
Section 15: QUORUM – Four (4) Directors shall form a quorum for the transaction of business.
Section 16: NOTICE – Directors meetings may be held anywhere, as the Directors may from time to time determine. Meetings of the Board of Directors may be held at any time without formal notice if all Directors are present or if those absent have signed their consent in writing to the meeting being held in their absence. Any two Directors may require the Secretary to convene a meeting of the Directors upon due notice at any time. Notice of any meeting of Directors shall be notified by mail or telephone 14 days before the meeting is to take place.
Section 17: VOTING – Questions arising at any meeting of Directors shall be decided by a majority of votes. In the case of an equality of votes, the Chairman shall have a second casting vote in addition to his/her original vote.
Section 18: REMUNERATION – Remuneration to be paid for minor expenses to Directors and shall be such as may be determined from time to time by the members of the Board of Directors.

ARTICLE VI
OFFICERS
Section 19: OFFICERS – Officers of the Corporation shall be a President, a Vice-President, a Secretary and Treasurer, and the offices of Secretary and Treasurer may be held by one person. The Board of Directors shall have the power to create additional officers, as it may deem advisable. None of the said officers except the President and Vice-President shall be required to be a member of the Board of Directors. The Board of Directors at its' first general meeting after election shall elect from among its' own number, a President and a Vice-President, and shall appoint a Secretary, a Treasurer (or a Secretary-Treasurer) and such other officers as may be desirable.
Section 20: REMUNERATION – The remuneration of all officers who are Directors shall be determined from time to time by resolution of the Directors at a Directors Meeting, and the remuneration of officers who are not directors shall be fixed by the Board of Directors. All officers, in the absence of agreement to the contrary, shall be subject to removal by resolution of the Board of Directors, with or without cause, provided that a majority of the total Board vote in favour thereof.
Section 21: PRESIDENT – The President shall be chief executive officer of the Corporation. He/she shall be present and preside at all meetings of the Directors and members. He/she shall sign all instruments, which require his/her signature and shall perform all duties incident to his/her office and shall have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the Board of Directors.
Section 22: VICE-PRESIDENT – The Vice-President shall be vested with all the powers and shall perform all the duties of the President in the absence of or disability or refusal to act of the President. The Vice-President shall also have such other powers and duties as may from time to time be assigned to him/her by the Board of Directors.
Section 23: SECRETARY – The Secretary shall issue or cause to be issued notice of all meetings of the Board of Directors and members when required to do so. He/she shall have charge of the minute books and all other books, records and papers of the Corporation. He/she shall sign with the President or other signing officer of the Corporation such instruments as require his/her signature and shall perform such other duties as the terms of his/her engagement call for and the Board of Directors may from time to time properly require of him/her.
Section 24: TREASURER – The Treasurer has the care and custody of all of the funds and  securities of the Corporation. All monies shall be deposited by the Treasurer in the name of the Corporation in such bank or banks or with such depository or depositories as the Board of Directors may direct. Until otherwise provided by resolution of the Directors he/she shall sign all cheques, draft notes and orders for the payment of money and he/she shall pay out and dispose of the same under the direction of the Board of Directors. He/she shall at all reasonable times exhibit his/her books and accounts to any Director of the Corporation.

ARTICLE VII
MEETINGS OF MEMBERS
Section 25: ANNUAL MEETING – The annual meeting of the Members of the Corporation shall be held at the Head Office of the Corporation or elsewhere in Canada.
Section 26: SPECIAL OR GENERAL MEETINGS – Special or general meetings of the members may be called by the President or a majority of the Directors whenever it is deemed necessary for the purpose of the Corporation.
Section 27: NOTICE OF MEETINGS – Notice of the time and place for the holding of any meeting of members shall be given in writing and not less than seven days (exclusive of the day of mailing but inclusive of the date for which notice is given) before such meeting, by mailing notice in a postpaid wrapper or letter to the last address of the members known to the Secretary.
Section 28: WAIVER OF NOTICE OR IRREGULARITY – Notice of any meeting or any irregularity in any meeting or in the notice thereof may be waived by any member.

Section 29: OMISSION OF NOTICE – The accidental omission to give notice of any meeting or the non receipt of notice of any meeting by any member or members shall not invalidate any resolution passed or proceeding taken at any meeting.
Section 30: QUORUM – A quorum of any meeting of members shall consist of twenty members present in person.
Section 31: VOTING – Every member shall be entitled to one vote at any meeting of the Corporation. Any questions coming before any meeting of the members may, except as otherwise specifically prescribed by law, be decided by a majority of votes, and in the case of an equality of votes, the Chairman presiding at such meeting shall have the casting vote in addition to his vote as a member.
Unless a poll is demanded, and except as otherwise expressly provided by law, at any meeting of  the members the vote may be taken by a show of hands. At any meeting, unless a poll is demanded, a declaration by the Chairman that a resolution has been carried or carried unanimously or carried by a particular majority, or lost, or not carried by any particular majority, shall be conclusive evidence to the fact. If a poll is demanded, it shall be taken in such manner and either at once or after adjournment as the Chairman directs. The result of a poll shall be deemed to be the resolution of the meeting at which the poll was demanded. A demand for a poll may be withdrawn.
Section 32: PROXIES – Votes may be given either personally or by proxy. The instrument appointing a proxy shall be in writing under the hand of his appointer or his attorney duly authorized in writing, or if the appointer is a Corporation, either under the company seal or under the hand of an officer or attorney so authorized. No person shall act as a proxy unless he is entitled on his own behalf to be present and vote at the meeting at which he acts as proxy, or has been appointed to act at that meeting as proxy for a corporation. The Directors may from time to time make regulations regarding the lodging of instruments of proxy.
Section 33: ADJOURNMENT – The Chairman may with the consent of any meeting adjourn the same from time to time and no notice of such adjournment need be given to the members. Any business may be brought before or dealt with at any adjourned meeting, which might have been brought before or dealt with at the original meeting in accordance with the notice calling the same.

Section 34: SERVICE – Any notice may be served on any member either personally or by sending
it through the post in a prepaid wrapper or envelope to the last address of the member known to
the Secretary. With the respect to every notice sent by post, it shall be sufficient to prove that the
wrapper or envelope was properly addressed and put into the post office or into one of Her
Majesty's letterboxes.
Section 35: PROOF OF SERVICE – A certificate of the Secretary or other duly authorized officer
of the Corporation in the office at the time of the making of the certificate, as to the facts in relation
to the mailing or delivery of any notice to any member, Director or officer shall be conclusive
evidence thereof and shall be binding on every member, Director or officer, as the case may be.

ARTICLE VIII
RESIGNATIONS
Section 36: RESIGNATION FROM MEMBERSHIP – Resignations from memberships shall be made in writing to the Board of Directors and shall take effect as of the time of receipt by the Boardof Directors or the date set out in the letter of resignation, whichever is the later, but such resignation shall not relieve any member from liability for any unpaid account at the time of such resignation, and any member shall be liable for the full amount of the annual fees for the year during which the resignation is made.

ARTICLE IX
DOCUMENTS OF THE CORPORATION
Section 37: CONTRACTS ETC. – Contracts, documents or any instruments in writing (except trade contracts made in the ordinary course of the Corporation's business) requiring the signature of the Corporation shall be signed by any two of the President, Vice-President, Secretary and Treasurer, and all contracts, documents and instruments in writing so signed shall be binding upon the Corporation without any further authorization or formality. The Board of Directors shall have the power from time to time by resolution to bind any other officer or officers on behalf of the Corporation either to sign contracts, documents or instruments. The Seal of the Corporation may when required be affixed to contracts, documents and instruments in writing signed as aforesaid.
Section 38: CHEQUES, ETC. – All cheques, drafts or orders for the payment of money and all notes and acceptances and bills of exchange shall be signed by such officer or officers or person or persons whether or not officers of the Corporation in such manner as the Board of Directors may from time to time designate.

ARTICLE X
AUDITORS
Section 39: ANNUAL AUDIT – The members of the Corporation at each annual meeting shall appoint an auditor or auditors to audit the books of the Corporation during the ensuing year and the remuneration of such auditor or auditors may be left to the Board of Directors to be paid at current rate. In the event of an auditor or auditors so appointed ceasing to act during any year, the Board of Directors shall have the power to appoint another auditor or auditors for the then remaining balance of the term of appointment of the auditor or auditors so ceasing to act.
Section 40: AUDITOR'S/FINANCIAL REPORT – The audited report and/or Annual Financial report of the Corporation shall be present at each annual meeting of the members.
Section 41: ENACTMENT – By-Laws may be enacted at any time and from time to time by a majority of the Board of Directors and shall be effected only upon being ratified, approved, confirmed and sanctioned by a majority of the members present at a meeting thereafter, duly held provided such by-law does not contravene the Laws of the Land and Section 4 Human Rights Code - 1981 - C53.
Section 42: AMENDMENT AND APPEAL – By-Laws or any part thereof may be amended or repealed by an amending by-law duly passed by a majority of the Board of Directors and shall be effective only upon being ratified, approved, confirmed and sanctioned by a majority of the members present at the meeting thereafter duly held provided such by-law does not contravene with the Laws of the Land and Section 4 Human Rights Code - 1981 - C53.

The Dominion Charter and By-Laws of the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union Incorporated.

CANADIAN RACING PIGEON UNION
These rules approved and carried at a meeting of the Board of Directors November 13, 1996
and are in accordance with the Laws of the Land and Section 4 Human Rights Code - 1981
- C53, including additions and amendments to Feb. 2000.

These Union and Club Rules are subject at all times to the Charter By-Laws of the C.R.P.U. Inc., and shall not be construed at any time to contradict or override the same in any way.

CLUBS
1. A "club" shall consist of a minimum of five (5) C.U. Members of at least four (4) different addresses. At all shipping, strike on and strike off, at least 3 of these members from at least 2 different addresses must be present. Any transfer of basketed pigeons from the clubhouse to the transportation vehicle, there must be at least two (2) C.U. Members present.

AFFILIATED MEMBERS
1. Affiliated members are members of societies affiliated to the Union. Federations and
Combines consisting of Homing Societies Affiliated to the Union shall be deemed as bodies affiliated to the Union. Individual members are persons individually elected as members of the Union in manner hereinafter provided.
2. Upon the admission of any such Society, and the members thereof signing the membership forms as hereinafter provided, such Society shall become an Affiliated Society of the Union and the members of the Union and shall be known as affiliated members.

INDIVIDUAL MEMBERS
3. Any individual may become a member of the Union upon application to the Union for the district within which such individual resides. Such application shall be made upon a form to be obtained from the C.U. and shall be signed by the applicant and by two members of the Union to whom the application is personally known. The provisions of these Rules as to the Admission of a Society to the Union shall apply to the election of an individual applicant with the necessary modifications. Persons elected under the provisions of this Rule shall be known as Individual Members and subject to the Charter By-Laws, Section 5, 6 and 7. No non-flying member shall keep pigeons for the sale of meat, or other inhumane practices.

MEMBERSHIP FORMS
4. Every Affiliated Society shall, on admission to the Union, deliver to each member thereof, and thereafter shall deliver to each new member of such Society a copy of these rules, with a form hereinafter referred to as "The membership card". The membership card shall be signed by each member and shall, in the case of an affiliated member, be returned to the Secretary of his/her Society and in the case of an individual member to the Secretary of the C.U. It shall be the duty of each Society to forward all the membership cards, duly signed by all the members, to the Secretary of the C.U. and subject to the Charter By-Laws, Section 5, 6 and 7.

MEMBERSHIP FEES
5. Upon the signature of the membership card by any member, these rules, including any subsequent alterations or modifications thereof duly made in pursuance of a resolution of the General meeting, shall become and be deemed to constitute a binding contract between such member and the Union and all members thereof.
6. No member shall be entitled to any of the privileges or benefits of the Union until he/she shall have signed and returned the membership card in manner herein before provided and shall have paid his/her subscription for the current year.
7. Every organization shall, before the 1st of December in each year furnish to the Secretary of the C.U. a list (in duplicate) showing the names and addresses of its' members, together with the subscription payable by such organization to the Union in respect of its' members.
8. An individual member shall pay a subscription fee annually to the nearest C.U. club or direct to the C.U. as set down at the annual membership meeting. A junior member is classified as 18 years of age or under still attending school, and shall pay a special subscription fee.
Honourary member - Appointments shall be made by the Board of Directors and such Honourary Member shall retain the full privileges and benefits of the Union. However, a deceased Honourary Member's picture shall be deleted from the year book the following year.
9. No officer or official or any affiliated Society or Club shall be deemed to an be agent of the Union and the Union shall not be bound by or liable in respect of any act, default or omission of any such officer or official.

C.U. OFFICIALS
10. Officers or officials of the C.U. in all matters wherein they are authorized to act by Rules of such C.U., or by these Rules, be deemed to be agents of the Union, but shall not have power to pledge the credit of the Union unless specifically authorized.
11. All local administration shall always be vested in the Club, and local club matters shall always first be dealt with by them, subject only to an appeal to the C.U. against any decision arrived at by the Club.
12. General meetings of the C.U. shall be held as often as may be required and at least one in each year. The Annual General Meeting shall be held on a date decided by the Directors, each year. Notice of such meetings, and of the business proposed to be dealt with thereat shall be posted to all Directors and shall be sent for publication in the Newsletter.
13. No business shall be transacted at any General Meeting except the approval of the Accounts of the Union unless a quorum of Directors be present at the time when the meeting proceeds to business. Four Directors shall constitute a quorum.

CONDUCT OF MEMBERS

INTERNAL DISCIPLINE
14. If any member of the Union shall be guilty of any dishonourable conduct or of conduct which renders him/her unfit to be a member of his/her Club or of the Union, or willfully breaks the rules of his/her Club or the Union, or refuses to comply with any decision of the Union upon any matter affecting the sport of Homing Pigeon Racing, or Exhibitions he/she may be expelled or suspended by his/her Club or the C.U. or in the case of an individual member, by the C.U. from the privileges of the Union for such periods as may be determined subject to the right of appeal hereinafter referred to. During the period of suspension, the person suspended shall be incapable of being a
member of the Union and shall cease to be a member of any affiliated Society. No address or loft belonging to or used by an expelled or suspended member shall be recognized by the Union during the period of suspension unless the Union shall otherwise determine. The termination of such suspension shall free all the birds that in consequence of such suspension may have been declared ineligible to compete as above but shall not entitle such member to be reinstated as a member of any Club or Society, unless such Club or Society shall otherwise decide. It shall, however, be within the right of any member at any time to apply for the "freeing" of any such
ineligible bird, and the Union may, if they think fit, grant such request on such terms and conditions as they think desirable.
15. Any affiliated Society or member under these Rules may, in the absence of express provision to the contrary, appeal to the C.U. subject to the following provisions: –
(1) Notice of such appeal shall be given in writing and shall state the ground of appeal and shall be served upon the Secretary of the C.U. within 21 days of notification of the decision of the local Club. The notice shall be accompanied by a deposit of $50.00 to cover costs. Should the appeal be upheld, the $50.00 shall be re-assessed to the club.
(2) No appeal shall lie on the grounds of any technical objection to the proceedings at the local Club, or that evidence was admitted before the Club, which would not have been admitted in a Court of Law.
(3) Upon receipt of the notice of appeal, the Secretary shall forward a copy to the Secretary of the local Club, who shall within 14 days after the receipt of such notice, forward to each party to the appeal a Minute of the evidence taken and points raised before the local Club.
(4) Any party to the appeal may, within 14 days after the receipt of such Minute by Notice in Writing addressed to the Local Secretary object thereto on the ground that it is inaccurate or that material evidence has been omitted, or that points raised have not been clearly or accurately stated. The notice of objection shall be considered by the local Club, who may make such amendments (if any) to the Minute as they may think fit. The Minute of Evidence and points raised shall then be signed by the Chairman and Secretary of the local Club, and shall be binding and conclusive as to the evidence heard and received, and the points raised at the appeal unless the C.U. shall otherwise determine.
(5) The Secretary of the C.U. shall, prior to the hearing of the appeal by the C.U. furnish a copy of the Minutes of Evidence and points raised to every party to the appeal.
(6) At the hearing of the appeal by the C.U. all parties to the appeal shall attend and may give evidence but no fresh evidence shall be permitted except by consent of the C.U., and provided that written notice of intention to tender such fresh evidence stating full particulars shall have been served upon the Secretary of the C.U., and to the other party or parties to the appeal, at least 14 days prior to the hearing.
16. The C.U. may rescind, vary, modify, refer back for re-hearing or confirm the decision of the local Club.
17. The decision of the C.U. upon appeal shall be final, based on evidence presented.
18. These rules shall be deemed to be a submission by all members of the Union and by all affiliated Societies thereof, of any questions which may arise under the Union, such arbitral jurisdiction to be the above-written rules to the arbitration or exercised through the several tribunals representatives or hereby recognized or appointed in the matter hereinbefore provided.
19. Any interested party may appear or be represented on any appeal under such last-mentioned rules. No Director, shall without permission, speak or vote on any matter in which he/she may have a trade or business interest.
20. No Director shall sit or vote at the C.U. hearing of any appeal against a decision of a local Club whereof he/she is a representative, nor shall any member of the Committee sit or vote at the hearing of such Committee on any matter affecting a Society to which he/she belongs.

CONDUCT OF SOCIETIES/CLUBS
21. If an affiliated Society/Club shall, in the opinion of the C.U. conduct its affairs in a manner unbefitting an affiliated Society/Club of the Union, or shall break, or refuse to conform to the rules of the Union, or shall refuse to comply with any decision or retain as a member of such Society/Club, or in resolution of the C.U., or shall purport to any way admit to the privileges of membership any person refused election by, or duly suspended from the Union, during the period of suspension, the C.U., may in such case expel or suspend such Society/Club during such period as the C.U. may determine. New members must be on probation for a period of at least one year.

OPERATIONAL RULES FOR AFFILIATED SOCIETIES/CLUBS
22. (1) Clubs must abide by the Laws of the Land, Section 4 Human Rights Code - 1981 - C53, will not be infringed upon.
(2) Clubs and members must abide by Municipal or Township By-Laws. Furthermore, Clubs shall co-operate with local officials regarding existing by-laws implementation of the Club. Non-compliance by an individual member of the local by-laws shall result in disciplinary action, i.e. temporary suspension.
(3) Clubs must abide by these operational rules.
(4) All club members must be acceptable for C.U. membership.
(5) Clubs must report all suspensions or expulsions of club members with the full explanation of the reasons for this action to the Secretary of the C.U. in writing within 14 days of such suspension/expulsion.
23. Upon the expulsion/suspension of any affiliated Society, all the members of such Society shall cease to be members of the Union. Upon expulsion/suspension of any affiliated Society all the members of such Society shall, during the period of such expulsion/suspension, cease to be members of the Union, providing that a member of any expulsed/suspended Society who is also a member of any other duly affiliated Society may, with the permission of the C.U. continue to be a member of such last-named Society and of the Union, provided also that with the like permission any member of a expulsed/suspended Society shall be eligible for election to any other affiliated Society of the Union. The application for such permission shall be by letter addressed to the C.U. and the decision of the C.U. thereon may be given without holding any informal enquiry or hearing any evidence and shall be final.
24. Notice of an expulsion or suspension of any Society or member shall be forthwith
communicated to the C.U. Secretary who shall notify secretaries of affiliated C.U. Clubs of such expulsions or suspensions.

DISPUTES
25. Disputes between members, or members of any Clubs to which they may belong, including appeals from any decision of such Club, shall be heard and determined as laid down by these rules by the C.U.

LEGAL ADVICE
26. The Union shall have the power so far as the Laws of the Land allows, to provide, or assist in providing, legal advice and assistance to its members in respect to all conditions arising out of or connected with the sport of Homing Pigeon Racing or Competitions, the breeding, training, custody, sale, purchase or conveyance of Racing Pigeons, or which, in the judgment of the C.U. directly or indirectly affect the interests of the Union, and may offer and pay rewards for information touching such matters.
27. Any application by a member or Society for legal advice or assistance shall be made in writing to the C.U. and shall be accompanied by a written statement of the facts of the case, and any evidence which can be produced in relation thereto, Thereupon, the C.U. may take such steps as they deem expedient in the matter, and that no money be allocated for legal advice until such case is investigated by a Committee from the C.U. Directors, and a report made on same.
28. The Board of Directors have the power to initiate criminal proceedings or otherwise to take such other steps as they think expedient to procure or assist in procuring the punishment of offences which, in the opinion of the C.U. affect the interests of the Union, and may offer and pay rewards for information touching such matters.

OPEN RACE
29. The C.U. does not sanction any open races.
(a) Should any club or organization sponsor an open race, the approximate results of race to be published within 30 days from the date on which such race was flown and prizes allotted to be distributed to winners within 60 days or sooner from the date on which the race was flown.
(b) In the case of disputes, the C.U. will act as a Board of Directors as per the C.U. Rules in open  races, exclusive of monetary issues.
(c) That any club or organization sponsoring an open race has the right to determine what clocking systems may be used.

RECOGNIZED RINGS
30. In all races it shall be deemed to be the ring and not the bird that is entered. Only a legitimate racing pigeon band, recognized by the International Federation and registered with the C.U. is eligible.
(a) Any fancier caught removing a band from another person's pigeon without permission will be given an automatic suspension from the Canadian Racing Pigeon Union.

RING SALES LISTS
SEND TO LOST AND FOUND SECRETARY
31. All Club Secretaries must on or before the first day of May of each year, forward to the Secretary a complete list of all rings sold with the names and addresses of the purchasers and must on the first day of each succeeding month forward to the Secretary a like list of all rings sold during the proceeding months. The Secretary shall, on receipt of such list send to the Club Secretary by general post a receipt therefore, and in case of dispute as to whether and when such list was furnished, such receipt shall be accepted as proof.
(a) C.U. bands are sold to C.R.P.U. members only.
32. No member of the Union shall have in his/her possession, without just cause, any bird, which is not his/her property. Any member racing a stray bird not his/her property shall be suspended. Any birds not transferred with C.U. Office will be considered stray birds.

CARD VOTES
33. That when a Club or Federation has an area greater than a radius of 50 miles then all resolutions submitted to all General Meetings may be submitted to all members for a proxy vote, except the Secretary's Report, Balance Sheet and Election of Officers.

SALES ADVERTISEMENTS
34. That all advertisements in which prizes, positions and awards are claimed to have been won, shall state the name of the Club or Organization in which such prizes, positions or awards have been won, also the number of birds competing must be stated. Anyone advertising a "complete disposal" sale shall not be eligible to fly in competition for a period of three (3) years from date of said sale.

FLOWN DISTANCES
35. The word "flown" when used in the connection of a bird having flown a stated distance, shall be taken to mean that such bird has flown the distance stated as a competing bird in a race promoted by a Club or Federation affiliated to the C.U. or similar body.

SUSPENSION
36. That a fancier suspended by any Pigeon Union (of which he was a member) shall not be allowed membership of the C.U. Suspension of members of the C.U. shall be notified by the General Secretary to the Secretaries of other Unions.

SHOOTING, ETC.
37. That it shall be the duty of every member of the Union to support to the utmost the efforts of the Union in suppressing the shooting, trapping and unlawful dealing in racing pigeons. If any member of the Union knowingly withholds evidence, or otherwise fails to support action taken in connection with the commission of any of the offences detailed herein, he/she shall be liable to suspension from the Union.

TRANSFERS
38. No band can be transferred without the written consent of the original owner of such band. For C.U. convention races, it is the host club's responsibility to transfer, temporarily, the ownership of the birds entered into the convention race, into the host club's name until such time as a permanent transfer can be made. At the completion of the Convention Race, it is then the host club's responsibility to transfer all birds into the new owners name, and to submit properly completed transfer forms to C.U. Head Office along with fee for same.

STRAY BIRDS
a. On receiving notification of a found or stray pigeon, the lost and found Secretary shall communicate to the finder, the name and address of the owner, and to the owner, the name and address of the finder.
b. When the finder is a member of the C.U. it shall be compulsory for the owner to communicate with the finder within 72 hours of being notified with instructions to either return the pigeon, or otherwise for the pigeon to be transferred.
c. In the case of the finder not being a C.U. member, it shall be compulsory for the owner to communicate with the finder within 72 hours of being notified with instructions to either return the pigeon or otherwise for the pigeon to be transferred.
d. Failure of an owner to communicate with the finder may entail disciplinary action.
First Offense: $25 fine
Second Offense: $75 fine
Third Offense One (1) year suspension from C.R.P.U.
e. Subject also to the previous provisions of this rule a member of the association may be suspended if after investigation he/she has had in his/her possession, without any just cause, any bird which is not his/her property, or he/she shows, trains or races a bird which enters his/her loft as a stray and in which ownership has not been transferred to him/her.
f. Subject to the previous provisions of this rule, a member of the association may be suspended if he/she shows, races or trains a bird which is not a stray, but which carries a ring, which is not registered in the member's name in the records of the association or in those of a homing union recognized by the association.  

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