b'CSGA / SEEDGROWERS.CA / GOVERNANCE THAT LEADS, A SYSTEM THAT THRIVESOUR GOVERNANCE OVERHAUL IS A STEP TOWARD A MORE TRANSPARENT AND RESILIENT SYSTEMWHEN CSGA LEARNEDit had received the Governancegovernance is clarity: expectations are Professionals of Canada (GPC) Award for Organizationalunderstood, responsibilities defined, and Governance in November, it was a moment of immense pridedecisions made consistently and transpar-for the entire organizationa recognition that reflects years ofently. These lessons gave us the ground-effort, discipline, and a deep commitment to doing things theing to strengthen CSGAs governance right way. framework and position the organization Governance work is rarely glamorous. It doesnt grab head- for the future.lines, yet it is the backbone of any well-functioning organiza-tionenhancing value, sustaining trust, enabling long-termModernizing the Frameworksuccess, and for CSGA, its been a crucial pillar in our broaderOur first focus was internal govern-By: Carolineorganizational renewal. anceaspects that no one usually Lafontaine,sees. Working with our Governance Chief OperatingLearning to Lead Governance the Right Way Committee and board of directors, we Officer Although Ive spent many years immersed in governance, itmodernized all major policies. wasnt until Executive Director Doug Miller and I pursuedThe second major component was the GPC accreditation that we gained a more rigorous under- renewing our bylaws.standing of governance best practices. The program reinforcedAs we reviewed how the board oper-that governance is far more than rules or processesit is theates, it became clear that many respon-discipline that anchors effective, accountable, and resilientsibilities and structures were defined organizations. in the bylaws themselves. At the same The accreditation underscored that strong governancetime, Seed Regulatory Modernization enables an organization to operate ethically and in compli- was prompting sector-wide discussions ance with its legislative framework, including the Canadaabout who participates in the seed system Not-for-profit Corporations Act. It also reminded us that goodand how. If regulatory modernization required governance modernization, then updating our membership structure became essential.Although I accepted the award on stage, this recognition belongs to many people. Our Governance Committee, board, senior leadership team, and provincial branches all played essential rolesreviewing proposals, providing guidance, and demonstrating openness to change. This award reflects their com-mitment to ensuring CSGA remains a strong and forward-looking organization. This work represents a strategic invest-ment in the future of the seed sector, and I am immensely proud of the work we have done to get here. Even with this progress, governance is never finished. It evolves as the organi-zation evolves, and our commitment is to continue strengthening these foundations as we grow and adapt alongside the sector From left: CSGA Executive Director Doug Miller, President Glenn Logan,we serve. Governance Committee member Carl Bolton, and Chief Operating Officer Caroline Lafontaine accept the award.8 SEEDWORLD.COM/CANADAJANUARY 2026'