For non-profits, cooperatives, and school boards that need governance they can trust
Most boards in Saskatchewan are made up of committed volunteers who stepped up because they care, not because they had governance training. Without the right foundation, even well-intentioned directors routinely confuse governance with management, leave compliance gaps in their bylaws and annual filings, and create tension with the executive staff they’re supposed to support.
We deliver facilitated board governance training across Saskatchewan, designed specifically for non-profits, cooperatives, and school boards. Not corporate director courses repackaged for a Saskatoon address. Real training for the real Saskatchewan voluntary sector.
Does your board recognize any of these?
- Directors who’ve been on the board for months and still aren’t sure what their role actually is
- A board that gets involved in day-to-day operations, and an ED who’s exhausted from managing them
- Uncertainty about what the new Non-profit Corporations Act, 2022, requires of your board, your bylaws, and your annual filings
- Meetings that run long, go sideways, and produce decisions nobody follows up on
- No real orientation process for incoming directors; they’re just handed a binder and expected to figure it out
- Conflict of interest situations that nobody knows how to handle
- A board that’s nominally functional but not adding strategic value
These are the challenges we hear from Saskatchewan boards every week. They’re all fixable, and they all start with training.
What our Saskatchewan board training covers
Governance fundamentals — What a board is legally responsible for, how it differs from management, and how to structure a governance system that actually works. We use plain language, not academic theory.
The Non-profit Corporations Act, 2022 — Saskatchewan replaced its Non-profit Corporations Act in 2022, with the new Act coming into force March 12, 2023. Many boards are not yet aware of the changes, updated director qualifications, new rules around electronic communications and signatures, revised auditor thresholds, and new AGM and annual return requirements. We help your board understand what changed and what it means for how you operate.
Director duties and personal liability — The Saskatchewan Non-Profit Corporations Act requires every director to act honestly and in good faith with a view to the best interests of the corporation and to exercise the care, diligence and skill that a reasonably prudent person would exercise in comparable circumstances. We help directors understand what that means in practice — and where liability exposure is real.
Board-executive director relationship — Where governance ends and management begins. The line between a board’s oversight role and the ED’s operational role is the most common source of dysfunction in Saskatchewan nonprofits. We help boards and EDs get clear on the boundary and stay there.
Financial oversight — Reading financial statements, approving budgets, and understanding the board’s fiduciary duty over organizational funds. We also cover the Non-profit Corporations Act, 2022’s updated rules on when an audit or financial review is required.
Decision-making and meeting management — Agenda design, quorum, consent agendas, motions, and minutes that protect the organization. Practical tools for meetings that produce decisions.
Conflict of interest — How to recognize, disclose, and properly manage conflicts. Code of conduct basics and how to handle situations before they become crises.
Board culture, orientation, and succession — What makes the difference between a high-functioning board and a dysfunctional one. How to recruit, orient, and retain engaged directors. How to handle succession so institutional knowledge stays with the organization.
Who we work with in Saskatchewan
- Non-profit societies and registered charities, from small community organizations to province-wide service providers
- Cooperatives — Saskatchewan has one of the world’s strongest cooperative traditions, and co-op boards face distinct governance challenges we know how to address
- School division boards across the province
- Organizations navigating leadership transitions — new ED, new board chair, or formal governance review
Training is customized for your sector, size, and most pressing challenges. We don’t run a one-size-fits-all workshop.
How training is delivered
We offer facilitated full-board training sessions, new director orientation, board retreat facilitation, and multi-session governance development programs. Delivery is available in person at your location — anywhere in Saskatchewan, including rural and northern communities — or online.
Every engagement starts with a discovery conversation. We design each session around your board’s specific situation: the sector you operate in, your legislative framework, your governance stage, and the challenges you’re actually facing.
Most boards choose a half-day to full-day format. Multi-session programs are available for boards committed to deeper, sustained governance improvement.
What boards say
Frequently asked questions
Do you work with organizations outside Saskatoon and Regina?
Yes. We work with boards throughout Saskatchewan, including rural and northern communities. We travel to your location for in-person facilitation, and online delivery is available where travel isn’t practical.
What is the Non-profit Corporations Act, 2022 and why does it matter?
Saskatchewan replaced its longstanding Non-profit Corporations Act on March 12, 2023. The new Act brought significant changes, including updated director qualifications, new rules allowing electronic resolutions and signatures, revised thresholds for when audits are required, and streamlined filing requirements. Many Saskatchewan boards have not yet reviewed their bylaws or governance practices for compliance with the new legislation. We incorporate these requirements into every training engagement.
Do you train co-operative boards?
Yes. Saskatchewan has a historically strong cooperative sector, and co-op boards face governance requirements distinct from traditional nonprofit societies. We have experience working with cooperative governance and tailor training accordingly.
How does your training differ from the Edwards DEP?
The Directors Education Program at Edwards is a prestigious 12-day, $23,000+ course designed for experienced directors of publicly-traded companies and large Crown corporations. It requires a formal application and references. Our training is designed for Saskatchewan non-profits, cooperatives, and school boards — organizations of any size, led by volunteer boards, who need practical governance support without a six-figure training budget.
How does your training differ from what SARC Learning Central offers?
SARC’s training programs are excellent — but they are designed specifically for disability-serving nonprofits in Saskatchewan. If you’re not in that sector, their programs weren’t built for you. Our training serves the full range of Saskatchewan non-profits, co-ops, and school boards and is customized to your organization’s specific legislative and operational context.
Can you train both the board and the executive director together?
Yes, and for board-ED relationship challenges, we strongly recommend it. Joint sessions that establish shared understanding of roles and rebuild trust are among the highest-impact governance work we do.
What is a typical session format?
Most organizations start with a half-day or full-day facilitated board training. New director orientation can often be completed in two to three hours. Multi-session governance development programs are available for boards that want to build governance capacity over time. We customize the format for your board’s size and schedule.
Are governance training costs tax-deductible for our organization?
Professional development and governance training are typically eligible organizational expenses for incorporated non-profits. We recommend confirming with your accountant or financial officer.
Ready to build a stronger board?
Whether your board is brand new, has been struggling for years, or is simply ready to take governance seriously, we’re here to help.
Have questions? Reach out — we’re here to support your board’s success.
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