I agree that we don't really fit into the education category. What did Vancouver Free
Net call themselves to get status? I can't find their constitution after a quick
search. The two functions that people have proposed—teaching people to edit and setting
up a wiki commons based on restrictive Canadian laws—sound more like the law's library
example in the "other" category. Either way, I agree that we should be basing
our work on the new law rather than what is currently on the government's website.
I would also like to meet in person at some point. I'll be living in Victoria BC for
at least the next year, but I visit Toronto every four months, so I might be able to
attend one of the meetings in Ottawa, especially if we could find subsidies for it.
I'd love to go to Gdansk, but that's quite a bit out of my price range.
----
Jeffery Nichols (User:Arcitc.gnome),
BA, MA, MPA candidate
On 2010-06-21, at 1:35 , Ray Saintonge wrote:
James Heilman wrote:
The next step to getting Wikimedia Canada up and
running is finishing
our Statement of Purpose. I have altered and added what Wiki UK has
to what we had before.
http://meta.wikimedia.org/wiki/Wikimedia_Canada/Proposed_by-laws#Statement_…
Our main justification for charity status will be "advancement of
education". The purpose also include aspects of "research in a
recognized field of knowledge" and "providing and maintaining museums
and public art galleries". If all could comment it would be
appreciated. Once we agree one things I will use this to apply for
charity status with the CRA.
The specific "advancement of education" as a main justification won't
work. The courts have been consistent in their interpretation of this
in the very strict sense of formal education. This legacy of 1601 is
precisely what was behind Wikimedia-UK's initial failure to receive
charitable status. Something modeled on what was achieved by Vancouver
Free Net in court would be more likely to succeed.
I have to some extent been marking time on incorporation because of the
pending changes in the Canada Not-For-Profit Corporations Act. It was
passed by parliament in 2009 and received royal assent. It is expected
to be proclaimed later this year. I greatly simplifies the
incorporation process.
I would propose a meeting in person of key interested people from across
the country in the fall. I would suggest that this takes place in
Ottawa. Since Canada has the highest proportion of Wikipedia users in
the world there is a strong desire at WMF for a Canadian chapter to get
its act together. I had some discussion about this with Sue Gardner in
Berlin, and she advised that subsidies may be available to get people
together in one place. She has also indicated that there have been
inquiries from potential donors willing to provide significant donations
once charitable status has been achieved.
It would also be great if someone additional to myself could find his
way to Gdansk for Wikimania. Some of the other chapters have had
impressive success and accomplishments. Nothing illustrates that point
better than meeting these people in person, and many of them will be in
Gdansk. I will be flying there from Vancouver on July 4.
Ray
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