2026 Annual Members’ Meeting Follow-up
The NRCC Annual Members Meeting on January 25, 2026, had a commendable turnout, with 89% of member clubs registered and 52 individuals in attendance. The meeting featured a series of operational updates for the various committees, a thorough review of the 2025 National Retriever Championship, and an informative update on the plans for the upcoming 2026 event to be held in Perth, Ontario. The contributions and dedication of the retiring directors were also acknowledged with gratitude.
Several bylaw amendments were approved, with the most notable being Amendment 5.02 regarding the Number of Directors. The summary list of bylaw amendments is below:
Proposed Change to the NRCC Club Policies and Procedures, the section titled Meetings with subsection Responsibilities of a Proxy: The proxy representative may carry the proxy vote for one (1) member.
5.02 Number of Directors
For the purpose of the election of the directors, Canada shall be divided into the following eight areas: The Maritimes (Nova Scotia & Newfoundland, New Brunswick & PEI), Quebec, Northern Ontario, Southern Ontario, Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Alberta/NWT/Nunavut, British Columbia & Yukon. There will be one director elected from each area.
6.03 Quorum – A quorum at a meeting of the Board for the purpose of transacting business shall be six (6) of eight (8) 75% directors. If a quorum is present at the opening of a meeting of the Board, the Board may proceed with the business of the meeting even if a quorum is not present throughout the meeting.
Section 7 Officers- Add:
- e) The position of the President, 1st Vice President, and 2nd Vice President shall be filled by an Amateur as defined by the CKC Field Trial Rules and Regulations Section 11.3.
Subsection 7.01 Composition
7.01 d) Officers shall be limited to two consecutive one-year terms, with the exception of the Secretary and Treasurer positions. The Secretary and Treasurer term shall be two years and may be extended for consecutive terms or a single year.
Also, add the following:
7.01 e) The Executive committee positions are the President, 1st Vice President, Second Vice President, and Past President.
Thank you to the following retiring directors: Rick Regamble, BC – Yukon 2024 – 2026; Chris Mason, Southern Ontario 2022 – 2026; Doug Shepherd, Alberta-NWT 2019 -2026; Jim Andrew, Northern Ontario 2015 -2026, Jim Ling, Southern Ontario 2014 – 2026; Mike Zelman, Nova Scotia & NFLD 2014 – 2026.
The full Annual Member Meeting minutes will be available on the website next month.
Hope Roberts and Walter Vessey have been appointed by acclamation as directors for the BC, Yukon, and Maritimes areas, respectively, for three-year terms.
At the first directors’ meeting after the Annual Members Meeting, the directors appointed the new executive officers for 2026 in accordance with the NRCC bylaws. The newly appointed officers are Darlene Broomhead as President, John McDonald as 1st Vice-President, Bernard Landry as 2nd Vice-President, and Doug Shepherd, who will assume the role of Past-President
So Long Graham
Once again we have to say another sad farewell to a long time member of our retriever community.
Dr. Graham Bowman was a founding member of the Wild Rose Retriever Club, and a dedicated student of the field trial game who loved to share his knowledge, of both dog training & medical diagnoses.
Affectionately and fondly known as “Dr. Doom”, his insights were not always framed in the most positive light… but were invariably memorable and instructive. As a judge and a trainer he was a master of the retired check-down, as were his beloved dogs – Tikka, Jetta, Evie & Tessa. Those of us who were fortunate enough to train with him on a regular basis were … also well schooled. Many of us will miss those late evening phone calls where Graham diagnosed both retriever problems and medical ones.
His memory and influence will live on through the many handlers, dogs and judges he mentored and the insights he so generously shared. He will be deeply missed.
Our heartfelt sympathies to Rose, Tessa & family
Fall 2025 Newsletter
The Fall 2025 Newsletter has been published. Please read it to see the winners' stories from the 2025 National Retriever Championship and see what the NRCC Board of Directors has been working on. Click here to read.
There is a correction in the newsletter regarding the top amateur dog for 2025...this year there was a tie between Tsolumside Shine the Light "Flicker", handled by Linda Page, and Yorton's Super Trooper "Trooper", handled by Walt Vessey. My apologies for the oversight. Congratulations to all!
"Trooper" BLM, 6.3 years, 0 wins, 9 points
Remembering FTCH AFTCH Renegades Highlight Reel
FTCH AFTCH Renegades Highlight Reel, 2 X Nat'l Finalist
23 Nov 2012 - 29th Oct 2025 ....... she was a pretty good dog🖤
Bill Kennedy
Save The Date – Annual Members’ Meeting
The NRCC Board would like to invite all member clubs to save the date for the Annual Members Meeting (AMM) to be held on Sunday, January 25, 2026 12:00 ET via Zoom.
Member clubs are asked to submit any agenda items or bylaw change proposals by October 28, 2025.
A Zoom link will be sent out to club secretaries in December with the completed agenda package.
Other important items to be completed are:
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Appoint a Voting Delegate for 2026 AMM - Appointment of a Delegate – National Retriever Club of Canada
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National Judge nominations 2026 Eastern Ontario - National Judge Selection – National Retriever Club of Canada
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Director Nominations for BC, PEI - Director Nomination Form – National Retriever Club of Canada
New NRCC Sponsor
The NRCC is excited to welcome a new sponsor - Gun Dog Outfitters, home of guns, geese & gear!
Discover the unparalleled waterfowl hunting experiences that Nova Scotia has to offer. We provide expertly guided waterfowl and upland hunts amidst the stunning landscapes of the Atlantic Flyway. Visit GunDogOutfitters.com
New FTCH “Fancy”
New FTCH Baypoint's Gonna Be a Lady Someday QFTR won the trial at the Moncton Retriever Club's first event for her title!
Congratulations, Evelyn & Alec Hoyt, and handler Dan DeVos.
New AFTCH “Ryder”
New AFTCH! After completion of our summer trip north, Springwaters Shotgun Ryder “Ryder”, went 4/5, including an Open win to give him his amateur title.
John & Savannah Wood
Labrador Retriever Club of Canada National and Regional Specialty-Working Certificate
I was recently invited to be one of the judges for the Labrador Retriever Club of Canada's National and Regional Specialty – Working Certificate, held in my hometown of Victoria, BC. It was a pleasure to judge the Working Certificate (WC) and provide guidance to some first-time participants. Since the WC coincided with the Labrador National Specialty, there were several conformation dogs as well as other breeds like Tollers and Goldens. Although the Labradors were not what I typically see at a field event, they still displayed tremendous instinct and enthusiasm for retrieving despite their big blocky build (though some of their deliveries could use improvement!). Nonetheless, these big lugs performed with gusto, and it was so fun to watch!
I encourage all field trial and hunt test judges to share their expertise if they are ever asked to judge any of the Working Certificate events (WC, WCI, WCX). I believe this program is essential as it can inspire first-timers to continue in the sport. For me, it was my gateway into the world of retriever sports! I attended my first WC, earned a title, and that sparked my interest in getting a Junior Hunter title (JH)... Twenty years later, I've become fully invested in the retriever sport, and I wouldn’t change a thing!
So please, be a mentor, judge events, and share your enthusiasm to help encourage at least one person to get involved in the sport.
Hope Roberts
Victoria, BC
