The ACMG's Annual General Meeting was held in Penticton and was chaired by President Paul Vidalin. The meeting opened with instructions for members using ACMG’s online voting platform, Election Runner, which enabled both in-person and proxy voting. Attendance included 56 members in person and 467 proxy votes, satisfying quorum requirements. Members approved the minutes from the 2025 AGM.
Elections were a major focus of the meeting; Morgan Funston was elected by acclamation as British Columbia Interior Mountain Guide Director, while Paul Vidalin was re-elected as President. Madeline Martin was elected Apprentice Guide Director, and Jon Heshka was elected Public Director at Large.
Paul Vidalin presented an update on the 2024–2026 Strategic Plan, highlighting ongoing governance modernization efforts. Recent bylaw amendments addressed meeting locations and voting rights for mountain guides. The Governance and Nominations Committee continues to review and update policies and procedures to improve consistency across the organization. The Voting Rights Working Group also gathered member feedback and developed options for the Board's future consideration. Members were advised that a preliminary report regarding the Manson versus Mitchell lawsuit settlement would be reviewed by the Board and shared once finalized. As part of the strategic planning process, the ACMG is also reviewing its vision, mission, and values. We are also surveying the membership for input on the Objects and Business of the Association. Financial updates showed the organization remains in a strong position. Strategic initiatives included a detailed review of revenue sources and enhancements to member communications across multiple channels.
Operational reports showed that Mountain Stream continues to generate approximately 75% of membership dues revenue while representing one-third of ACMG membership. Training and Assessment Program Director Derek Welding reported a slight decline in the number of courses, with 62 courses hosted in 2025. However, online CPD programming achieved record participation, attracting 472 attendees. The pinning of our new Mountain Guides has been postponed to spring 2027 in conjunction with the ACMG-ACC Summit Shaker, and plans are underway to increase The Arête magazine's print production to 5,000 copies.
International Federation of Mountain Guides Associations (IFMGA) matters were also discussed. A motion related to approving split-board tools was withdrawn after it became clear it would not receive sufficient support, although efforts to advance split-boarding certification continue.
The meeting concluded with the presentation of ACMG awards. Madeleine Martin-Preney received the Distinguished Service Award in recognition of her significant contributions to the organization. Sylvia Forest was honoured with the Honoured Member Award and delivered a speech emphasizing the importance of mentorship, volunteerism, and community within the guiding profession.
ACMG Board of Directors