NCF Board of Directors
Minutes of Board Meeting
August 25, 2026
NCF Office and via Zoom 7:00 PM
Minutes of a meeting of the Board of Directors
Board members present:
Spencer Callaghan Chair
Len Fardella Vice Chair
Lia Kiessling Treasurer
Graeme Beckett (aw958) Secretary
Peter MacKinnon (fr198)
Len Fardella
Kathryn Hill
Andy-Loan Richmond
Regrets:
Anis Hanna (gb499)
Neerushana Jehanathan
NCF Management/Staff present:
Executive Director: Shelley Robinson
Guests:
None
- Confirmation of Quorum
Quorum was confirmed.
Motion: To move in-camera.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon
Seconder: Andy-Loan Richmond
The motion was carried.
- Consent Agenda
- Adoption of the consent agenda
Motion: To adopt the consent agenda with the audit committee report added after the review of the minutes.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon
Seconder: Andy-Loan Richmond
The motion was carried.
- Minutes of board meetings May 12, May 19-26 and June 5-8, 2026.
There were no comments regarding the minutes.
- Executive Director's report
The Executive Director's report was submitted in advance of the Board meeting. Highlights of the open portion of the meeting are provided below.
NCF members at Feb. 1/26:4070
NCF members at Mar. 1/26:4067
NCF members at Apr. 1/26: 4049
NCF members at May 1/26: 4017
Updates since the AGM:
1. We launched CIRA’s Canadian Shield service on our core DSL/FTTP network on
Mon. Aug. 17th (including instructions for how members could download it to
their devices or how those using NCF’s cable internet services or other providers
could add it to their home routers.) Andre built a tool for members to
automatically opt-out or choose between Protected and Family plans. We’re also
co-hosting a webinar with CIRA about Canadian Shield on Thurs. September 17
at 1pm.
2. We’ve had a good summer with our three summer students: Robert Macalintal
and Nash Villarta got into the swing of the HelpDesk quickly and John Lau has
migrated some important back-end tools off of our older JSP-based services to
Django, our current open-source web framework. Django is written in Python,
allowing for secure web applications that are easier to maintain and update.
Thanks to all three of them for their work at NCF!
And thanks to ESDC’s Canada Summer Jobs program for supporting some of their
wage costs. As with all NCF jobs, we hired these positions at wages that met the
Ontario Living Wage Network’s standards.
3. We joined a Coalition of independent ISPs led by TekSavvy to challenge the
CRTC’s latest FTTP decision. Other participants include the BC Broadband
Association, CanWISP (of which we are members), Fibernetics, ISP Telecom Inc,
Novus Entertainment and Purple Cow Internet. You can read more information
here: https://www.newswire.ca/news-releases/coalition-of-independentinternet-providers-asks-crtc-to-fix-errors-in-wholesale-fibre-rates819788047.html
- Committee membership review & chair for each
Finance, Community Connectivity, Governance & Nominations, Audit, Marketing & Communications & Regulatory
The Finance Committee consists of Lia Kessling as Chair, Len Fardells and Andy-Loan Richmond.
The Governance and Nominations Committee consist of Kathryn Hill as Chair, Peter MacKinnon and Andy-Loan Richmond.
The Marketing and Communications and Regulatory Committee consist of Spencer Callaghan as Chair and Lia Kiessling.
The Community Connectivity Committee consist of Len Fardella as Chair, Anis Hanna, Andy-Loan Richmond and Neerushana Jehanathan.
The Audit Committee consists of Graeme Beckett and Neerushana Jehanathan
Motion: To approve the consent agenda as discussed.
Proposer: Peter MacKinnon
Seconder: Andy-Loan Richmond
The motion was carried
- Resolution of the board of Directors assigning authority to bind the corporation
Resolution in writing of the Board of Directors of National Capital FreeNet Incorporated (“the Corporation”) dated the 25th day of August, 2026.
WHEREAS the Corporation is a corporation organized and operating under the laws of Canada;
WHEREAS the Corporation will from time to time enter into agreements, funding applications and contracts; and
WHEREAS the role of the Executive Director is to manage the operations of the Corporation;
BE IT THEREFORE RESOLVED THAT:
Executive Director Shelley Robinson is authorized as the agent of the Corporation to bind the corporation within the scope of duties of the Executive Director.
Moved: Spencer Callaghan
Seconded: Lia Kiessling
The motion was carried.
- Strategic focus discussion on governance items:
2026 strategic roadmap review
This item discussed in-camera.
- Date of Next Meeting _________
The next Board meeting is proposed to be October 3rd 2026. Hybrid, electronic and in-person at NCF office.
- Standing agenda item for discussion without staff and review (15 minutes)
- Discussion item (Spencer Callaghan)
This item is conducted in-camera.
Motion: To move out of camera and adjourn the meeting.
Proposer: Lia Kiessling
Seconder: Kathryn Hill
The motion was carried.