2025-26 General Meetings
2025 AGM
ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING.
Held: Monday April 7th, 2025
Time: 7:00 pm
Location: Saville Competition Gym Classroom
Address: 11610 - 65 Ave NW, Edmonton
AGM AGENDA.
1. Call to Order
2. Agenda Approval
3. Previous AGM Minutes & Approval
4. Previous General Meeting Minutes & Approval
5. Business Arising from Minutes (BAM)
6. Officers/Directors Reports - Question Period
7. New Business
8. Election of Officers
- President
- Vice President
- 3 Directors (2-year term each)
9. Adjournment
Officer and Director Reports
President/Vice President | Kerron Lewis/Warren Maskoske
It’s hard to believe how quickly time has passed. Serving as President and Vice President of the Edmonton Basketball Officials Association (EBOA) over the past four years has been one of the most meaningful and rewarding experiences of our officiating journey.
As we reflect on this final stretch of our leadership roles, we won’t focus on listing accomplishments or dwelling on unfinished goals. Instead, we want to express a heartfelt thank you. Thank you to the membership for your trust, support, and continued commitment to the growth of our association.
The EBOA has been more than just an organization—it’s been a second family, built on shared values and a love for the game.. A place where officials at all levels come together, grow in their craft and contribute to something bigger than themselves. Over the years, we’ve witnessed the strength of this community in moments of adversity and achievement alike.
When we stepped into our roles, the world of sport—and the world in general—was navigating the many challenges brought on by the COVID-19 pandemic. Through it all, the EBOA remained resilient. We found new ways to stay connected, continue learning, and maintain the high standards expected of us as officials.
Throughout our time on the executive, we’ve tried to stay grounded in three core principles:
● Transparency – keeping our communication open and our decisions clear.
● Accessibility – working to remove barriers and open doors for all officials, regardless of experience or background.
● Relationships – nurturing our connections within the basketball community and building bridges with schools, leagues, and partners.
These values have shaped every decision we’ve made, and we remain steadfast in our belief that they should continue to guide the EBOA well into the future.
We also want to acknowledge an ongoing concern that weighs heavily on us—the increasing mistreatment of officials. Abuse toward referees is not something we can overlook. We, along with the rest of the executive, remain committed to advocating for tougher consequences and fostering a culture of respect for the vital role officials play in sport.
This year, as we mark EBOA’s 75th anniversary, we are reminded of the incredible legacy we are all part of. Seventy-five years of commitment, growth, and passion for the game—it’s a milestone worth celebrating and a reflection of the remarkable people who have brought us here.
Thank you to the EBOA executive team for your dedication, time, and collaboration.
To our membership, thank you for your belief in this association's mission and
values.
It has been an absolute honour to serve you.
With gratitude,
Kerron Lewis, President
Warren Maskoske, Vice President
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Secretary | Kati Davi-Dugui
As my first year on the executive, this has been an exciting year, and I look forward to finishing this season strong! I have enjoyed getting to grow my relationship with much of our membership and hope to do so with more of you this coming season.
Since last April, we have seen a decline in our active membership by 40 officials (331 total). Out of our 55 officials who are new to EBOA, 48 are still active. We hope to see all our members return in the fall.
This past year has been a lot of work to prepare for our 75th anniversary celebration in May. Though the work is not yet done, a big thank you to everyone who has been involved. Your efforts do not go unnoticed. To our membership, I hope you join us and our community in celebration.
Fall clinic information will be released during the summer. This coming year, we will be moving our registrations over to RAMP to align ourselves with Canada Basketball. Additionally, as many members have expressed interest, there will be opportunities to order EBOA merchandise such as shirts, backpacks, and roller bags.
I look forward to serving our membership another season,
Kati Davi-Dugui
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Treasurer | Leo Mangano
The following is a summary of the Financial condition of the EBOA.
During the past year, the EBOA Membership grew significantly from prior years.
The following is a quick recap, the 2024-25 Fiscal Year as compared to the 2023-24 Fiscal Year:
INITIATIVES
· CBOC Jersey Inventory & Sales 517
· 75th Anniversary Jackets 251
· 75th Anniversary Shorts 77
· 2025 ABA Youth Provincials – Calgary 11
The EBOA Financial Committee [Kent Heine, Dirk Scholten, Leo Mangano] met in October 2024 to review the 2023-24 Financial Statements. The Committee has determined the Financial Statements are reported fairly with no material issues.
Overall, with the significant efforts of the EBOA Assigning Team [Giancarlo Higinio, Noelle Metrunec, Franco Panizzon, Mitchell Normand] and the Director of Relations [Terry Baker], the EBOA’s Cash Flows remained sufficient to provide consistent Monthly Pay-Outs.
Furthermore, the implementation of the EBOA Service Agreements over the past few years has contributed to the clearer expectations of the Clients and the collection process.
Thank you to the Executive and Membership for allowing me the opportunity to serve as your Treasurer.
Sincerely,
Leoluca Mangano
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Director of Administration | Colin Hoehne
2023 - 2024 EBOA Awards
The selection of award winners was made by the Executive, based upon the recommendation of the members making the nomination and the Education Committee.
The Awards were presented at the 2024 Year-end Awards Banquet.
● Moe Allen Rookie of the Year Award – Kjerstin Mein and Sidharth Kairon
● Vlad Eshenko Award | Most Improved Junior Official (NOCP Level 1) – Ernie Buton, Nathan Sermet, Phillip Vandenvalk, and Chris Cruz
● Ed Tomick Award | Most Improved Intermediate Official (NOCP Level 2) – Katia Davi-Digui, Caitlyn Murray, and Greg Buffie
● Bob Sexsmith Award | Most Improved Senior Official (NOCP Level 3/4) – Mitchell Normand
● Ron Bercov Mentorship Award – Heather Rootseart
● Herb McLaughlin Development Award – Lisa Waschuk
● Howie Farrell "Love of the Game" Award – Darly Haack
● Pat Dawson Special Achievement Award – Kelsey Kilsilevich
● Service Award – Ken Kha and Tin Yip
● EBOA Ambassador Award – Connie Schwartz
Executive Board Nominations
Nominations for executive positions were open to all members in good standing via a nomination form posted on the EBOA website's home page. All nominations received were presented at the 2024 Annual General Meeting. In addition, nominations were accepted from the floor.
The same procedures have been implemented for the 2025-2026 Executive Board nominations for election at the 2025 AGM.
2024-2025 EBOA Scholarships
EBOA Scholarships are awarded per the official scholarship policy. The window opened on February 1, 2025, and several scholarships have been awarded. Applications for remaining scholarships are open until June 30, 2024, on a first come, first-served basis. See www.theeboa.com/scholarships.
2025 Daryl Paustian Development Scholarship ($250) Recipients, recognizing the value and importance of personal growth and development. Scholarships awarded to date will be announced at the AGM and then posted at www.theeboa.com/scholarships.
2025 Angie Celino Education and Development Scholarship ($250) Recipients, recognizing High School and Post-Secondary student officials dedicated to personal and community growth. Scholarships awarded
to date will be announced at the AGM and then posted at www.theeboa.com/scholarships.
The 2023 Dave Buffie Memorial Mentorship Scholarship ($500) aims to provide financial support to a younger official committed to development. No applications were received during the September 2023 window.
Reference: Revised Scholarship Policy (M-9.0) approved March 21, 2023 and posted on the EBOA website through the Policy and Procedure page at www.theeboa.com/policy-procedure. Direct link: https://theeboa.com/_files/ugd/e0531d_68094d294bb44be58016fcbf6bc043a8.pdf
EBOA Website | TheEBOA.com
The website over the last year was being run by Mark Dzenick. Mark put a tremendous amount of effort into managing, maintaining and building the EBOA website. I would like to take this moment to ensure his efforts are appreciated. The EBOA will be looking for a new webmaster with more information to follow. Those who are interested are welcome to reach out to me.
Colin Hoehne
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Director of Education and Development | Karen Lasuik
My time as the EBOA Education and Development Official has been incredibly rewarding, and I have truly enjoyed the opportunity to contribute to the growth of our officials. The dedication and expertise of our amazing education team have been instrumental in developing referees at all levels, and their impact is reflected in how we have performed at the High School, CCAA, and U Sports National Championships.
I want to give a heartfelt thank you to the core members of our education team:
● Arden Spachynski, Intermediate Development Officer
● Kathy Ross, Junior Development Officer
● Heather Rootseart, Evaluation Chair
● Lisa Waschuk, Mentorship Chair
Each of you has brought knowledge, energy, and leadership to our development efforts. Your commitment to educating, mentoring, and elevating our officials has made a significant difference, and I am deeply grateful for your hard work and passion.
To the incredible members of our monitoring team and referee coaches—thank you for spending your weekends working alongside our newer officials. Your presence on the floor and in gyms across the city has not only accelerated the development of new officials but also made a tremendous impact on their
confidence and retention within the EBOA. The time you’ve given has helped build trust, foster a sense of belonging, and elevate the standard of officiating across all levels. Looking back, our work in education has strengthened our community in three meaningful ways:
1. Skill Development – We’ve provided structured, hands-on learning that has produced more confident and capable officials.
2. Mentorship and Connection – By creating accessible support systems, we’ve helped newer officials feel welcomed, seen, and supported.
3. Long-Term Growth – We’ve laid a strong foundation for future leaders and set a standard for accountability, feedback, and excellence.
Thank you for allowing me to serve as an educator and mentor. I look forward to continuing my work with the EBOA and supporting the newly elected Director of Education in continuing to strengthen and grow our officiating community.
With appreciation,
Karen Lasuik
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Director of Relations | Terry Baker
The EBOA Relations Director will have positive relationships and communications with the EBOA’s Clients.
Key Clients
· EYBA – Edmonton Youth Basketball Association
· EBA – Edmonton Basketball Association
· Edmonton Metro Athletics High Schools
· Edmonton Public Junior High Schools
· Edmonton Catholic Junior High Schools
· St. Albert Junior High Schools
· Elk Island Public Junior High Schools
· Elk Island Catholic Junior High Schools
· ABA – Alberta Basketball Association
· Jasper Place Spring League
Tournaments Served
· 50+ High School Tournaments [Senior and Junior Varsity]
· Various Junior High Schools
· Club Spring/Summer just about to get underway
Key Clubs
· Swoosh Canada
· Good Hoops Basketball
· Rocky Mountain Hoops
· Great Canadian Shoot-Out (Edmonton Grads Basketball Club)
· WEBA – West Edmonton Basketball Association
Service Agreements and Fee Schedules
Service agreements and fee schedules are inherently dynamic documents, subject to ongoing refinement and revision. As our organization experiences continued growth in parallel with the expansion of the basketball community, we are consistently presented with evolving and complex challenges. We are seeing exponential growth in the area of 3X3.
The increasing demand for our services may, at times, stretch our operational capacity. Nevertheless, we remain steadfast in our commitment to meeting the diverse needs of our clients while upholding the highest standards of service and professionalism.
We will continue to proactively address these demands, ensuring that any adjustments are made thoughtfully and strategically. Above all, we are dedicated to acting in the best interests of our membership and fostering sustainable
growth within the broader basketball community.
Terry Baker
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Director of Assigning | Mitchell Normand
As the 2024-25 basketball season comes to a close, I want to take a moment to reflect on what has truly been an awesome year for the Edmonton Basketball Officials Association. From the first tip-off in September to the final whistles of playoffs and provincials, our officials stepped up with professionalism, passion, and dedication. You should all be commended for your efforts.
We covered thousands of games across all levels, and I’m proud of the consistency and quality our crews brought to the floor every night. A special shout-out goes to those who took on last-minute assignments, drove out to rural sites in tough conditions, or jumped in to support tournaments on short notice—you helped make the season a success. My assigning team is very grateful for all you have done.
Some highlights from the season include:
● The smooth coverage of major tournaments like the Jasper Place Reb Invitational, Harry Ainlay Tri-Prov, and many others, as well as our officials who were selected to work at ASAA
Provincials—many compliments were received about our officials and the work we do on the floor every day.
● An increase in newer officials getting high-level assignments and rising to the challenge—great to see development in action!
● The positive relationships being built with coaches, players, and league coordinators make our job smoother and more enjoyable.
Thank you to everyone for your commitment this season. Whether you worked a handful of games or were on the court five nights a week, your time and efforts are appreciated. I’m already looking forward to planning for next season and continuing the momentum we’ve built.
If you have feedback or ideas for how we can improve for next year—training, coverage, mentorship—please don’t hesitate to reach out to me.
Enjoy the rest of your spring and summer seasons!
Mitchell Normand
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Director of Discipline and Mediation | Dr. Teigan Lawton
The title of this chapter is going to be “The Apocalypse That Never Came.” When I took on the discipline role in 2023, I was met with what seemed like endless negative feedback about the fear our members had regarding my appointment. Fortunately—like the computers and Y2K—it never materialized. Some of you may be too young to understand that reference, so carry on.
This season saw a reduction in total complaints. Since September 2024, there have been approximately 95 to 100 complaints. The majority of these complaints related to behavior, namely, negative interactions between officials and participants. A small portion of the complaints involved violence or aggressive
behavior by players. Overall, it appears that we collectively did a good job of addressing many of the issues that were raised over the past several years. There was some behind-the-scenes work with other portfolios to take a more organizational role in mitigating complaints. I think it gave us the dividends of
diminishing complaints.
From the vantage point of the discipline portfolio, game control continues to be a primary area where officials distinguish themselves. Those who are calling the game appropriately (e.g., adjusting to the league or playing caliber) and addressing negative behavior are getting by without generating many game
reports. On the other hand, officials who are merely collecting game fees without a willingness to blow the whistle, or who lack the ability to adapt to the game level they are officiating, consistently appear in both game reports to the association (e.g., ejections) and complaints from clients. A small subset of
complaints this year related to our officials’ attitudes.
I am happy to be leaving the portfolio in a better state than I found it. Over the past two years, I have established electronic discipline files to track serious complaints and outcomes. I used a progressive model of discipline to ensure that decisions and outcomes were equitable. I am confident that the incoming director will have a solid foundation to continue building upon. There has been much speculation about whether I will run for EBOA President. I am not running. I strongly considered it; however, I recognize that I’m the candidate who would look to change a number of things, and I don’t see support for the type of change I would want. I wish the incoming executive all the best of luck.
Thank you for electing me in 2023. It was my honour to serve the members, and through the membership - the game.
Dr. Teigan Lawton
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Director of Recruitment and Retention | Dan Desmarais
Much of my focus this past year has been on the recruitment of new officials and streamlining the onboarding process. There is an increasing interest in refereeing basketball in the greater Edmonton Community. I believe this is largely due to tougher economic times. More people are looking for ways to supplement their incomes.
In 2023, we welcomed 118 new referees. This proved to be too many as several onboarding issues arose (assigning educational support). Last May, we introduced a new application process, which included an online application
with a required resume. A short list was created, and invitations to the September clinic for new officials were emailed. The numbers looked like this…
Since then, we have added another 4 referees as transfers to our roster. From August 1st, 2024, I have received 65 inquiries for applications. I expect double that before the end of July, when our application window will close. The number of candidates that will be invited to the clinic will vary depending on the quality of the applications, but we will tentatively set the maximum at 60.
The best way to retain referees is to support them in the challenges they face each time they step on the court. I am still investigating the attrition numbers to determine the best methods to provide this support. But it will most certainly begin with increased and efficient modes of communication.
Focus areas for next term should be…
1. Increased communication with new officials (1st and 2nd year) during the season.
2. Smooth out the “bureaucratic maze” for onboarding transfers from other boards
3. Data collection for retention purposes.
Dan Desmarais
