Step 1 — Choose and Reserve Your Society Name:
Your organization’s legal name must be unique and must not be misleading. Search the Alberta Corporate Registry to confirm name availability. Names must include a designation such as “Society,” “Association,” or “Club.” Once confirmed, reserve the name with the Registry.
Step 2 — Draft Your Bylaws: ,
Bylaws are the constitutional document of your society — they govern membership, board composition, meetings, voting procedures, and dissolution terms. Alberta has a standard bylaw template, but SMAJ strongly recommends customizing bylaws to reflect your organization’s specific governance needs. Poorly drafted bylaws are one of the most common causes of governance problems in the future.
Step 3 — Identify Your Founding Directors:
Alberta requires a minimum of three founding directors. These individuals must be at least 18 years of age, legally competent, and not undischarged bankrupts. Their names and addresses must be included in the incorporation application.
Step 4 — Prepare and Submit the Incorporation Application:
Complete and submit the Form 1 — Application for Incorporation of a Society to Alberta Corporate Registry, along with your bylaws, list of founding directors, and the applicable filing fee (currently $50 online). Processing typically takes 2–4 weeks if the application is complete and accurate.
Step 5 — Register with the CRA as a Non-Profit Organization:
Upon incorporation, apply to the Canada Revenue Agency for a Business Number (BN) as a non-profit organization. This is a prerequisite for payroll accounts, HST registration, and any subsequent charitable registration.
Step 6 — Conduct Your First Annual General Meeting (AGM):
Within the first year of incorporation, your society must hold its first AGM — formally adopting the bylaws, electing the board of directors, appointing an auditor or financial reviewer (if required), and completing any other mandatory business. SMAJ can help you prepare your AGM agenda, minutes, and compliance checklist. Common mistakes to avoid include submitting incomplete applications, using restrictive or misleading society names, adopting bylaws without customizing them for your organization’s mandate, and failing to schedule the first AGM within the required timeframe.