Special Interest Groups

The OGS has two forms of groupings of its Members – Branches and Special Interest Groups (SIG).

A Branch is a permanent group of OGS Members with an interest in a specific Ontario geographic location, usually a county.

A SIG is a permanent group of OGS Members with an interest in some other topic, such as a geographic location outside Ontario (e.g. immigrants from a particular country), an ethnic or cultural group (e.g. natives or a particular fraternal organization), or an event (e.g. a particular emigration scheme).

Currently there are Four Special Interest Groups (SIG) - Irish Palatines, Ireland, Scottish and British Home Child. If you are interested in joining this SIG or taking on a role of responsibility, please contact OGS President, Shirley Sturdevant (president@ogs.on.ca).

The rules regarding the creation and operation of an SIG are similar to that of a Branch. To create an SIG requires:

•   a definition of the topic of interest
•   at least 25 OGS Members who are interested in joining
•   an executive
•   a budget
•   approval of the Board

Anyone interested in proposing an SIG is invited to contact the Provincial Office (provoffice@ogs.on.ca). Proposals will be posted on the website and in NewsLeaf.

There is an interest in establishing a Huguenot SIG and a Métis SIG; both are currently seeking the necessary 25 Members. E-mail the Provincial Office (provoffice@ogs.on.ca) if you would like to see one of these formed.