Ontario Genealogical Society

The Ontario Genealogical Society (OGS), also operating under the name Ontario Ancestors since early 2019, is the largest organization dedicated to genealogical research and family history in Ontario, Canada. Established in 1961, it functions as a registered charity with the business registration number 119248680RR0001. The Society is headquartered in Concord, Ontario, and serves genealogists and family historians across the province.

History

The Society was founded at a meeting held at the University of Waterloo, sponsored by the Pennsylvania German Folklore Society of Ontario, with Dr. G. Elmore Reaman as its first president. Its first publication, the Bulletin, was launched in 1962 and evolved from three issues a year to a quarterly by 1968. The Society held its first seminars and annual meetings in the early 1960s, adopting its first constitution in 1966. The first branch was established in Toronto in 1967, the same year the Society was formally incorporated by Letters Patent issued by the Ontario government.

Mission and Vision

The mission of the Ontario Genealogical Society is to encourage, bring together, and assist individuals interested in the pursuit of family history and to preserve Ontario’s genealogical heritage. Its vision is to be recognized as the authoritative leader in all aspects of Ontario-related family history research, preservation, and communication.

Objectives

The Society’s objectives include:

• Promoting genealogical research.
• Setting standards for genealogical excellence through encouragement and education in effective research methods.
• Providing access to diverse and comprehensive genealogical resources related to Ontario ancestry.

Activities

To fulfill its mandate, the Ontario Genealogical Society engages in various activities, including:

• Hosting regular branch meetings across Ontario, featuring expert speakers and panel discussions open to the public.
• Organizing seminars, workshops, displays, presentations, and genealogical bus trips.
• Locating, rescuing, preserving, and digitizing heritage documents.
• Transcribing and indexing handwritten documents and pioneer gravestone inscriptions.
• Advocating for public access to government and historic records.
• Promoting the preservation of pioneer cemeteries.

Structure

As of 2020, the Society comprises 30 local branches across Ontario and five Special Interest Groups (SIGs). It is governed by a Board of Directors and communicates primarily in English.

The Ontario Genealogical Society remains a vital resource for genealogists researching Ontario ancestry, supporting both amateur and professional family historians through educational programs, preservation efforts, and advocacy for genealogical resources.

[1] https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ontario_Genealogical_Society [2] https://ogs.on.ca/mission-objectives/ [3] https://ogs.on.ca [4] https://ogs.on.ca/history/ [5] https://www.family-tree.co.uk/directory/the-ontario-genealogical-society/