Radical Frosh

Rad Frosh is a series of events occurring in September and October aiming to introduce incoming and returning students to grassroots community organizing and social justice initiatives on and off campus. This series will include workshops, film ...

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Posted on Sep 5

Prison Farms Celebration Picnic Thursday, Aug. 19th 6 p.m. City Park Bagot St., Kingston

It's been "the good, the bad and the ugly" so far, and it's not over yet! Come out, eat and chat with old and new friends to help celebrate what the Save Our Prison Farms campaign has achieved so far and to recharge for what we can do in the future.  Let's have some fun!This is a potluck, so bring your favourite dish, plates ...

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Posted on Aug 16

Soul Shakedown Summer Sounds for G20 Legal Defense

Soul Shakedowm returns with a summer edition! Come out to hear Djs El Tico, Seditious, Grenadier and Omid as they spin latin fusion, hiphop, klezmer/balkan/roma, and trance/persian. + special guests! The Wine Cellar--@ The Mansion, 506 Princess St., Kingston Doors will open at 9:30, and this is a 19+ event. Cover will be $6 before 10:30pm, and $8 thereafter. ...This is Soul Shakedown's first party in the Wine Cellar, so make sure to come ...

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Posted on Aug 5

Prison Farm Documentary – Help Needed

Thursday, August 5, 2010 Calling folks with video cameras. I am making a documentary film on the closure of Canada's Prison Farms and need videographers. You don't have to be a professional or even have much experience filming, maybe you have your own camera, maybe you don't but think the cause is good and can make yourself available to film (I can arrange to get a couple loaner cameras I think). ...

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Posted on Aug 5

BLOCKADE OF CSC REGION HEADQUARTERS – Friday, July 23

7 AM (that's right AM) 440 King St W Shutting down CSC Regional Headquarters for the morning is meant to send a peaceful but assertive democratic message to our government.  The Conservatives cannot ignore the vast majority of Canadians on this lighting rod public safety and local food issue.  We will not give up until they listen. We will not disrupt traffic ...

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Posted on Jul 22

Speaking Tour Against Prisons Sat July 24th AKA 75 Queen St. Kingston

Tour of Prison Abolition activists bring their viewpoint to Kingston "Prison is the most brutal direct expression of power, and like any hegemonic power it cannot be abolished through progress. Anyone who thinks that they can work on improving it now in order to try and destroy it later will remain a captive of its logic and achieve nothing but to strengthen the very system they oppose."

Posted on Jul 14

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About

Our Mandate

The Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) Kingston is dedicated to research, education, and action in the public interest. We are predominantly student-funded and student-run, but strive to maintain a balance of support and direction from the wider Kingston community. OPIRG Kingston exists to serve as a training ground for concerned citizens to recognize and engage the problems of society.

We’ve been in Kingston since 1992. The PIRG movement started in the 1970s and has spread to over 200 PIRGs across North America. PIRGs are democratic, independent, non-partisan, non-profit, and non-governmental organizations.

What Do PIRGs Do?

Since PIRGs are directed by you, the community, the specifics of what PIRGs do depend on the interests of the people who are involved. Most PIRG projects are coordinated by Working Groups. The PIRG provides resources, training, ideas, and staff support. We help to organize individuals into Working Groups that work to translate concern into educated and effective action.\r\n\r\nWhile board members may identify projects and programs for the PIRG, their primary role, along with staff members, is to support the interests of the working groups.\r\n\r\nPIRGs also work with students and community members to organize educational events on public interest issues and coordinate research in collaboration with university departments, professors, and the community. These events include speakers, films, conferences, workshops, festivals and classes.\r\n\r\nPIRGs provide training, support, and opportunities to help people transform social and environmental concerns into effective action. We offer various kinds of support, from information to money, from administrative to technological. We facilitate opportunities for skill development through volunteer opportunities, educational events, public campaigns and partnerships with community organizations. Through involvement with PIRGs, thousands of people have learned skills to act effectively in the public interest, such as consensus decision-making, group facilitation, events organizing, media relations, and community-based research.

How we’re funded

Student fees – OPIRG Kingston is primarily funded by an optional fee for students at Queen’s University. Undergraduate, graduate and professional students can opt to pay $4 to maintain us as a resource on campus.

OPIRG Provincial Network – We also receive funding each year from the Ontario PIRG network. PIRGs in Ontario work in solidarity with each other and have made a commitment to support each other through an equalization agreement.

Grants - Each year we successfully apply for grants for projects

Donations and fundraising – Each year we raise thousands of dollars that mainly go to specific projects and events. We appreciate any donation, big or small!


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