What’s an OPIRG?

OPIRG (oh-purr-guh) is the Ontario Public Interest Research Group. We are a student funded and directed organization that serves to exist as a training ground for concerned citizens to recognize and engage the problems of society. OPIRG Kingston is one of eleven PIRGS based out of universities around the province. PIRGs also exist on campuses in Nova Scotia, Quebec, Alberta, Saskatchewan and BC.

What do PIRGs do?

PIRGs exist to provide training, support, and opportunities for students to be active citizens in their communities. 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 Canadian students have learned skills in consensus decision-making, group facilitation, events organizing, media relations, and community-based research. These skills help individuals to act effectively in the public interest.

PIRGs are student-based, student-funded, student-run, student-directed and community-minded. They are democratic, independent, non-partisan, and non-profit to ensure that students are able to work on issues of importance to them without fear of censure.

Each PIRG is run by their local board of directors so the specific of what each PIRG does differs from chapter to chapter. Click “OPIRG Kingston” to learn more about what we do here !