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United Empire
Loyalists' Association of Canada
Membership
Today's Association has
a number of classes of membership, but Regular Membership, with voting
rights in the Association, is restricted to members who can prove they
have a Loyalist ancestor who meets the following criteria:
Either male or
female, as of 19 April 1775, a resident of the American colonies, and
joined the Royal Standard prior to the Treaty of Separation of 1783, or
otherwise demonstrated loyalty to the Crown, and settled in territory
remaining under the rule of the Crown; or
A soldier who served in an American Loyalist Regiment and was disbanded
in Canada; or
A member of the Six Nations of either the Grand River or the Bay of
Quinte Reserve who is descended from one whose migration was similar to
that of other Loyalists.
Membership confers no special status in Canadian society, but many
members use the post-nominal letters "UE" after their name, in
consequence of Lord Dorchester's Order in Council in 1789, conferring
recognition of the service of the Loyalists in defense of "The
Unity of Empire."
Members of the Association must be a member of a branch and there are
branches of the Association in every province of Canada, except
Newfoundland. While many join a branch which is local, there is no rule
as to which branch a member must belong.
To join the Association as a Regular
or Affiliate Member,
one must provide documentary proof of descent from a Loyalist. Many
individuals come to the Association with very complete genealogies, but
others are just starting their family research. Each branch has a
genealogist who will offer advice and assistance, but they do not
undertake to do the whole task - that is the prospective member's task.
In some cases, the documentation is fairly simple if relatives have
already established their descent. In any event, the research provides
an exceptional opportunity for a family to establish and celebrate its
past.
To join as an Associate
Member, one must
simply signify support for the Association's aims and objectives.
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· Grand
River Branch Membership Chair ·
Alison Smith UE
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