About Us

Welcome to OPIRG-GRIPO, your space for nurturing student activism and creating sustainable movements for social change.

As a non-profit organization, we're dedicated to fostering a more just and equitable world for all.

Our democratically elected Board of Directors, predominantly comprised of uOttawa students, ensures that our initiatives are student-focused and community-driven.

As one of Canada's largest and oldest PIRGs (Public Interest Research Groups), we collaborate with others nationwide to raise funds, provide vital services to marginalized communities, and advocate for community rights at all levels of government.

How does OPIRG-Ottawa work?

OPIRG-Ottawa currently has four permanent unionized staff and many volunteers. There are seven director positions on the Board, the majority of which are held by students at the University of Ottawa.

OPIRG’s Board of Directors is responsible for determining the programming, priorities, budgeting, and policies of the organization.

Mandate

“To bring together and build upon a broad-based community dedicated to social, economic and environmental justice. OPIRG – is concerned with the contribution that students, the university and the community can make towards social change”

History

OPIRG-GRIPO traces its roots back to the founding of Public Interest Research Groups (PIRGs) by Ralph Nader in 1971. At the University of Ottawa, our PIRG was established through a student referendum on November 10, 1977, with overwhelming support from over 75% of student voters. Officially opening its doors in the Fall of 1978, OPIRG Ottawa quickly became a hub for activism on campus.
Over the years, OPIRG-GRIPO has evolved, establishing key components such as the Resource Centre in 1980 and launching the Research Program in 2012. In 2011, graduate students voted to join their undergraduate counterparts in funding OPIRG, further solidifying our commitment to student-led activism.
Since our inception, we have tackled a myriad of pressing issues including tuition fees, environmental justice, social justice, war and occupation, sexism, racism, Indigenous sovereignty, and more. Through events like movie nights, guest speakers, forums, debates, clothing swaps, fair trade cafés, and information tables, we have engaged the community and supported numerous action groups. As a non-partisan organization, unaffiliated with any political party, our focus remains on awareness, education, and tangible action for positive change.

OPIRG has six awesome permanent staff members who keep the office open and things in motion.

Feel free to drop by the office or send them an email if you would like to collaborate or have any questions. We also hire contract staff on a semi-regular basis and particularly during the summer. Visit our homepage blog for any current job postings.

* All our permanent staff are unionized members of the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE) local 1281.