About Us
Kin Canada – the Association of Kinsmen, Kinette and Kin clubs is proud to be an all-Canadian service organization made up of outstanding community volunteers. From coast to coast, members are enhancing quality of life in their communities by promoting service, fellowship, positive values and national pride. The Association boasts a proud 94-year history dedicated to fostering life-long friendships while 'Serving the Community's Greatest Need.'
Membership – more than 6,800 members belong to 466 Kinsmen, Kinette and Kin clubs from coast to coast. Kinsmen clubs are predominantly male only, while Kinette clubs are predominantly female only. Kin clubs have mixed membership of men and women.
Clubs undertake a wide variety of local fundraising and service projects. Each club operates autonomously when determining how it fundraises and distributes those funds within the local community.
More than $1 billion raised – Every year, Kin clubs contribute millions of dollars to Canadian communities. In fact, Kin members have proudly contributed more than $1 billion to Canadian communities since their Association was founded in 1920.
History – The Association was founded by Harold (Hal) Rogers on Feb. 20, 1920 in Hamilton, Ont. Rogers was 21 and, after returning from the trenches of the First World War, he missed the companionship of the men he had served with. Looking to join a club of sorts, Rogers decided to join Rotary, but his application was rejected because it was Rotary's policy not to admit two members from the same business establishment (his father, with whom Rogers worked, was already a member). As a result of this rejection, Rogers and a small group of men gathered for a dinner meeting and became the first Kinsmen club; the Kinsmen Club of Hamilton.
Association's National Headquarters – Located at 1920 Hal Rogers Dr., in Cambridge, Ont., about 100 km west of Toronto on Hwy. 401. Nine full time staff provide administrative services to 466 Kinsmen, Kinette and Kin clubs. The chief executive officer is Executive Director Grant Ferron.