Capacity Building Workshops
At the 2025 Annual General Meeting, the OHS membership adopted a new Strategic Plan (2026-30) which prioritizes expansion of support for our members through capacity building programs and resources.
In response to the strategic plan’s objectives, the Society has launched a new Capacity Building Initiative which will deliver two unique training and education series per year.
Each series will feature a variety of sessions focusing on a defined theme relevant to heritage sector not-for-profits, volunteers, and professionals.
Sessions will be delivered by subject-matter experts through virtual meetings and workshops. Each series will also be accompanied by a set of expertly-curated resources and templates made available to all participants.
Series 1: Governance and Succession Planning was presented April 28 to June 9, 2026, by Benjamin Miller of Ontario Nonprofit Network.
Series 1: Governance and Succession Planning
Led by Benjamin Miller of the Ontario Nonprofit Network (ONN), this first series is designed to help OHS members expand upon their understanding of roles and responsibilities as not-for-profits, their legal and regulatory obligations, how to run effective meetings, and how to engage in ongoing succession planning to develop better continuity and sustainability within the organization.
Benjamin Miller (he/him) is a staff lawyer on the Nonprofit Law Ontario project where he focuses on the legal needs of nonprofits and charities.
Over the past 8 years, Benjamin has answered thousands of nonprofit law questions, developed and delivered hundreds of workshops, and developed online interactive tools, including a bylaw builder for the ONCA.
Benjamin holds a JD and MPP from the University of Toronto and an MA in political theory from the University of Ottawa.
Session 1: Governance 101: Rights and Responsibilities of Directors, Officers, and Members
This online workshop, held April 28, 2026, covers the rights and roles of members, directors, and officers, paying particular attention to the roles of the conventional officer positions (chair, treasurer, and secretary).
Resources
Session 2: Board and Members' Meetings for Ontario Historical Societies
This online workshop, held May 12, 2026, covers the 5 “W”s of board membership and the process of board meetings and members’ meetings from a legal point of view.
Resources
Session 3: Legal Considerations in Board Succession Planning for Ontario Nonprofits
This online workshop, held May 26, 2026, is a hands-on workshop going through the steps for creating a succession plan, building a pipeline of leadership, and preparing a transition document.
The session also touches on more granular needs, such as obtaining a company key and getting access to company accounts.
Resources
Session 4: Q&A
In this online workshop (unrecorded), held June 9, 2026, members were invited to bring their specific questions and examples to discuss and work through with Benjamin Miller.