What is the Ottawa Orchid Society?

Updated

The Ottawa Orchid Society (OOS) is a non-profit orchid society founded in 1978 in Ottawa, Canada, with a mission to promote and assist the knowledge, appreciation, culture, study, development, improvement, and conservation of orchids. It is aimed at orchid lovers of all experience levels and offers monthly meetings, workshops, group discussions, and conservation activities, with membership open to prospective and current members.

What the Society Offers

The OOS organizes its activities around four main areas, as listed on its website:

Area What it involves
Membership Becoming a member and learning about the benefits of joining the Society
Current members Getting involved, attending workshops, and learning how to exhibit orchids at OOS events
Events Monthly meetings, orchid group discussions, and workshops
Conservation Work supporting the conservation of orchids native to the region

Meetings and Speakers

The Society holds monthly meetings featuring expert speakers. Recent and upcoming topics listed on the site include:

  • Polychilos phalaenopsis — Andrew Geimar of Roehampton Orchids, Sunday, Nov 15 at 2:00 pm
  • Zygopetalums: The Cinderella Orchids — Jean Hollebone, an American Orchid Society judge (October 2026 meeting)
  • Compact Vandas — Martin Motes, Vanda hybridizer (September 2026 meeting, the first of the 2026–27 season)
  • Orchids in China and their Cultivation in the West — Wenqing Perner of Hengduan Mountains Biotechnology Ltd., via Zoom (May 2026 meeting)

Meetings combine talks with member activities; the Society's social media highlights member orchid displays at meetings and hands-on workshops, such as a Phalaenopsis care and repotting session.

Membership and Fees

The site provides a membership sign-up path and a Square checkout link labeled "Pay your annual membership fee." The specific fee amount is not stated in the available page content, so check the membership page or the checkout link for the current rate before joining.

Who It's For

The OOS suits anyone in the Ottawa area interested in growing, exhibiting, or learning about orchids — from beginners attending a first meeting to experienced growers who want to exhibit at events or join conservation efforts. If you are considering it, the lowest-commitment step is to attend a monthly meeting as a visitor and see whether the speaker topics and member community match your interests.