To promote the family heritage of our ancestors and their descendants.

History

The Fédération des familles souches du Québec (FFSQ) was founded on February 24, 1983 at the request of representatives from the Asselin, Cloutier, Dion, Langlois, and Lemieux family associations, as well as the support of the Archives nationales du Québec’s head librarian, representatives from the Ministère du Tourisme, des Affaires culturelles, du Loisir, de la Chasse et de la Pêche, and Quebec City’s 1534-1984 Celebrations commissioner.

More than 200 family associations have joined the Federation since its inception.

Mr Jacques Lemieux was the first president of the FFSQ and Mr Michel Langlois was the first chief executive officer (on a part-time basis).

The FFSQ was formerly known as « Fédération des familles souches québécoises ».

Its first general assembly was held on May 18, 1984. 22 family associations attended the meeting.

Annual conferences were instituted as soon as the fall of 1987.

Subscription to the associations was introduced in 1992.

What is a famille souche (founding family)?
A family association is a group of people who, united by marriage, filiation or exceptionaly adoption, are the descendants of a couple of ancestors that settled in Quebec, of ancestors with the same surname or of people that become the reference point of a descent.

Goals 

The FFSQ is a non-profit organization dedicated to giving a unified voice to Québec’s family associations. It defends their collective interests before private and public authorities. Among its other goals are: 

• To help create new family associations. 
• To organize conferences, meetings, lectures and exhibits to bring family associations together. 
• To contribute to the organization of activities, the management and diffusion of genealogical and historical research of founding families. 
• To unite all people who are directly descended from or who are related to one or many ancestors bearing the same surname. 
• To let them know about their ancestors, their history and their heritage.
• To inform them about the current involvement of their namesakes in their respective communities.
• To make them feel proud of bearing their surname and being descendants of a major family.
• To help them share historical and genealogical information about their family. This exchange of information is done through newsletters, genealogical publications but also during gatherings, which are a great opportunity to strengthen family ties.
• To edit, print and mail publications and family association newsletters. 
• To provide a permanent office.

All family associations legaly constituted can join the Federation and become regular members.

All you need to do is make an official application by using the form available at our office and on our Web site. The annual contribution to the Federation is $1.75 by paid-up member.

The adhesion form must be completed and sent along with the following documents:

• A copy of the association’s chart
• A copy of the association’s by-laws
• A list of the members of the administrative council

If the application for membership is accepted, the family association or the organization will receive the following documents:

• A membership certificate
• A copy of the FFSQ’s rules

Forming a family association is sometimes a difficult task. In the beginning you have to:

• Bring together a group of about ten people who want to create a family association
• Form a temporary administrative council
• Prepare a request for a name research report to check if the name chosen for your association is available. When you receive the report, append it to the completed form called Requête pour constitution en corporation.