On 28 February 1896, a group of like-minded Loyalists' descendants, most of them residents of the Toronto area, met to promote 'the preservation of the United Empire Loyalists' historical records and the spirit of loyalist'. A committee of nine members, chaired by Mr. Allan Maclean Howard (a future president of Toronto Branch), formed a provincial association, drafted a constitution and bylaws, and prepared a submission to the Ontario Government.). The province granted Letters Patent incorpororating the United Empire Loyalists' Association of Ontario on 1 December 1897 'with its chief seat Toronto'. Thus the system of a Toronto-centered association was born and has remained based in a provincial rather than a national capital. more... See more text