History of the Northern Fibres Guild
A brief History...
The Northern Fibres Guild had its origins in 1974, when a group of weavers met in October 1974 in Whitehorse to form the Yukon Weaver's Guild. The group held its first workshop a few months later, which was a 3-day workshop on weaving with 4-harness looms led by Julie Aldis. In 1977, the name was changed to the Whitehorse Weavers' and Spinners' Guild. The group continued to diversify to include a broad range of fibre arts and in 1984 the name was changed to the Northern Fibres Guild, which was adopted along with a new constitution.
Records of the organization are maintained through the Yukon Archives. Below is a summary of two aspects of past guild activities: workshops led by outside artists, and membership of the executive committee (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer) over the years. These notes were compiled by Jill Johnstone in 2018 (currently up to 2010). Let us know if you find something missing or can fill in the existing gaps in our records!
Records of the organization are maintained through the Yukon Archives. Below is a summary of two aspects of past guild activities: workshops led by outside artists, and membership of the executive committee (president, vice-president, secretary, and treasurer) over the years. These notes were compiled by Jill Johnstone in 2018 (currently up to 2010). Let us know if you find something missing or can fill in the existing gaps in our records!
Workshops with External Artists1975 - Weaving on four harness looms (Mineke Mees, Vancouver)
1976 - Weaving (Pirkko Karvonen, Edmonton) 1977 - Weaving (Diane Mortenson, Vancouver) 1978 - Weaving (Kathy Dickerson, Calgary) 1979 - Weaving/Dying/Ikat/Tapestry (Jane Kidd, Calgary) 1980 - Double Weave/Color & Design (Inese Birstins, Victoria) 1984 - Weaving Clothing/Spinning Exotic Fibres (Wendy Bateman, Ontario) 1985? - Rag Weaving (Catherine Mick, Victoria) 1985 - Beginner Tapestry (Barbara Heller, Vancouver) 1986 - Weaving Fabric for Interiors (Diane Mortenson, Vancouver) 1987 - Advanced Tapestry/Color Patterns in Tabby Weave (Katherine Dickerson) 1988 - Rug Weaving (Bryn Pinchin) 1991 - Color and Design (Bryn Pinchin) 1993 - Weaving (Nona Yates) 1994 - Sheep Fleece (Cyril Lieschke, Australia) 1996 - Persian Carpets/Spinning Techniques (Judith Mackenzie) 1996 - Rug Weaving (Jane Evans, Saskatoon) 1998 - Knitting Ganseys (Beth Brown-Reinsel) 1998 - Creative Clothing (Anita Meyer) 1999 - Color and Spinning (Deb Menze) 2000 - Block Rug Weaving (Jason Collingwood) 2000 - Clothing from Felted Sweaters (Judith Bird) 2001 - 2 Colour Glove Knitting (Shirl the Purl) 2003 - Spinning 3-Ply, Alpaca, and Silk (Diane Cross) 2004 - Knitting Intarsia/Embellishment (Lucy Neatby) 2005 - Needle Felting/Laminated Felt Scarves (Pat Sparks) 2007 - Plain Weave (Bonnie Tarses) 2009 - Twined Knitting/Seamless Arans (Beth Brown-Reinsel) 2009 - Vintage Fashion Show (Ivan Sayer) |
Executive Committee membershipListed by year in the following order: President, Vice-President, Secretary, Treasurer
1974: Founding meeting 1975: Julie Aldis, Marijke Kerkhoven, Diane Wykes, Chris Nielson 1976: Diane Wykes, Chris Nielson, Diane Macdonald, Patricia Mueller 1977: Diane Wykes, Solveig Ardiel, Penny Ferbey, Anne Turner 1978: Val Hodgson, Lo Dunkley, Marcie Wallace/Freda Maylor, Kate Williams 1979: Anne Turner, Wendy Chambers, Penny Ferbey, Kate Williams 1980: Val Hodgson, Lo Dunkley, Marcia Wallace, Kate Williams 1981: Wendy Chambers, Christine Boyd, Marilyn Bowlby, Lea Underwood 1982: ..., ..., Freda Maylor, Birgitta Rasmussen 1983: Anne Turner, Lauraine Chambers, Clara Sharp, Kate Williams 1984: Christine Boyd, Barb Grant, Ann Mackenzie, Clara Sharp 1985: 1986: 1987: Barbara Scheck, Wendy Chambers, Gill McDougall, Janice Brodie 1988: Lynn Brayall, Gill McDougall, Johanne Filion, Jean Carey 1989: 1990: Judy Forrest, Janice Brodie, Ann Mackenzie, Kate Williams/Jean Carey 1991: Mary Armstrong, Simone Rudge, Diane Paquette, Carole Williams 1992: Debbie Verhalle, Simone Rudge, Johanne Filion, Carole Williams 1993: Jean Carey, Simone Rudge, Carole Williams, Lou McCrae 1994: Janice Brodie, Mary Armstrong, Lou McCrae, Marion Amyotte 1995: Janice Brodie, Mary Armstrong, Lou McCrae, Marion Amyotte 1996: Barb Bowen, Janice Brodie, Judy Forrest, Susan Stuart 1997: Barb Bowen, Jennifer Brett, Jonathan Henkelman, Jill Johnstone 1998: Diane Paquette, Debbie Thompson, Susan Ross, Donna Butterwick 1999: Kate Williams, Jill Johnstone, Susan Ross, Janice Brodie 2000: Ann Mackenzie, Barbara Bowen, Barbara Adam, Manon Desforges 2001: Janice Brodie, Cornelia Tegart, Susan Ross, Manon Desforges 2002: Barbara Bowen, VP vacant, Ann Mackenzie, Jean Carey 2003: Mary Armstrong, Lynn Stewart, Mary Martin, Muffy Macdonald 2004: Mary Armstrong, Lynn Stewart, Mary Martin, Muffy Macdonald 2005: Judith Voswinkel, Jill Johnstone, Gail Roberts, Jonathan Henkelman 2006: Ann McKenzie, Sarah Overington, Gail Roberts, Jean Carey 2007: Sarah Overington, Gail McKechnie, Gail Roberts, Sheila Ramsay 2008: Barbara Bowen, Sylvia Preto, Gail Roberts, Gail McKechnie 2009: Jean Carey, Barbara Bowen, Gail Roberts, Gail McKechnie 2010: Jean Carey, Judith Voswinkel, Heather Grant, Linda McConnell |