Fonds - Canadian Embroiders Guild Guelph Fonds

The Canadian Embroiders Guild Guelph (CEGG) was established in 1977. The Guild was originally known as the St. James Embroiderers until June of 1978. In that same year, the Guild moved from their location at St. George’s Church to St. James Church. By 1979 the CEGG recorded a membership of 68 persons with an initial membership fee of ten dollars.

Initially teachers were not paid, but as classes expanded teachers were paid fifty dollars. These expanded classes included intermediate and basic survey classes as well as lesson choices in needlepoint, crewel and drawn thread work. By 1979 paid speakers were also introduced, and by November of that year, the guild began sponsoring embroidery classes for children and teens.

By 1980 the CEGG became affiliated with the Canadian Embroiderers Guild. A year later membership fees rose to twenty dollars while speaker fees were raised by to thirty dollars in 1982. By October of 1982 a membership of eighty persons was recorded. Unfortunately, in April of 1984 the CEGG faced a deficit and membership fees rose to thirty dollars. Despite the deficit and raise in membership fees, a growth in membership followed with one hundred and one members recorded by March of 1985. A membership card was introduced in 1989 with a fee increase to forty dollars and a return to St. George’s Church for meeting space in 1990.

The CEGG is open to anyone who wants to learn about traditional and contemporary forms of embroidery. Their core functions are to teach and reach out to the community. Teaching stitchery, needlepoint, creative quilting, and more through workshops, speaker events and exhibitions.