History of the GCW

Weaving by GCW founder Mary E. Black who was also one of our first Master Weavers.

In 1947, a small group of experienced weavers, namely Miss Mary E. Black of Nova Scotia, Mrs. Ethel M. Henderson of Manitoba, and Mrs. Mary Sandin of Alberta, drafted a plan to organize Canadian weavers into a nation-wide guild to be called the Guild of Canadian Weavers.

The purposes of the Guild were many, but the main objective was to raise the technical, mechanical and artistic standards of hand weaving among Canadian weavers. It was felt that this could be done most effectively through establishing examinations, or tests, based on the various levels of ability of the beginning, intermediate, senior and master weaver. Certificates would be awarded to those who successfully passed the examinations. There was an immediate positive response to the idea.

The Guild of Canadian Weavers has been built up through the hard work, thought and interest of various committees and individuals working under the difficulties of distance and the written, rather than the spoken word. This is a large country, but its size is only appreciated when one experiences the challenges of working on a committee whose members live coast to coast to coast. It is to the credit and perseverance of the members of these committees that today the Guild is a smoothly functioning organization, unique in that it does not hold meetings or conventions on a national level.

We are hand weavers, dyers, spinners and Canadian artisans dedicated to observing and maintaining a high level of craft in the textile trade. It is interesting to note that Guild members are consistently listed among the top prize winners at Canadian and international exhibitions.

Our Purpose

 

(Excerpt from the GCW Constitution)

The purposes of this organization are:

  1. To stimulate interest in the artistic and technical development of hand weaving.

  2. To encourage weavers in general to set the highest possible standards for their work with emphasis on careful selection of materials, colour and design, and superior workmanship.

  3. To encourage the teaching of hand weaving through the listing of courses and instructors in The Bulletin.

  4. To encourage the pursuit of excellence in hand weaving through establishing the GCW tests. Examinations will be set and examiners appointed by the Board of Management to enable members to qualify at the Basic, Intermediate, Senior and Master levels.

  5. To encourage the pursuit of further education among members by awarding scholarships. The Board of Management shall accept and administer, distribution of monies designated for scholarship purposes. It shall publicize, in at least alternate Bulletins of the GCW, that scholarship funds are available along with the guidelines for application and acceptance. Candidates will be selected by the Scholarship Chair and approved by the Board of Management.

  6. To facilitate communication among Canadian and international weavers through the various activities of the Guild.

  7. To perpetuate hand weaving through

    • the preservation of our Canadian weaving heritage 

    • the recognition of the contributions of all weavers.

    • the study of traditional and contemporary techniques