Located 38 km south of Ottawa, the Kemptville Branch of Victoria’s Quilts Canada (VQC) was established in 2002 with just 11 individuals. Now comprising over 60 members, it usually holds monthly meetings the third Saturday of each month (although these dates may change) in Kemptville, at St. John’s United Church Hall, 400 Prescott Street in Kemptville.

These working “Bees” are used to cut and piece quilt tops as well as pin the quilt layers together, so that they can then be quilted. Not all members stay for the whole day, but most do stay for the “brown bag” lunch and the quilt show that follows.

New members, especially new quilters, are appointed a “buddy” and taken under the wings of an experienced quilter. This has resulted in confident quilters and new friendships.

The Kemptville Branch is very active within its community and, over the years, has participated in numerous quilt shows, county fairs, craft bazaars and historical events that have included the Upper Canada Village Quilt Show, the Merrickville Car Show and the Spencerville Heritage Fair.

The Branch now produces nearly 200 quilts a year. About half of these are hand delivered to recipients living in the area bound by the Rideau River to the north, the St. Lawrence River to the south including Brockville, Merrickville to the west and Winchester to the east. The remainder are given to VQC’s National Office to supplement their nation-wide delivery needs.