2018 news
May 2018
VQC annual general meeting date changed
to September 22, 2018
The date of the Annual General Meeting for Victoria's Quilts Canada (VQC) has been changed to allow enough time for receipt of the 2017 financial statements from our accountant. The new date is Saturday, September 22, 2018 from 1:00 pm to 4:00 pm. The location remains the same: Heartwood House, in the Unitarian Universalist Fellowship of Ottawa, 404 McArthur Avenue, Ottawa, Ontario. The business portion of the meeting will start at 2:00 pm, followed by a coffee break at about 3:00 pm.
We hope you can attend this meeting, as it provides an opportunity to find out what VQC is doing and how it is continuing to grow. VQC members can also help the Board make decisions about our future by voting on the business conducted at this meeting and on nominations for new Board members.
If you plan to attend, please let Patty Mitchelmore, our Membership Secretary, know no later than Saturday, August 25, 2018 by leaving a message on her voice mail at (613) 824-1361 or sending an email to: membership@victoriasquiltscanada.com.
It won’t be all serious business, however, as the Board uses this event to thank VQC volunteers for their hard work and dedication over the past year. Members also have time to interact with each other in a social environment. There will be a door prize.
For those travelling from out-of-town, please note that VQC funds cannot be used to reimburse travel and living expenses. If you are unable to attend, please accept our heartfelt thanks and a thank you from all of those whose lives you have touched.
April 2018
One very special volunteer
Marie-Claire Ivanski receives her award from Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos
Victoria’s Quilts Canada (VQC) has amazing volunteers and, sometimes, they receive national recognition. That’s what happened last fall to Marie-Claire Ivanski, a member of the National Office’s Russell Friends Group. On December 5, 2017, the Honourable Jean-Yves Duclos, Minister of Families, Children and Social Development, presented Marie-Claire with a Canada’s Volunteer Le (CVA) at a ceremony in Ottawa. The award was one of five presented across the country in the Community Leader category. Marie-Claire received the award for Ontario in recognition of her outstanding contributions to her community. Her package included a $5,000 grant to be given to her charity of choice. She chose VQC.
In the past twelve years, Marie-Claire has raised over $1 million for various causes, including the Canadian Breast Cancer Foundation (CBCF), Fort McMurray evacuees, Jonathan Pitre’s treatments for a genetic skin disease-and Victoria’s Quilts Canada, for whom, in 2017 alone, she delivered 75 quilts within her region. She also helped raise funds to construct a community sports dome, visits cancer patients and networks with her local Food Bank, just to name a few other activities.
“It was a wonderful two days of discussion and forums aimed at bringing attention to our causes, as well as a very enriching experience for which I will be forever grateful,” she stated. Victoria’s Quilts Canada congratulates Marie-Claire for all her fundraising work, and thanks her for her generous gift. Her enthusiasm and dedication touch us all.
For more information, visit the Canada’s Volunteers Awards Program website. Marie-Claire’s award can be found under Marie-Claire Ivanski - Ontario.
April 2018
New VQC Branch opens in Hamilton/Niagara
Hamilton/Niagara Branch executive (left to right): Nancy Sinnott, Sandra Horvath, Beverley Bellingham, Mary Ann Hughes, Ginette Pereira Victoria’s Quilts Canada (VQC) has just launched a new Branch in Southern Ontario called Hamilton/Niagara. The Branch is now providing quilts to comfort people living with cancer in the Regional Municipalities of Hamilton/Wentworth and Niagara. Prior to its formation, quilts were provided by the Waterloo/Wellington Branch or sent from VQC’s National Office in Ottawa.
Before the Branch officially formed, people had been working in this area independently for VQC. Beverley Bellingham was making quilt tops with a small group that met at St Barnabas Church in St. Catharines; Genie Gunn from Stoney Creek was making tops; and Nancy Sinnott from Hamilton was making and delivering quilts in that city.
Eventually, they came together when Ginette Pereira allowed the group to meet in the classroom of her Smithville quilt shop, U-Quilt-It. Others joined, and the new Branch now has 20 members who make and deliver about 15 quilts per month. It comprises two groups who meet to sew. One group meets weekly at St. Barnabas, the other group meets once a month at U-Quilt-It. To help start the Branch, a generous fabric contribution was received from the Ancaster Quilter’s Guild. Waterloo/Wellington also provided materials and encouragement for the start-up.
The Branch is now seeking additional volunteers to meet the increasing demand for quilts as VQC becomes more widely known.
VQC’s National Office would like to extend a warm welcome to Hamilton/Niagara, the newest addition to our growing family. We are glad to have you on board.
For more information, please contact: hamiltonniagara@victoriasquiltscanada.com.
April 2018
Local Flavours Rendez-Vous: A smashing success for VQC
VQC thanks the following for their generous support: Russell Friends Group Coordinator, Marie Claire Ivanski; Dominique Tremblay and Vanessa Carrière, Russell Township Economic Development event organizers; Lynne Rochon, Suzanne Bolduc and Jamie Leonard, Russell Scotia Bank Last fall, the Russell Friends Group of Victoria’s Quilts Canada (VQC) raised almost $13,000 for the organization’s National Office at a special, Local Flavours Rendez-Vous event that was organized by the Russell Township Economic Development in Embrun, Ontario. Attendees at the event were able to taste different foods, wine and beer offered by local restaurants, breweries and vineyards. It was a great success, with more than 450 guests.
A total of $12,546 was raised: $7,546 from the event proceeds and $5,000 from the Russell Scotiabank through their matching funds program.
A special thank you goes to Marie Claire Ivanski, who met with the Russell Township Council and requested that VQC be the designated charity to receive the proceeds from the event. The Council, who were aware of and appreciated VQC’s contributions within the community, unanimously agreed. The Russell Friends Group then helped promote the event and organize VQC’s involvement.
Funds raised from such events make it possible for the National Office to purchase flannel and batting to make quilts, as well as cover the cost of mailing quilts to regions not served by a VQC Branch. VQC would like to thank the Russell Friends Group for their continuous support and for contributing to the event’s overall success. We are also most grateful to the Russell Township Council and Russell Scotiabank Employees, as well as all the vendors and participants in this event, for their generous support of our mission.