Guild History
The Whistler Valley Quilters’ Guild first began meeting in 1993. An informal but dedicated group of women continued to meet twice a month and since then the Guild has grown into an active community organization.
To demonstrate members’ skills and expertise the Guild holds their quilt show every three years, the first being held in 1996. In conjunction with each show members make a quilt to be raffled – the proceeds from each of these raffles is donated to a community organization. Organizations that have benefitted from these donations to date include the Whistler Adaptive Sports Program (WASP), Whistler Search and Rescue Society, the Whistler Blackcomb Foundation, the Whistler and Pemberton Public Libraries, Whistler Healthcare Foundation and the Howe Sound Women’s Shelter.
The Guild also has an ongoing community quilt program that provides quilts for babies, children, adults and families in need. Quilts have also been donated far away from Whistler – to victims of hurricane Katrina, the Kelowna fires, as well as to orphaned children in Lesotho, Africa.
In April 2008 the Guild donated a quilt to the newly opened Whistler Public Library. The 10′ x 6′ colourful art quilt named “Transitions” was designed and sewn by Guild members. It hangs over the fireplace in the “Joan Richoz” Reading Room. “Transitions” depicts the transitions in the Whistler Valley from the top of the mountains to the valley floor, from an old Library to a beautiful new one and from a village to a community with a Cultural Centre. The choice of a quilt is in keeping with the tradition of quilting being an integral part of community life.