Ottawa Lapsmith
& Mineral Club
Kerry Day, President
Matthew Poirier, Vice-President
Janet Borzecki, Secretary
Catherine Garrett, Treasurer
Donovan Alp, Workshop Chair
Judy Courteau, Membership Chair
Stephane Jette, Show Chair
Eric Clara, Newsletter
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A club for stonecrafters and silversmiths
The Ottawa Lapsmith Club was founded as a small interest group in 1966. The club incorporated in 1997 and amalgamated with the Ottawa Valley Mineral Association to form the Ottawa Lapsmith & Mineral Club, thus expanding its field of interest to minerology as well as the many facets of lapidary work. Our club also organises an Annual Gem & Mineral Show in September each year, and it is always a big hit with local residents and rockhounds alike. New members are welcome to join at anytime.
Our club maintains a well-equipped workshop in Ottawa. The workshop is used for meetings, courses, and as a place where members can work independently during supervised workshop hours. The machinery available includes saws, flat laps, silicon carbide and diamond wheel grinders, faceting machines, silversmith tools and tumblers. Club members 14 years old or older can use machines. From time to time, there are demonstrations, courses, and other special activities.
Collectively, our members have a wealth of talent and knowledge, which they are always willing to share with beginners and advanced users alike. It is recommended that new members take the club course on cabochon making and safety from one of our designated instructors, or demonstrate expertise from an equivalent course of study. We welcome everyone with an interest in mineralogy, jewellery or gemstones.
Gem Show
Our annual gem show is September 19-20 at the Nepean Sportsplex and features over 60 vendors, demonstrations and educational presentations.
On-Line Auction
Our next on-line auction is scheduled March 21 to April 4, and showcases the unique creations made by club member.
Annual General Meeting
The AGM is where club members elect a new Executive Committee, review the past year and plan the future.
Other Events
Summer means rockhounding. Club members will receive e-mails about upcoming field trips.
Lapidary
Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays are for general work such as rock slabbing and cabochon making. Chat with other members about your projects. The library is filled with books and magazines about geology, mineralogy, techniques, and design.
Silversmiths
Every Tuesday night bring along your projects, or take part in a group project, and enjoy good company while you work. This is a popular night, and there is always something to learn. Some materials are available for purchase at the workshop.
Faceting & Carving
Every Thursday 6:00 to 9:00 pm. Come join the fun and learn from experienced stone carvers and faceters. From soapstone to hard gem carving, your imagination is the only limit. Typical project sizes are smaller scale. Members are asked to be responsible for their own clean up.
Club Courses
Courses of all sorts are usually held at the workshop on Sundays. Check the workshop calendar and sign-up sheets at the front desk. Course fees can be paid to the instructor on the day of the course. Non-members may need to purchase a membership.
Join the Club!
Simply fill in, print out, and then mail in the membership application form. For more information please contact: Membership Chair, E-mail: memberchair@olmc.ca
Membership is open to all interested persons at any time. Annual membership fees are: $20 / individual, and $ 30 / family. This does not cover individual field trip expenses or workshop fees.
The membership year runs from the January 1 to December 31, but people who sign up at the annual gem show in September get an extra three months (Oct-Dec). Club members are reminded to renew at the end of the year.