The Kitchener-Waterloo Gem and Mineral Club was formed in 1965.
For more than forty years, our club has brought together people
who have an interest in the lapidary arts and in collecting
rocks, minerals, and fossils.
Members are residents of Kitchener, Waterloo, Guelph,
and other communities in Waterloo and Wellington Counties, Ontario.
The club meets on a monthly basis at the Waterloo Community Arts Centre in Waterloo. Meetings include speakers, workshops and the ever-popular monthly raffle for gems and minerals. Special events include picnics, pot-luck suppers and field trips.
The club also provides a forum for an exchange of information and ideas about the hobby. We also promote safe and responsible collecting, and we work with other federation clubs to secure more collecting areas.
Our club is a member of the Central Canadian Federation of Mineralogical Societies.
We welcome those with an interest in rocks and minerals to attend any one of our monthly meetings. Families and youth are welcome.
Future meetings are as follows:
Saturday, February 9, 2008, 2 PM - 4 PM,
We will have fun doing crossword
puzzles, playing ROCKO, and doing an experiment to learn about crystals and
to see how they form.
For more information about the kids' club, contact Robert Maric.
On September 13-14 2008 the Scarborough Gem and Mineral Club presents their 40th Annual Show, 2467 Eglinton Ave. E., Scarborough, Ontario. Saturday 10-6, Sunday 11-5. Adults $3, Children $1. For more information, contact scarbgemclub@lycos.com.
On September 20-21 2008, the Mid-Hudson Valley Gem & Mineral Society hosts their 39th Annual Gem & Mineral Show & Sale, Route 9, Duchess County Fairgrounds, Rhinebeck, NY. Saturday 10-5, Sunday 10-4. Adults $5, Seniors $4, Students $2, under 12 free. For more information, call (845) 471-1224 or see http://www.geocities.com/nyrockhounds.
On Sunday September 21 2008 our club will have a field trip to the
Guelph quarry (formerly called Do-Lime). Meet at the quarry gate
at 9 AM sharp. The trip is led by Ray Lehoux, (519) 822-8523; confirm
date and attendance with him. Directions: from downtown Kitchener,
take Victoria St. N. (Highway 7) and in Guelph, turn right on Imperial Road.
Continue on Imperial until
it hits Wellington. Turn left on Wellington, then look for the 2nd
right on an unnamed road that has a sign for
Guelph DoLime
Guelph Humane Society
City of Guelph Waste Water Treatment Plant
Continue on this road .5 km to quarry entrance (stay left
when passing Humane Society).
On Saturday September 27 2008 the CCFMS hosts its semi-annual trip to the Nelson Aggregates Quarry in Beamsville, Ontario. Meet at the gate at 8:30 AM for sign-in and safety talk. Orange reflective vest, long pants, safety shoes and hard hats are mandatory.
On Sunday September 28 2008 the CCFMS hosts its semi-annual trip to the Dundas Quarry in Dundas, Ontario. Meet on Moxley Road at 8:30 AM for sign-in and safety talk. Orange reflective vest, long pants, safety shoes and hard hats are mandatory.
On September 27-28 2008, the Ottawa Lapsmith & Mineral Club holds their 42nd annual show, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Nepean Sportsplex (Curling Area) 1701 Woodroffe Ave., Ottawa, Ontario. 60 dealers and exhibitors, gemstones, minerals, fossils, jewellery, crystals, beads, equipment, carvings, mineral & gem identification, children’s activities. Contact: Karen Lochhead, Show Chair, Tel: (819) 827-3071 E-mail: showchair@olmc.ca . Jennifer Latham, Dealer Chair, E-mail: dealerchair@olmc.ca. Website: http://www.olmc.ca/.
On Sunday October 5 2008 the CCFMS hosts a fossil-collecting trip to the St. Mary's Cement Quarry in Bowmanville. Collecting is limited to the first 100 pre-registered CCFMS members. Safety talk at 8:45 AM sharp. Safety gear must be worn. Meet at St. Mary's Technical Centre, Waverly Road S., Bowmanville. Contact: Randy Ernst 416-494-4276 or e-mail rernst1004@rogers.com .
On October 10-12 2008 the Michigan Mineralogical Society hosts the 64th Annual Detroit Gem, Mineral, Fossil, and Jewelry Show, South Macomb Community College Expo Center, Building P, 12 Mile Road and Hayes Road, Warren, Michigan. Friday 9 a.m. - 7 p.m, Saturday 10 a.m. - 7 p.m., Sunday 11 a.m. - 5 p.m. Adults $7, Seniors $4, Children $3. For more information visit http://www.michmin.org/show/. This is the largest show within a 4-hour drive of Kitchener-Waterloo, well worth a visit.
On October 18-19 2008, the Kingston Lapidary and Mineral Club hosts their 39th annual show, Sat. 10-6, Sun. 10-5. Portsmouth Olympic Harbour, 53 Yonge St., Kingston, ON. Over 30 dealers; children's mine, jewellery workshop. For more information, contact Les Moss, Show Chairman at emoss@cogeco.ca. Website: http://www.mineralclub.ca.
On October 25-26 2008 the University of Waterloo Earth Sciences Department hosts the Annual Gem and Mineral Show, University of Waterloo Earth Sciences Museum, Waterloo, Ontario. Saturday 10-5, Sunday 10-5. Free admission. For more information contact Peter Russell at (519) 888-4567, extension 32469, or visit http://www.openhouse.uwaterloo.ca.
On October 25-26 2008 the Rochester Lapidary Society hosts the Rochester Gem, Mineral, Jewelry, and Fossil Show. Saturday 10 AM - 6 PM; Sunday 10 AM - 5 PM. Donation $5; children under 5 free. Located in Minett Hall at the Monroe County Fair and Expo Center, corner of E. Henrietta (15A) and Calkins Road, Henrietta, NY. For more information contact Paul Dudley at (585) 385-2368 or Hollis Heinzerling at (585) 343-5304 or write to mineral@rasny.org.
On November 8-9 2008 The Gem and Mineral Club of Burlington hosts their 37th Gemini Gem and Mineral Show, Mainway Recreation Centre, 4015 Mainway, Burlington, Ontario (NE corner of Walkers Line and Mainway). Saturday and Sunday, 10 AM - 5PM.
On November 14-16 2008, the 49th Montreal Gem & Mineral Club Annual Show takes place, Fri. 4 PM-10PM, Sat. 10 AM-7PM, Sun. 10 AM-5PM. Hippodrome de Montréal / Blue Bonnets. Admission: Adults $7, Seniors $6, Students $5, under 12 free with adult. More than 80 dealers offering: precious gems, minerals, fossils, carvings, tools, books, beads and beading supplies, jewellery and jewellery supplies. Website: http://www.montrealgemmineralclub.ca/pages/AnnualShow.html .
On Saturday November 15 2008 our club will have a field trip to the
Dufferin Aggregates Quarry in Flamborough from 8:00 AM to Noon.
The trip is led by Ray Lehoux, (519) 822-8523; confirm date and attendance
with him.
The quarry is at 685
Brock Road (just north of Highway 5), Flamborough, Ontario.
Directions: if you are coming from Kitchener you go down Highway
6 towards Hamilton, look for the water tower,
then turn right on Freelton Road (#551). Continue
through Freelton and bear right. At this point the road becomes
Brock Road (#504). You will cross highway 97, concession 8W,
Safari Road (#501), concession 6W, concession 5W (#521).
Keep going; the quarry will be on your right. If you hit Highway 5,
you have gone too far.
On November 22-23 2008, the London Gem & Mineral Show takes place Sat. 9AM- 6PM, Sun 10AM-5PM at the Western Fairgrounds (Western Fair Entertainment Centre - Special Events Building). Highway #401 to Highbury exit North, west on Florence, North on Rectory - Main entrance immediately on right hand side. Over 35 dealers, demonstrators and educational talks. Admission: Adults $5, Children $2 Contact: Ken Dardano 519-846-5836 or ken.dardano@sympatico.ca. Website: http://www.gemandmineral.ca/.
On February 28- March 1 2009, the Kawartha Rock & Fossil Club presents the 16th Annual Peterborough Gem, Mineral, and Fossil Show at the Evinrude Centre, 911 Monaghan Road, Peterborough, Ontario. Saturday, Sunday, 10-5. $3 admission for adults, children free. For more information, contact Mark Stanley, (705) 639-2406.
On July 17-19 2009, the Sudbury Rock & Lapidary Society presents their 26th Annual Gem & Mineral Show at the Carmichael Arena, Bancroft Drive, Sudbury, Ontario. Friday, 5 PM - 9 PM; Saturday, 10 AM - 6 PM; Sunday, 10 AM - 5 PM. For more information, call (705) 522-5140 or visit http://www.ccfms.ca/Clubs/Sudbury/show.htm.
Contacts
Anyone (including dealers, swappers, clubs, and artists) may participate in the show. Dealers are not permitted to advertise their business. The fee to participate is $5 per foot of table (min. 4 ft., max. 8 ft.), or 30% of sales, whichever is less. Tables are 2.5 feet wide. Space is limited to 138 feet of table (tables are 2.5 ft. wide), and of this 18 ft. or 3 tables are available free to other clubs for displays, sales, promotion, or activities. To reserve space or to obtain more information, please contact Gary Winkler.
The latest Rockblast is the September 2008 issue, and can be seen here.
For past issues, see the archive.