Another Canadian Button Show?   There is a possiblity that we will host the Second Canadian Button Convention in the fall of 2011.  If you are interested and want to participate, volunteer and/or join the organizing committee please contact: Sue Dickout: Email  or phone:613-831-3960

The First Canadian Button Convention

With the encouragement and assistance of our fellow members from the Pioneer and Trillium clubs, we had a  plan… and we did it!  Below is the information about our show.

WORKSHOPS  - a special thanks to our presenters

Black Glass Buttons

Presented by Ms. Yessy Byl, Edmonton, Alberta.  General introduction to Black Glass classification or “Why I find black glass buttons totally fascinating!” History of black glass buttons, and various ways of looking at and organizing these buttons; back types, construction types, and decorative finishes.

 

 

 

The Many Faces of Ivory

Presented by Mr. Gilles Dupéré, Ottawa, Ontario.  This workshop provided information on various ivories, natural, and man made, and looked at how some of these were worn on various garments.

Buttons - Ideas for Display

Presented by Francine Slippert, Gatineau, Quebec, and Micheline Gravel, Ottawa, Ontario.  If not displayed on one’s clothing, how else do we display these little beauties!  At the end of this session, participants found plenty of ideas to get their own creative juices flowing!

 

 

Button Collecting in Canada

Button collecting in Canada is a relatively new hobby, although there is, and have been some longtime collectors whose collections are quite outstanding.

The Trillium Button Club of Ontario is located in Southwestern Ontario which covers Simcoe, St. Catharines, St. Thomas, London and Thorndale.  The Trillion Club was the first to establish a club in Canada; they will be celebrating their 50th anniversary in 2008. They meet 10 times per year, and have 20 members.

The Pioneer Button Club, is located in Toronto/Oshawa and they celebrated their 45th anniversary in 2005. They have approximately 35-40 members who meet both in Toronto and in Oshawa on a regular basis.

Les Boutons noirs is a Montreal club which began in 2003. They have approximately 25 members who meet 3-4 times per year to organize themed button displays at the Boutons, Rubans store located on St-Denis Street. This button store is owned and operated by Richard Letendre, one of the club’s founding members.

The Ottawa Valley Button Club - Le Club de Boutons de l’Outaouais was created in 2002. Members meet 6 - 7 times per year and membership is currently at 16. Located so close to the Quebec border gives this Club some advantages, with some members coming from the Gatineau region.

Some of the Canadian members also belong to various American button clubs, and several are members of the National Button Society (NBS). In 2006, some 29 Canadians attended the NSB national convention held in Grand Rapids, Michigan. It is there that the idea of organizing a Canadian event was born. As there is no "Umbrella organization" or NSB equivalent in Canada, the Ottawa Valley Button Club assumed responsibility for coordinating this event. With a huge nod of approval and enthusiasm from the Pioneer, Trillium, and Montreal button clubs to proceed, the plans officially got underway January 2007 to secure an appropriate venue and begin charting the course for this 2008 event.

THANKS our sponsors and volunteers

Photos from the show… Click Photo to Enlarge

The members of the Ottawa Valley Button Club want to express a heartfelt thank you to the following people.  Without their kind donation, time, guidance and assistance, this first Canadian Button Convention would still be a dream! Members of the Pioneer Button Club and of the Trillium Club for their huge support, encouragement, and financial assistance;  Mrs. Sandra Foster, Autralia - (A special additional thanks for sending a lovely message to our volunteers!) Mrs. Alice McLaughlin, Australia ; Kate Boulton, Buttonmania, Australia; Mrs. Linda Doyle, Dragonfly Fabrics (Ottawa, Ontario); Darrell Thomas Textiles, (Ottawa, Ontario) www.darrellthomas.com; Northern Reflections, (Ottawa, Ontario) www.northernreflections.com; Mrs. Lyla Best, St-Thomas, Ontario; Mrs. Glennie Dickout, Ontario; Mrs. Winnifred Stage, Ontario; Sylvia Austin, Ontario; Mr. Gary Brockman, Wisconsin, USA ;Mary Beers, Maryland, USA Mr. Roy Thompson, Colorado, USA; Annie Frazier, USA; Nancie Glazer, USA; Millicent Safro, Tender Buttons, New York; Jennifer Muise, Ottawa, Ontario; George Macdonald, Ottawa, Ontario; Westwater Group, Gilles Dupéré, Ottawa; Yessy Byl, Edmonton, Alberta; Francine & Gary Slippert Gatineau, Quebec; Jocelyn Howells, USA; Heather Smith, California, USA; Martha Trimble, Ontario; June Chalmers, Ontario; Monique Laroque; Mariette Carpenter; Gifts and Information; Laura Secord, #290, Billings Bridge Shopping Centre; National Gallery of Canada; Canadian Museum of Civilization; Canadian War Museum; IMAX/Omnimax Theatre; Shoppers Drug Mart, Ogilvie Road; Yves Rocher, St. Laurent Shopping Centre; City of Ottawa, Mayor’s Office; Royal Canadian Mounted Police; CBC Radio; Staples - Strandherd, Barhaven.