July 1, 2010 - We unveiled our new logo and promotional material designed by Amanda Humphrey of Red House Designs. This involved a completely new look for our website as well. Members were asked to incorporate the logo into a piece of art.

July & August, 2010 - Leslie White & Susan Fraser participated in the Pembroke Downtown Studio Tour 2010.

May 3-15, 2010
Library Arts Committee Show - Art 2010
with Co-op members: Susan Fraser, Bruce Winterbon, Carol Grant, Sara Carlisle, Joan Carlisle, Marg Killey, Michael Milgram, Boni Jaworski-Patterson, Bob Wiley, Olivier Thiriet, Margaret Couling & Olga Nazarkina

March 2010
The Co-op plans to donate a portion of March sales to support the Riverbank Project in Deep River.
--NRT photo-announcement
--NRT photo-cheque presentation

December 2009 - An article featuring Carol Campbell's Fairy Houses ran in the North Renfrew Times. Carol is the daughter of member Bruce Winterbon and her work is available at the Co-op.    --NRT article

November 2009 - The Co-op welcomed new members: photographer Quinn Hammond and multi-media artist Olga Nazarkina    --NRT article

September 2009 - We mourned the loss of our dear friend and past Co-op member, Vic Thompson. Vic passed away on September 15, 2009.

July/August 2009 - Leslie White & Susan Fraser participated in Art Matters, a display of local art in art in Pembroke businesses. Frank Burke won Susan Fraser's naming contest with the title "Young Prince"

July/August 2009 - Carol Grant participated at the Medalta International Artists in Residence program last summer in Medicine Hat, Alberta. The residency concept is an opportunity for ceramists, who for the most part work individually, to enter a community atmosphere and work with like-minded artists. Read the NRT article    --page one    --page two

June 2009 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member: Aliya Ebrahim and welcomed new member: photographer Olivier Thiriet.
--NRT article

May 2009 - Mike Milgram's kaszubian oak coffee table was displayed at the juried show "Art from Trees" at the "South of 60" gallery in Barry's Bay, ON.

May 4-16 2009
Art 2009 - Library Arts Committee Show
with Co-op members Carol Grant, Boni Jaworski-Patterson, Mike Milgram, Marg Killey, Hazel Herriot, Alison Packer, Leslie White, Joan Carlisle, Mary Lynn Benz, Bitzy Couling, Eva Gallagher, Susan Fraser, Aliya Ebrahim, Sara Carlisle.

April 2009 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member, photographer Vic Thompson

February 23-March 7 2009
Deep River Photo Show - Library Arts Committee
with Co-op members Laura Mayo & Mary Lynn Benz

December 2008 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member, photographer Don McQuade

November 2008 - The Co-op welcomed a new member: potter Alison Packer

September 22-October 4 2008
Companion Quilters Present - Deep River Library Arts Committee with Co-op member Leslie White

September 2008 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring members: Denise (Hart) Dimmick & Anne Seck and welcomed new member: nature artist Susan Fraser.

August 2008 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member Rutger van Doorninck

April 2008 - The Co-op welcomed new member felt artist Brandie Lekovic

March 2008 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring members Laurel Gonneau & Neil Vokes

November 5 - 17 2007
Library Arts Committee Multimedia Art Show & Sale
with Co-op members Aliya Ebrahim, Mary Lynn Benz, Katja Fritzsche, Joan Carlisle, Anne Seck, Leslie White, Sara Carlisle, Michael Milgram, Carol Grant and Eva Gallagher

October/November 2007 - Aliya Ebrahim participated in the show "What is Botanical Art? A Showcase of Contemporary Work" at the John B. Aird Gallery in Toronto.

November/December 2007 - Michael Milgram was one of 69 artists accepted for Ontario Craft '07, A Biennial Juried Exhibition of Works by Members of the Ontario Crafts Council - Toronto, November 15-December 31. --Catalogue

April 2007 - The Co-op welcomed new member: quilt artist Leslie White

The Valley Artisan's Co-op turns twenty!
The Valley Artisan's Co-op continues to run one of the finest art and gift shops in the Ottawa Valley with a broadly talented membership of thirty artists plus family members and associates. Original members Ligita Gulens, Hazel Herriot, and Maija Moeck continue with the Co-op.

March 2007 - Aliya Ebrahim participated in Canada Blooms, Botanical Art Juried Show,Toronto, Ontario

December 2006 - "Bead & Button" Magazine (Kalmbach Publishing) featured a piece of Jan Mancey's fine art beadwork in the December 2006 issue

Fall 2006
Paints & Pots - Deep River Library Arts Committee
with Co-op member Anne Seck

Summer 2006 - Jan Mancey's fine art beadwork was featured on the summer 2006 issue or "Cahoots" Magazine

July/August 2006
Michael Milgram's cradleboat was displayed at Harbourfront in Toronto in July/August.

July 31 - August 11, 2006
Expressions in Art by Mackenzie High School Alumni
with Co-op members Sara Carlisle, Kristen den Hartog (Soigne) & Neil Vokes

March 2006 - The Co-op welcomed new artists: woodworker Jim Sprague, Painter Susanne Sprague and potter Eva Gallagher and bid farewell to retiring member, photographer Chris Fraser.

March 2006 - Aliya Ebrahim attended the Canada Blooms Botanical Art Juried Show, Toronto, Ontario

January 2006 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member, paper maker Debbie Waker

October 2005 - The Co-op said farewell to retiring members: quilted garment artist Mary Tromp and mosaic artist Lyssa Lavasseur

September 26 - October 8, 2005
Library Arts Committee Juried Multi-Media Art Show
Sculpture & Pottery Awards:
First - Marg Killey - Advanced Technology Table
Second - Eva Gallagher - Candelabra
Third - Carol Grant - Vase with Terra Sigillata
Honourable Mention - Rutger van Doorninck - Soapstone
Honourable Mention - Eva Gallagher - The North Face
Fibre Arts Awards:
Honourable Mention - Joan Carlisle - Winter Scene Ottawa River
Painting Awards:
Honourable Mention - Sara Carlisle - Velvet Leafed Blueberry
Woodwork Awards:
First - Mike Milgram - Coffee Table
Second - Denise Hart - Exotic Box
Third - Mike Milgram & Bob Dunn - Conversation Piece
Glasswork Awards:
First - Mary Lynn Benz - Poppy Dressed in Black
Third - Mary Lynn Benz - I See Land
Also Participating:
Bruce Winterbon, Hazel Herriot, Boni Jaworski-Patterson, Laurel Gonneau

March 2005 - Aliya Ebrahim participated in Canada Blooms Botanical Art Juried Show, Toronto, Ontario

October 2005 - The Co-op said farewell to retiring members: quilted garment artist Mary Tromp and mosaic artist Lyssa Lavasseur.

December/January 2004 - "Beadwork" Magazine (Interweave Press) December 2004/January 2005 Issue featured a piece of Jan Mancey's fine art beadwork.

September 2004 - The Co-op welcomed new members: Mosaic artist Lysa Lavasseur and silk painter Katja Fritzsche

August 2004 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member, painter Barbara Blackstein

May/June 2004 - Jan Mancey - Valley Arts Council Annual Juried Art Exhibit, Festival Hall Gallery, Pembroke, Ontario - 1st Place Mixed Media Category, Professional

March 2004 - Aliya Ebrahim participated in Canada Blooms Botanical Art Juried Show, Toronto, Ontario. And also: Treasures of Algonquin Park, Algonquin Park, Ontario, The American Society of Botanical Artists and the Horticultural Society of New York Seventh Annual International Juried Botanical Art Exhibition, New York City, New York and the Niagara Parks Exhibition

December 2003 - "Beadwork" Magazine (Interweave Press) December 2003/January 2004 Issue featured a piece of Jan Mancey's fine art beadwork piece.

The Co-op bid farewell to retiring artist, painter Pam Fowlie.

November 26 - An article in the North Renfrew Times highlighted the recent addition of eight new artists.

November 2003 - The Co-op purchased the domain www.valleyartisans.com

November 2003
The Co-op welcomed new members: soapstone artist Rutger van Doorninck, photographer Chris Fraser and Bead Artist Jan Mancey.

October 2003 - The Co-op welcomed new member: paper artist Debra Waker

September 2003 - The Co-op welcomed new member: potter Carol Grant

Summer 2003 - The Co-op mourned the passing of members Jock Carlisle (August 7) and Bob Dunn (August 9)

June 2003 - The Co-op welcomed new member: botanical artist Aliya Ebrahim

May 2003 - The Co-op welcomed new member: photographer George McQuade

April 2003 - The Co-op welcomed new members: painters Neil Vokes and Laurel Gonneau and bid farewell to retiring members: painters Phyllis Hancock and Catriona King.

March 2003 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring artist: ironsmiths Marc Rochon and Kevin Stewart

January 2003 - The Co-op welcomes new member: photographer Vic Thompson

September 2002 - Membership in the Co-op was capped at thirty only to be exceeded if an applicants work is significantly different from current members' work. A single membership may include a family group or may host an additional artist/artisan in the allotted space.

June 2002 - The Co-op welcomed four new members: painter Barbara Blackstein, doll maker/sculpturist Eleanor Fielding, woodworker Mike Milgram, and watercolourist/multi-media artist Boni Jaworski-Patterson.

The Valley Artisans Co-op moves again!
June 1, 2002 - The Co-op completed a move into the larger retail space next door, on the centre-west side of of Blimkie Place

January 2002 - The Co-op welcomed new members: photographer & stone turner Bruce Winterbon, returning photographer Don McQuade and glass artist Mary Lynn Benz

January 2002 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring artist: painter Anne Gumley

December 2001 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member: Marian Wildsmith

December 1, 2001 - The Co-op opened a temporary store--The Christmas Annex--in the empty west side of Blimkie Place. It was a successful venture, opening speculation that the Co-op could support a larger space.
Artists participating in the Christmas Annex included Co-op members plus other locals: Alun Jones, Don McQuade, Aliya Ebrahim, Boni Jaworski-Patterson, Barb Blackstein, Eileen Thurston, Laura Hilts, Neil Vokes, Mary Lynn Benz, Lisa Simourd, Laurel Gonneau, Sheila Fletcher, Anne Tonner, Bill Bishop, Angela Maves, Mike Milgram, Bruce Winterbon.

November 2001 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member: painter Cathy Walsh and welcomed painter Catriona King.

July 2001 - The Co-op welcomed new member: painter Phyllis Hancock

April 2001 - The Co-op welcomed new member: quilted-garment artist Mary Tromp and ironsmith Kevin Stewart

March 2001 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring artists: jeweller Steve Barlow and mixed media artist Beth Shields

"Welcome to the Club" - An article in the North Renfrew Times highlighted the addition of six new artists in 2000. By the end of the year, the Co-op had grown to 25 members.

December 2000 - The artists welcomed mother/daughters fabric & jewellery artisans "Soigne" (Marilyn Charbonneau, Tracy Kasaboski & Kristen den Hartog), as well as botanical artist & woodworker Denise Hart and fabric artist Laura Mayo

July 2000 - The Co-op welcomed new member, painter Cathy Walsh

June 2000 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member, watercolourist Jim Evans

November 1999 - The Co-op welcomed new member, mixed media artist Beth Shields

June 1999 - The Co-op welcomed new member, potter and basketry artist Erma Wesanko

February 1999 - The Co-op welcomed a new member, watercolour painter Anne Gumley

January 1999 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring members: painter Eileen Thurston and painter/jeweller Laura Hilts.

1999? - The Co-op mourns the passing of woodworker Ernie Larson

December 1998 - The Co-op welcomed new members: ironsmith Marc Rochon and watercolour painter Jim Evans and bid farewell to retiring member: painter/jeweller Laura Hilts.

September 26-27 1998 - The Co-op hosted an open house display of pottery by member Anne Seck, inspired by her recent trip to Russia.    --NRT article  

 July/August 1998 - The Valley Artisans Co-op provided demonstrations each Friday and Saturday afternoon at 12:30 until mid-August.

April 1998 - The Co-op welcomed two new members: woodworker Bob Dunn and jeweller Stephen Barlow

The Valley Artisan's Co-op moves to Blimkie Place
March 10, 1998 - The Co-op re-opened for business at its new location.
March 8-9 1998 - The Valley Artisans Co-op makes the move into the east side of Blimkie Place
February 1998 - "Artisans Co-op Will Soon Be Moving to a New Home"
Seeking better retail space, the Co-op relocated to Blimkie Place, near the Laurentianview Dairy with over sixteen members.    
--NRT article

December 1997 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring members: woodworker Al Pyatt and painter Eileen Thurston

November 1997 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member: painter Tom Alexander

August 1997 - The Co-op mourns the passing of Jean Simpson, potter.

The Valley Artisan's Co-op celebrates ten years!
May 1997 - "Valley Artisans Going Strong" - After the the loss of founding member Paddy Chapman, the Co-op was reduced to four members while carrying 70 artists on consignment. The situation was unsustainable, so the Co-op restructured, set a minimum membership target of twenty artists, and began to thrive.    --NRT article

March 1997 - The Co-op welcomed new member: knitter Pam Moore

February 1997 - The Co-op began to allow associate members. Members could bring in juried work for sale under their own member number, limited to work by family members or other Ottawa valley artists/artisans. New member, crafter Marian Wildsmith was welcomed.

An article in the North Renfrew Times highlighted the rebirth of the Co-op, now with a membership of 21.    --NRT article

January 1997 - At the time of the AGM held this month, the Co-op had 20 members. The Co-op stopped accepting work on consignment beginning in January as it created a situation where there was far too much work for far too few members.

December 1996 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member: woodworker Bill Neddow

Rennaisance
November 1996 - As a result of the September meeting, the Co-op welcomed 17 new members: potter Marg Killey, embroidery artist Joan Carlisle, botanical artist Sara Carlisle, painter/jeweller Laura Hilts, painter/stained glass artist Pam Fowlie, potters Anne Seck and Jean Simpson, potter/mixed media artist Olissia Stechishen, crochet artist Laura Lee Sopczak, painters Eileen Thurston and Tom Alexander, photographer Don McQuade and woodworkers Ernie Larson, Allan Pyatt and Bob Wiley. Rejoining the ranks were founding members Hazel Herriot and Maija Moeck bringing total membership to a healthy 21 artists & artisans

September 1996 - With the loss of Paddy Chapman, it was clear that the remaining members had to give some careful thought to the future. They called a meeting of members and consignees to outline the untenable nature of the current situation and encourage consignees to become members. The Co-op began the process of restructuring to eliminate consignment sales and build a strong membership base of at least twenty artists/artisans.

August 1996 - The Co-op mourns the sudden passing of founding member Paddy Chapman

July 1996 - Several artists, including Co-op members Ligita Gulens and Lynn Dunn, displayed their work at the visitor centre run by the Petawawa Research Forest and the Townships of Rolph, Buchanan, Wylie & McKay.

June 1996 - The Co-op welcomed new member: crafter Helen Ball

April 1996 - At the time of the AGM, the Co-op had a membership of five (and just $15 in the bank): Paddy Chapman, Ligita Gulens, Lynn Dunn, Bill Neddow and Marion Leckie. Some trained consignees also work in the store. Members were each expected to put in 10 shifts in each of June, July & August.    --NRT article

September 1995 - At the time of the AGM, the Co-op had just six members: Paddy Chapman, Lynn Dunn, Ligita Gulens, Melanie Leeson (on LOA), Bill Neddow and Marion Leckie

June 15-September 15, 1995 - The local Tourist Information office was housed on the upper floor above the Valley Artisans' Co-op.
--NRT article

July 1995 - The Co-op bid farewell to founding member multi-media artist Hazel Herriot

June 1995 - The Co-op welcomed new member Melanie Leeson and bid farewell to retiring member ceramics artist Irene McKee

May 1995 - The Co-op welcomed two new artists: woodworker Bill Neddow and potter Lynn Dunn

May 6, 1995 - The Co-op celebrates its 8th anniversary with an open house and draw for a landscape by local artist Tom Alexander. Only five of the original members remain: Paddy Chapman, Ligita Gulens, Marion Leckie, Irene McKee and Hazel Herriot.    --NRT article

December 1992 - The Co-op welcomed new member: photographer Jim Hegney

May 1992 - Fifth anniversary draw winners were Yolande Methot ($30) and Roxane Maranger ($20) of Montreal and Judy Coleman ($15) of Deep River.

April 1992 - At the time of the AGM, the Co-op was reduced to five members from the original twelve, the Co-op submitted an article to the North Renfrew Times in hopes of attracting additional artists.   
--NRT article

February 1992 - The Co-op bid farewell to founding member potter Maija Moeck

October 1991 - The Co-op bid farewell to retiring member: needle point artist Susan Mouris

May 1, 1991 - The Valley Artisans' Co-op celebrated its fourth anniversary with a draw for gift certificates. Winners were Brenda Yourth from Chelmsford and Tracey Duchene & Jennifer Clouthier from Petawawa.

April 1991 - At the time of the AGM the Co-op had 7 members and 67 artists on consignment

May 1990 - At the time of the AGM, the Co-op had seven (or eight?) members

April 1990 - The Co-op bid farewell to founding member: needle point artist Shirley Santone.

Sometime between April and the end of the year, the Co-op also bid farewell to founding member, potter Elaine Rolston.

April 29-30, 1989 - The Valley Artisans' Co-op celebrated its second anniversary with a two-day open house and portraits by Zhow ($10)

February 1989 - The Co-op welcomed new member: needlework artist, Susan Mouris    --NRT article - March 15

December 1988 - The co-op bid farewell to founding co-members, wood-worker Neil Burn and knitter Audrey Burn.

November 1988 - The Co-op bid farewell to founding member, paper-tole artist Nancy Thibeault.

September 1988 - The Co-op bid farewell to founding members, potters Elaine Rolston & Trish Goss

June 1988 - The Co-op bid farewell to founding member, needlepoint artist Karen Hadden

May 1, 1988 - The Valley Artisan's Co-op celebrated its first anniversary with a draw for gift certificates. Winners were Nancy Carter ($50) and Karen Chidley ($30) of Deep River and Gwen Durst of Goderich ($20). New hours, noon-8:00pm daily, began May 1.    --NRT article

The Valley Artisans' Co-op Opens for Business
May 1, 1987 - The Valley Artisans' Co-op first opened its door to the public in a house at 186 Highway 17 East with a membership of 12 local artists: knitter Audrey Burn with woodworker Neil Burn, potters Paddy Chapman, Elaine Rolston, Trish Goss, Ligita Gulens and Maija Moeck, paper-tole artist Nancy Thibeault, ceramics artist Irene McKee, needlepoint artists Karen Hadden, Marion Leckie and Shirley Santone, and multi-media artist Hazel Herriot.
-- photo - ribbon cutting
-- article - artists
-- article - more artists
-- From Dream to Reality
-- Anticipation