Art, community and sharing have formed the foundation of the Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts since its inception in 1946. Eighty years of history holds numerous stories and anecdotes, preserved in our "Many Hands" cookbooks or stored in the memories and members both past and present. We're excited to share some of that northern trivia on this page.
Inaugural Meeting and Warm Baths... On July 17, 1946, a small group of women convened around a dining room table at the Con Mine townsite for the inaugural meeting of the Yellowknife Branch of the Canadian Handicrafts Guild. Their last names were synonymous with the street names and buildings of Yellowknife today... Stanton, Ingram, McNiven, McElroy and more. At the end of each meeting, Mrs. Ruth Stanton would offer the use of her bath to the Yellowknife town members as radiators and hot water were luxuries available only at the Con mine site. Art, community and sharing right from the start! | First Class... Weaving!
The first class taught by the Guild was weaving. It has endured the entire 80 years and is currently enjoying a surge in popularity. |
On this Day in Yellowknife History: April 9, 1960
Credits: WriteUp: Ryan Silke Photo: Oliver and Ruth Stanton as they board the plane to leave Yellowknife April 1960 (NWT Archives N-1979-052:5223) | Doctor Oliver Stanton and his wife Ruth leave Yellowknife after 23 years of service to the community. Arriving in 1937, Stanton was the town’s first doctor in practise at Con Mine’s little hospital. With Ruth as nursing assistant, they traveled around outlying points by all means: canoes, planes, even dog team in the winter. Many babies, white and Dene, mine employee’s and citizen’s, were delivered under the capable hands of Dr. Stanton. In 1947, on the tenth anniversary of their arrival, Yellowknifer’s threw a surprise picnic to honour Oliver and Ruth. Children with the distinction of coming into the world under his guidance wore placards inscribed, “I am a Stanton baby”. Ruth Stanton was a founding member of the Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts and helped organize the local Red Cross Society during the war. Both are recognized as founding community members and Dr. Stanton is continually honored by christening his name to our hospitals. |
From Powder Magazine to Fireweed Studio!
Fun Fact: The historical plaque on Fireweed Studio is incorrect! The building was originally a powder magazine at Brock Mine but it was never used as a blacksmith shop. | Our little log cabin had a history long before it became Fireweed Studio. The building was constructed in 1939 during shaft sinking operations on the Brock gold vein by Giant Yellowknife Gold Mines Limited. Until the late 1940's, it was used as a powder magazine for secure dry storage of dynamite explosives. In 1973, the cabin was sold to the Yellowknife Chamber of Commerce for $1 and was moved into town with the intention of turning it into a summer visitor centre. It was instead used as a storage shed for the construction company building the "new" City Hall. In 1976, the Chamber of Commerce opened the cabin to tourists. In approximately 1992, the cabin found new life as "Fireweed Studio". For more than 30 years, the Yellowknife Guild of Arts and Crafts has welcomed locals and visitors to its seasonal arts and crafts shop in this historic log cabin. Fireweed Studio was designated as a City of Yellowknife heritage site in 1998. |
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A Yellowknife Tradition:
| A hot ticket item on a hot day! As part of Yellowknife's 75th anniversary celebration, the Guild's first ice cream bowl sale was held in 2009. Our talented potters donated their time to make small bowls, which were filled with ice cream and toppings. Keen customers were charged $10 for a frosty treat and a bowl to keep. The Ice Cream Bowl Sale was well-received and so it was decided that Canada Day would be a good time to repeat the event. Since then, it has gone from strength to strength, even though the price has risen to $15. Potters still donate their time and use it as an opportunity to hone their bowl-making skills. Many volunteer hours are required to prepare stock for the expected huge line-up which starts immediately after the Canada Day parade. This big fundraiser is sadly over too soon as the last bowl is filled and the topping is chosen. A record 425 bowls were snapped up last year and the hope this year is to top that record! |
