About Us

Niagara Heritage Quilters’ Guild is dedicated to promote the appreciation of the art of quilting, be it traditional, modern, contemporary, pieced or appliquéd , through education from our shared collective knowledge base with fun and celebration and to recognize community needs and the contribution that quilting can make.

Our members are like our quilts, completely unique!

Niagara Heritage Quilters’ Guild was established in 1980 when a member organized a quilt show to raise money for the Pelham and Effingham Heritage Associations. Recruiting several other women, all pretty much strangers, working together produced a very successful show. At the celebration party, and further discussion, the guild was formed over a pizza at Mother’s Pizza in St. Catharines.

Posting an ad in the St. Catharines Standard in December announcing the very first meeting was to be held at the library, the guild felt numbers would be only 20-30 people at most, considering the upcoming Christmas season.

Well, the date arrived and people kept coming and coming! It was a success!! Jackie Morningstar offered to do a bulletin and Marg Walpole got Irja Donahue to do membership. She had moved to the area from Sault Ste. Marie and wasn’t too happy to be in St. Catharines so Marg thought this would be a good chance for her to meet people.

And so the Guild was on its way! All thanks to Marg Walpole for persisting.

It was found later in the minutes that there were 90 people at that first meeting of the Niagara Heritage Quilters’ Guild.

OUR 2025-2026 EXECUTIVE

President - Irene Bootsma

Three years ago, when I retired from teaching senior kindergarten, I was excited to be able to spend more time exploring the fibre arts. I have always enjoyed creating and making things, be it through knitting, weaving, spinning, sewing, card making or quilting. I knew I would never be bored in my retirement. A master at none, but always learning and improving. I have just heard a quote from Jeri Bellini, “Aging creatively and gratefully”. I am hoping that we can all do that, no matter what age we are and what we are involved in.

The Niagara Heritage Quilters’ Guild is a community that I became involved in a few years ago. I would always leave a meeting being inspired and in awe of the creativity that was displayed by the guild members and the guest lecturers. So many people offer their time and skills to make this guild a safe place to create and learn new skills. After two years of being involved in the program and workshop committee, as a member and then a co-chair, I am now entering the role of being president.

I am excited to be part of this creative and inspiring guild of quilters.