Bulletin 2025-10-01

The Gem, Mineral & Jewellery Show and Sale was amazing, again. So many fantastic things provided by all of the vendors. Thanks to our academic partners for their presentations and knowledge sharing. All of the volunteers made it possible to showcase club activities and make the show safe and welcoming. And thanks to all of the people who came to the show to find their treasures. Thanks you, everyone.

Weekly activities have been updated: Lapidary is also on Tuesdays, and Faceting on Thursdays. A sign-up sheet for the basic safety/cabbing course is at the workshop front desk. Also refer to the workshop calendar in the newsletter.

History of the Club

The Ottawa Lapsmith Club was founded as a small interest group in 1966. The club incorporated in 1997 and amalgamated with the Ottawa Valley Mineral Association to form the Ottawa Lapsmith & Mineral Club, thus expanding its field of interest to minerology as well as the many facets of lapidary work. Our club also organises an Annual Gem & Mineral Show in September each year, and it is always a big hit with local residents and rockhounds alike. New members are welcome to join at anytime. Any questions? Feel free to contact us with your questions and we will do our best to answer to your fullest satisfaction.

About the Club

Normally, our club maintains a well-equipped workshop in Ottawa. The workshop is used for meetings, courses, and as a place where members can work independently during supervised workshop hours. The machinery available includes saws, flat laps, silicon carbide and diamond wheel grinders, faceting machines, silversmith tools and tumblers. A small Newsletter is free to members. From time to time, there are demonstrations, field trips and other special activities. Collectively, our members have a wealth of talent and knowledge, which they are always willing to share with beginners and advanced users alike. Club members 14 years old or older can use machines. It is recommended that new members take the club course on cabochon making and safety from one of two official instructors, or demonstrate expertise from an equivalent course of study. Meetings are held in the workshop. We welcome everyone with an interest in mineralogy, jewellery or gemstones.