The Kitchener-Waterloo Gem and Mineral Club was formed in 1965. For over sixty years, our club has brought together people who have an interest in the lapidary arts and in collecting rocks, minerals, and fossils. Most members are residents of Kitchener, Waterloo, Cambridge, Guelph, and other communities in Waterloo and Wellington Counties, Ontario.
Starting in September 2022 we have resumed in person meetings and plan to continue doing so going forward subject to the guidance of local health authorities. Meetings are held the 2nd Friday of every month at the Faith Lutheran Church, Kitchener off of Westmount Road East. Click here for more details.
Members can meet our guest speaker for dinner at a nearby restaurant at 5pm. Meetings begin informally at 7:00 pm to allow for socializing, swapping, show and tell, etc. The formal meeting would start at 7:30 as follows:
| 7:00 – 7:30 | Trading and socializing |
| 7:30 – 7:45 | Announcements |
| 7:45 – 8:00 | Raffle |
| 8:00 – 8:15 | Sometimes we have a mini-talk from a club member on a topic of interest |
| 8:15 – 9:00 | Featured presentation by our guest speaker |
Often times the featured presentation is an activity such as a how-to demonstration, a voice or silent auction, or a slide show on a topic related to our hobby.
In addition to monthly meetings, a highlight for many club members is our field trip schedule. In the past, the club has arranged field trips to collect minerals or fossils in nearby quarries (eg. Guelph, Flamboro, Dundas) or further away (eg, Bancroft, Cobalt, Herkimer). From time to time the club has also arranged group visits to museums, private collections and mineral shows. Announcements are posted on our Field Trips page.
Additionally, we host our club Gem & Mineral show on the 2nd Saturday of May. We have vendors selling a range of things–from fossil and mineral specimens, to gemstones and jewellery, and more! If you’re interested in vending, you can reach out via our Contact Form. Please note that we typically have a vendor waitlist, so it’s better to reach our sooner than later.
