The Society of Graphic Designers of Canada GDC Manitoba Celebrates 20 Years

GDC Manitoba Celebrates 20 Years

, March 28, 2010 at 12:16 PM

Through 2010, the Manitoba chapter of the Society of Graphic Designers of Canada will be celebrating and honouring its 20th anniversary. Twenty years ago, the GDC's now third-largest chapter was conceived on the eve of the 1990s - a decade that bore witness to great change and growth in the design industry both in our province and around the world. Read more on the chapter's humble but star-crossed beginnings.

The Manitoba chapter of the GDC was formed at a meeting in Winnipeg on November 15, 1989. At this founding meeting, 34 professional graphic designers, design educators and design administrators met to adopt chapter bylaws, appoint an interim executive and sign official formation documents.

This was ensued by a celebratory champagne toast to the creation of the Manitoba chapter, then by a special presentation of seed money by the disbanded Manitoba Design Institute. A question-and-answer period was followed by a lively discussion regarding initiatives and proposed activities for the upcoming year (including suggestions ranging from symposia on recycling paper to nude volleyball tournaments). Committees were struck and chairpersons appointed for Activities, Publicity/Publications, Membership and Education.

In December, a nomination committee appointed by the interim executive put forward a slate of nominees for the chapter's first election. Founding members were notified of the first General Meeting, to be held in February.

Entering into the 1990s, January 5 was the date of the fledgeling chapter's first-ever social event, a gala black-and-white soiree held in the penthouse of the Winnipeg Art Gallery. Entitled TGIFOTFWOTND (Thank God It's Friday Of The First Week Of The New Decade), the evening was a huge success. Attended by 75 designers, students and associates, the event provided an excellent opportunity for Winnipeg's design community to mingle and become more acquainted. Thanks to good planning by the Activities committee, generous door prizes donated by suppliers, and a fundraising Chinese auction, the event turned a modest profit.

Through the month of January, membership/review committee guidelines were drafted, concise criteria for each category of professional membership (MGDC, LGDC, MGDC Ed., MGDC Admin.) were established, and membership reviews commenced. The first General Meeting of the new Manitoba chapter was held February 7, 1990. On this date, chapter members in good standing totaled 46. Immediately following the inaugural meeting the first chapter elections were held, with the following results: