Gel Brigden

The People

Gel Brigden

← People of the Society · on record 1964–1985

The Society’s records

Everything the Society’s own records say of Gel Brigden: the offices held, the standings conferred, and the awards won. Where the records are silent, so is this part of the page.

In memoriam · 20 December 1988

A member of the Society for all of its 39 years by the Fall 1988 obituary's count; many C.S.C.L. Executive meetings were held at the Brigdens' Forest Hill home. He died in his 91st year (Fall 1988 newsletter, p. 3). The newsletter gives his full given name, Geldard, in the obituary's own heading; the Society knew him elsewhere as Gel, the form the archive already used for his 1975 Life Membership and his Associate designation, and keeps for continuity.

From Fall/Winter 1988–1989, page 3.

Also recorded as Cal Brigden, Gel Bridgen, Gel Brigdon, Geldard Brigden

Standing

Toronto Branch Member 1979

Branch

Toronto · listed as a member in 1979

Certification

Honorary Associate of the CSCL 1974
Distinct from his ordinary Associate standing, also 1974 (listed separately above): printed as a separate honour, an Honorary Associate Certificate awarded on the Executive Council's recommendation.
Associate of the CSCL 1974

The Ribbons committee list of the Tenth International Assembly of Leathercraftsmen, 1964, prints him “Cal Brigden”; the 42nd Annual Meeting programme of 1992 carries a line “Gel Brigdon Estate”.

From Fall/Winter 1988–1989, page 3; Autumn 1963, page 2; and 42nd Annual Meeting 1992: programme, Beacon Motor Inn, Jordan Station (Vineland), page 7.

Served the Society as

10th Assembly Committee - Ribbons 1964
Executive Council 1964–1975
Council 1976–1979

Honours

Honorary Associate Certificate 1974
Presented at the 24th Annual Meeting, hosted by Belleville at the Holloway Street United Church, 4 May 1974, “recognizing his many years of service to the Executive Council.” The same meeting awarded the Weston Trophy to the Barrie Branch, the Zalitis Pin to Joyce Poulson, and Associate standing to Joyce Poulson and Howard Brock Sr.
Life Membership 1985
Presented at the 35th Annual Meeting by Membership Chairperson Hilda Chynoweth. A separate honour from his 1974 Honorary Associate Certificate. Fred Brown’s profile of him (Fall 1985, pp10–11) adds: nephew of the Canadian artist Fred Brigden; taught by Reta Larmour.

Demonstrations given

Small Articles 1965
15th Annual
From Spring 1965.

Where this comes from

Life and work

From his obituary in the Society's newsletter and from Fred Brown's profile of him.

Family: He died a week short of a year after his wife, Lorna.
From Fall/Winter 1988–1989, page 3.
Work: He was Vice-President of Brigden Ltd. until his retirement c. 1965.
From Fall 1985, page 10.
Other crafts: Besides leathercraft he was a weaver, silversmith, potter, wood and soapstone sculptor, pewter worker and enamellist.
From Fall 1985, page 10.
Community: During his long service on the C.N.E. Board of Directors he persuaded the Board and Administration to set up the Arts, Crafts, Hobbies Show, which grew from a small start into its own building.
From Fall/Winter 1988–1989, page 3.; He proposed and championed the show, which opened in 1964, and chaired the building that housed it.
From Fall 1985, page 10.

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