Southwestern Ontario Chapter

The Southwestern Ontario Chapter welcomes anyone residing in the region who is interested in learning about bookbinding and related book arts. The chapter offers workshops in-person and online along with a Tool Lending Library for members to borrow from. 

All current members of CBBAG who reside in southwestern Ontario (postal codes starting with N) automatically become members of the CBBAG Southwestern Ontario Chapter. Please note that SWO chapter does not include the GTA. Others may join the Chapter mailing list by expressing interest (no fee for Chapter membership).

Contact us at cbbag.swochapter@gmail.com or visit us us on Facebook or Instagram.

President: Arielle VanderSchans
Vice-President: Tim Dyck
Secretary: Rhiannon Allen-Roberts
Treasurer: Mirela Parau

Upcoming Events and Workshops

Self-Publishing via Chapbooks (London, ON) - February 21, 2026
Bookbinding 1 (Durham, ON) - March 21-23 & 28-30


Past Events and Workshops

SWO Chapter Annual Meeting (London, Ontario) - November15 Bookbinding 3 (London, ON) - November 8, 9, 15, 16, 22, 23
Introduction to Leather (London, ON) - October 25, 26
Summer Social BBQ (New Dundee, ON) -  August 9
Indigo Dyed Papers (London, ON) - July  26-27
Paste Papers (London, ON) - July 19-20
Repair & Restoration Part 2 (London, ON) - June 7, 8, 14, 15, 16
Join Our Club (London, ON) - May 24
BiblioArts 2025 (Owen Sound, ON) - May 17
Bookbinding 1 (London, ON) - May 3, 4, 10, 11, 17, 18
Wayzgoose (Grimsby, ON) - April 26
Bookbinding 1 (Durham, ON) - April 5-7 & 12-14
Boxes & Protective Enclosures (London, ON)  - March 2025
Repair & Restoration Part 1 (London, ON) - February 2025
Kindred Spirits Western University Launch - January 2025
Book-by-mail workshop (London, ON)- January 2025





Self-Publishing via Chapbooks

In this two-hour workshop, participants will learn how to self-publish their writing in the form of a chapbook. The session will include a demonstration of digital typesetting and pagination for poetry and short stories, using a free imposition program and any standard word processor. Participants will also be guided through creating blank chapbooks, giving them all the skills needed to publish their own writing in an economical and straightforward format.

This class is offered in preparation for the book exhibit Local, scheduled for May 2026 in London, Ontario. It is open to members of the Canadian Bookbinding and Book Arts Guild and the London Writers Society.

Time: 10:00 a.m. - 12:00 p.m.
Date: February 21, 2026
Location: London, ON
Prerequisites: Current membership in CBBAG or the London Writers Society
Cost: $55 + $5 material fee

Registration Deadline: February 13, 2026

For more information and registration, please view the registration form.


Bookbinding 1 - Durham, ON

Bookbinding I is considered the fundamental course of the CBBAG curriculum by teaching terminology, materials, tools, techniques, and basic concepts. The course includes six components: setting up the shop and tools; materials and techniques, making a picture frame; sewing variations, endpapers; book cloth and board; making the case; hanging-in the text block, adhesion; and expansion and contraction. This course includes pamphlet sewing, lap stitch sewing, quarter, half, and full cloth case binding; and concepts of grain, warp and pull, swell, and the joint.

Time: 9:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.
Dates: 6 days running Saturday to Monday: March 21-23 and 28-30, 2026
Location: Durham, ON
Prerequisites: Current membership in CBBAG
Cost: $495 + $50 material fee

Registration Deadline: March 13, 2026

For more information and registration, please view the registration form.








Handbound & Homegrown
Bookbinding in Our Backyard

We’re excited to share that we are hosting a 2026 chapter exhibit, Handbound & Homegrown: Bookbinding in Our Backyard Exhibit, happening this May—and it’s got a beautiful home! Attic Books in downtown London, Ontario, is opening up their storefront windows to showcase our work.

The theme is simple but wide open: Local.

What does local mean to you? Maybe you make your own inks from plants in your garden, maybe you’ve got handmade paper from a nearby papermaker, or maybe you want to bring new life to the words of a local poet or author.

This exhibit is all about celebrating the creativity, resources, and inspiration we can find right in our own backyard. We can’t wait to see how you bring local to life in your bindings and books.

This exhibit is open to CBBAG members in the SWO and GTA chapters.

If you’d like to participate in the exhibit, you can find more information and the submission form here: https://forms.gle/662J6cdFDspEm74h6

The deadline for entry is April 17, 2026.


We want to hear from you!

Are you a chapter member? Or do you live in Ontario and are looking to do courses in the Southwestern Ontario region? 

Fill in our workshop survey! 

This short 5 minute survey allows us to see what courses are in-demand and helps determine what we will offer next year. 

2026 Workshop Survey


Interested in Bookbinding Courses?

Email us at cbbag.swochapter@gmail.com to let us know what you're interested in taking!


Local Suppliers

Bijan's Art Studio (London, ON) offers art supplies

Colour Jar (Durham, ON) offers bookbinding supplies

Columbia Finishing Mills (Cornwall, ON) specializes in bookboard, bookcloth, cover paper, end papers

George Hill & Co (Milton, ON) offers bookbinding tools and supplies

Lee Valley Tools (London, ON) offers chisels, punching, woodworking and leather tools

Papertrail (New Dundee, ON) offers papermaking supplies and some bookbinding supplies

Local Bookbinders

Book and Paper Conservation (London, ON)

Dan Mezza Book Binding (London, ON)

  • Bookbinding and book repairs/restoration
  • 519-434-0964

Miller Bookbinding (Waterloo, ON)

Colour Jar (Durham, ON)


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Canadian Bookbinders and Book Artists Guild (CBBAG)

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