2003 Dorothy McMurdie Award Winner Gail Patricia Hunt Prince George, BC Gail Hunt is an international teacher, lecturer, editor, researcher, author, quilting judge and award winning quilter. She has been an active member, and ardent supporter of the Canadian Quilters’ Association/Association canadienne de la courtepointe. Gail’s background in teaching is evident in her well organized, thoroughly researched, and planned quilting classes. They offer the student a wide array of both project and process oriented courses in both traditional and innovative directions. Gail has mastered a myriad of quilting and associated techniques. Among these are writing, photography, photo transfer, fabric dyeing, foiling, confetti technique, in addition to piecing, appliqué and quilting. She willingly shares her knowledge, innovative techniques, and her enthusiasm. She offers different ways of teaching to adapt to the diverse styles of learning that students have. She is open to sharing her mistakes and struggles that she faces when quilting, to encourage her students to follow their own path, without being too hard on themselves. Gail has worked tirelessly to encourage the public to appreciate quilting as an art form. She has written many articles for the Professional Pages of the CQA/ACC Newsletter, The Canadian Quilter. These provided guidance in a wide variety of areas for our professionals, and those considering this direction, as well as background knowledge for non-professionals. The articles encouraged quiltmakers to develop and take pride in their own styles and curricula, and to set fair and reasonable fees for this, acknowledging their expertise and preparation time. She also coordinated our Pre-conference for Professionals, in both 1996 and 1998, and provided comprehensive reports for future coordinators. In addition, she has also acted as a mentor to new teachers. Gail undertook a tremendous task in researching, writing, and publishing her wonderful book “Quiltworks Across Canada: Eleven Contemporary Workshops”. It is used as an inspirational resource by both individuals and Guilds across our nation. As it is still an enormous feat to get a quilting book by a Canadian author published, Gail took a great risk, and succeeded. The result of her perseverance is that the quilting community has her fine book, which highlights Canadian quilters. In 1997 Gail saw a need to have a support structure and a venue to show art quilts, so she founded a group to encourage art quilters. This group is now called Fibre Art Network (FAN). She also served as their newsletter editor and chairperson. She has held many positions in local guilds, and was the workshop convener for Quilt Canada in 1996. Gail has been invited to teach and/or judge for a lengthy list of guilds, shops and conferences and associations, in Canada and internationally (including for CQA/ACC). When judging, she makes an effort to give specific constructive comments for the quiltmaker. Her quilts have won numerous awards in Canada and the USA (including for CQA/ACC) and have been featured in many quilting publications. It is with great pleasure that we honour Gail Patricia Hunt with the Dorothy McMurdie Award for her outstanding contribution to quilting in Canada.