Anglican Church offers Timmins building to Quilts for Survivors free of charge

Quilts for Survivors, the organization that sews and donates quilts to survivors of the residential school system, has moved into a deconsecrated Anglican church in the east end of Timmins.

"We're excited to be in South Porcupine because there's no other Indigenous organization out here," said Vanessa Genier, founder of Quilts for Survivors.

"There's free parking -- lots of parking -- lots of space, and once we do, some electrical will be, you know, at full capacity and up and running."

When the Anglican Church of Canada learned the organization needed a new space, it offered the deconsecrated church, formerly St. Paul’s Anglican Church, free of charge for the next five years.

Genier said the move began over the weekend and volunteers and employees are busy getting organized.

Quilts for Survivors has donated close to 6,000 quilts and with this new space, it’s excited to ensure more of the 40,000 survivors in Canada receive one.

According to the Anglican Church of Canada’s website, from 1820 to 1969, the Anglican Church of Canada ran about three dozen residential schools.

Genier said the church’s offering is a great way for it to honour survivors and the journeys they walked.

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"I think it's a testament to the apologies that had been given by the Anglican Church and by the Archbishop Fred, who I've spoken with," she said.

"I think that part of Reconciliation is also the part where we as Indigenous people … we need to ally, we need to honour the Treaties from our perspective as well, and work with the other organizations that are in our country and are here to stay."

Quilts for Survivors has moved into a deconsecrated Anglican church in South Porcupine, within the City of Timmins. (Lydia Chubak/CTV News Northern Ontario)

The church will continue to look after the utilities for the building as it felt that from the perspective of its commitment to Truth and Reconciliation, which it said was "the right thing to do."

"They are making these quilts for survivors who can wrap themselves, you know, in with … comfort and healing and hope," said Archbishop Fred Hiltz, of the Anglican Church of Canada.

"And I mean, it's just such a beautiful work that the survivors are doing."

Quilts for Survivors will begin operating out of its new location on Tuesday and will hold the grand opening on Sept. 20. Hiltz said he plans to attend.