Quilts for survivors in Timmins celebrates anniversary
A year ago, Vanessa Genier of Timmins, posted a request on her social media page. She was asking people to donate quilt blocks that she would include in the making of full-sized quilts to be given or delivered to survivors of residential schools.
She now admits to being amazed at what the 'Quilts for Survivors' organization has accomplished.
“We’re at one-thousand, seven-hundred and ten, so that’s what we made in one year," said Genier. "My goal originally was eighteen quilts which really seems small compared to where we are, and just on Friday, I had a lady from the U.S. come up and she brought eighteen quilts.”
Members are marking the anniversary of the not-for-profit group that's been bringing comfort to survivors one stitch at a time.
“We put a lot of ourselves into these quilts. There’s a spiritual connection because part of our spirit goes into that quilt, into the time and frustration at times of putting that quilt together, and then when they receive it our spirit is also received," said Genier.
She said survivors are people who've remained resilient despite being taken away from their families and placed in residential schools established by the federal government and run by the Catholic Church, or who have had to live in foster care.
Elizabeth Etherington and Micheline Hunter are both survivors. They were asked to drum and sing at the anniversary celebration, held in Hollinger Park.
“Both of my parents are survivors from residential schools, but they’ve passed on now. So I’m an intergenerational survivor. That’s why I’m here and I believe because it helps and it’s a light that opens up," said Etherington.
"When I received my quilt it felt like a hug, and when we were in residential school that is what we didn't have, a hug. So when I received that quilt, it was like a hug for me," Hunter said.
It was the discovery of the two-hundred and fifteen unmarked graves in Kamloops, British Columbia that moved Genier to launch 'Quilts for Survivors.'
She said she recently visited there and presented a quilt to Chief Roseanne Casimir.
Genier said there are currently around ten-thousand survivors and her goal, with the help from volunteers from around the world, is to send a quilt to every one of them.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
DEVELOPING Man sets self on fire outside New York court where Trump trial underway
A man set himself on fire on Friday outside the New York courthouse where Donald Trump's historic hush-money trial was taking place as jury selection wrapped up, but officials said he did not appear to have been targeting Trump.
BREAKING Sask. father found guilty of withholding daughter to prevent her from getting COVID-19 vaccine
Michael Gordon Jackson, a Saskatchewan man accused of abducting his daughter to prevent her from getting a COVID-19 vaccine, has been found guilty for contravention of a custody order.
She set out to find a husband in a year. Then she matched with a guy on a dating app on the other side of the world
Scottish comedian Samantha Hannah was working on a comedy show about finding a husband when Toby Hunter came into her life. What happened next surprised them both.
Mandisa, Grammy award-winning 'American Idol' alum, dead at 47
Soulful gospel artist Mandisa, a Grammy-winning singer who got her start as a contestant on 'American Idol' in 2006, has died, according to a statement on her verified social media. She was 47.
'It could be catastrophic': Woman says natural supplement contained hidden painkiller drug
A Manitoba woman thought she found a miracle natural supplement, but said a hidden ingredient wreaked havoc on her health.
Young people 'tortured' if stolen vehicle operations fail, Montreal police tell MPs
One day after a Montreal police officer fired gunshots at a suspect in a stolen vehicle, senior officers were telling parliamentarians that organized crime groups are recruiting people as young as 15 in the city to steal cars so that they can be shipped overseas.
The Body Shop Canada explores sale as demand outpaces inventory: court filing
The Body Shop Canada is exploring a sale as it struggles to get its hands on enough inventory to keep up with "robust" sales after announcing it would file for creditor protection and close 33 stores.
Vicious attack on a dog ends with charges for northern Ont. suspect
Police in Sault Ste. Marie charged a 22-year-old man with animal cruelty following an attack on a dog Thursday morning.
On federal budget, Macklem says 'fiscal track has not changed significantly'
Bank of Canada governor Tiff Macklem says Canada's fiscal position has 'not changed significantly' following the release of the federal government's budget.