The Bomb Girls Legacy Foundation seeks blocks for a national quilt to commemorate factory workers during the Second World War. These individuals supported the fight for peace on the home front, by working in wartime factories across Canada.

Who are the bomb girls?

The Foundation grew from years of connecting with Canada’s bomb girls to better understand their sacrifices to their country. Half a century later, few had shared stories about their war work. These women risked life and limb so the Allied Forces in every theatre of war had ammunition to fight the enemy. Yet, their contribution has been forgotten.

Until war broke out in September 1939, Canadian women predominately worked within the home. Young, unmarried women may have worked as secretaries, teachers or other professions, but once married, they typically assumed domestic duties. When Canada joined the war, women entered the workforce by the hundreds of thousands. This started a huge cultural and societal shift.

Women, given the societal expectation to be demure, quiet, and subservient to men, didn’t brag about their war work. They quietly did their jobs, then returned home. Men repatriated got the fanfare — and rightly so. Women stepped back and reassumed their place in pre-war society and didn’t speak of their work again.

As well, Canadians signed oaths of secrecy under the Official Secrets Act 1939. Some bomb girls believed this solemn oath to last a lifetime so they took their war experiences to their graves.

Since the founding of the Bomb Girls Legacy Foundation in October 2023, many opportunities have presented themselves to recognize the leadership, tenacity, and grit of Canada’s bomb girls.

How to contribute

Sewists can prepare a patch to remember or honour a family member who served in this capacity. Or they can simply to say thank you to these brave women and men. Organizers ask only that they follow a few simple specifications. That way, they can assemble this quilt in a meaningful and aesthetically pleasing manner for eventual display in their museum.

Patches can arise from individuals, families or other groups.  

Specifications:

• One cotton patch of any colour.
• Size: 6-inch working area on a 7-inch patch (allowing for seams).
• Add on lace, ribbon, swatch of a favourite piece of clothing, buttons, etc., if desired. 
• Refrain from using metallics that could damage quilting machines.
• Ensure all pieces are firmly attached.

Due no later than March 15, 2026.

Include the following information:

• Your name (s)
• Your address (optional)
• E-mail address
• Cell phone number
• Name of group, family or individual submitting this patch
• The significance of your patch (memory, thank you, story) design or material used. Feel free to include additional detail on a separate sheet of paper.
• Written permission to display your name/story in promotional material and for merchandising opportunities with a signature.

No patches will be returned since they become the property of the Bomb Girls Legacy Foundation. If you grant permission, patches may be re-produced for promotional purposes and merchandising opportunities.

Please send your patch and additional information to:     

The Bomb Girls Legacy Foundation

P.O. Box 30001                            

RPO Huntingwood                        

Scarborough, Ont.                           

M1T 0A1

For more details, email bombgirlslegacy@gmail.com.