In September 2016, Joanne Swanson and Cecile Vigneault took on the responsibility of chairing a quilt challenge with the theme: My Canada 150. The challenge became part of a show and sale hosted by the Northumberland Quilt Guild which took place in August 2017. The challenge invited members to create a 12.5″ block representing what Canada meant to them. The 15 challenge blocks submitted were voted on by the visitors at the show.
Prior to the show, Joanne and Cecile suggested that in honour of Canada 150, the completed blocks could be pieced into a quilt which could then be given to families of soldiers who died serving in Canada’s military. Many members wanted to participate in making quilts for fallen soldiers, but not participate in the challenge. The guild accepted the idea of collecting blocks both ways. The response by members was overwhelming. Not only were there 15 blocks made for the challenge, there were an additional 33 blocks submitted outside the challenge. The final result: five quilts for families of fallen soldiers.
On September 19, 2017, Joanne Swanson, Debbie Bowen and Cecile Vigneault met with the parents at the home of Thomas and Angela Reid in Truro, NS, and presented the quilts. At a later date, three of the families were present at the guild’s October general meeting and thanked the guild for their kind efforts to remember those who served their country to protect.
We thank these five Canadian soldiers; you will always be remembered.
