Quilting Memories – Building Community One Square at a Time
Our annual Craft Show & Sale will be quite special this year! We are thrilled to present the province-wide collective effort titled Quilting Memories: Building Community One Square at a Time, a project funded by Canadian Heritage that celebrates the heritage of Quebec’s Anglophone community. From the Magdalen Islands to Montreal, from Châteauguay to the Lower North Shore, the thread of creativity has woven its way across Quebec!
The project provided seniors in communities throughout the province a special artistic opportunity to connect and create via quilt art, while learning new skills and building relationships. Each square from each city, celebrating the participants’ personal and community histories, has been sewed together to form a beautiful mosaic that will be presented on November 16 and 17, for us to admire.
Handmade Gift Ideas – By Montreal Artists
And of course, as it’s become tradition, many other wonderful creations will also be on display… for your eyes or for your home!
Over 150 craft pieces created by local artists and artisans from the Craft Centre and Woodshop will be featured for the Craft Sale. The selection includes hand-crafted wood creations like cutting boards, bowls, children’s toys and stools as well as other handmade gift ideas, such as greeting cards, jewellery and more – many personalized by the artists who made them.
“Every item is uniquely designed, and it will be exciting to see them on display,” said Margaret Mankin, one of several volunteers involved in the project. “We bring inanimate objects to life, and it’s wonderful to see someone purchase a piece and take it home to enjoy.”
When Kinesiologist Maria Fragapane, Program Manager Wellness Centre and Adapted Gym, arrived at Cummings in 1993 as an intern, she never imagined she would still be here 33 years later, “I feel my work has purpose helping seniors through a multitude of challenges working to recover from a stroke or facing a difficult diagnosis such as Parkinson’s amongst others,” says Maria. Following a full assessment addressing each new client’s needs, Maria and her team rally around each participant. “We motivate each individual while building relationships and guiding them through the heaviness of an illness,” stresses Maria. Even after decades at the Centre, Maria is fueled by the greatness of the participants she works with. Our members benefit from our help and expertise -it never gets old but remains completely gratifying. We make a difference in the lives of people at the Centre in a way I truly believe they can’t find anywhere else.
The sale will also feature original artwork created by the Cummings Centre’s dedicated senior volunteers. Guided by Hershey Fitleberg, one of the Centre’s teachers, the Woodshop has grown to produce incredible wood creations that can be purchased and enjoyed. Discover one-of-a-kind holiday gifts for everyone on your list!
Don’t miss our Craft Sale & Quilt Art Show in Montreal, at the Gelber Conference Centre (5700 Westbury Avenue):
- On Monday, November 16, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- On Tuesday, November 17, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
Free refreshments will be served!
Proceeds from the sale of products fund Cummings Centre programs for seniors.
Register for free or call more information, please call 514.343.3510.
Start your holiday shopping, visit the Cummings Centre Boutique.
Director of Volunteer Services Lynn Gordon feels deeply grateful for the opportunities she has had over the past 25 years at the Cummings Centre. A professional social worker, Lynn views volunteerism as one of the community’s greatest strengths- one that aligns closely with her personal values. Volunteering for community organizations has always been a huge part of my life “I feel truly fortunate to work with so many dedicated volunteers whose commitment and generosity continually inspire me,” says Lynn. Indeed, Lynn and her dedicated staff of four coordinate the work of over 650 volunteers ranging from their early teenage years to over 100 years of age. “As a truly volunteer-run organization, I am continually energized by our incredible volunteer corps. We are committed to finding the right fit for each individual, and we never take for granted that they choose to come here and share their time, compassion, and energy. They are remarkable people doing remarkable things through their volunteer engagement at the Cummings Centre.”