The Grande Prairie Museum is hosting a four-day quilting showcase event from September 7 to 10, 2023 in partnership with the Northern Piecemakers Quilt Guild. The showcase is free to attend and includes a quilt show, draw for a quilt and demonstrations highlighting various quilting techniques and creating a quilt.
“Crafters, quilters and enthusiasts are invited to come enjoy this unique quilting showcase and visit the Textile Tales exhibit during their visit to the Grande Prairie Museum,” said Mayor Jackie Clayton. “Creating and continuing partnerships with local groups like the Northern Piecemakers Quilt Guild gives the City more opportunities to create and facilitate a wider range of inclusive community events for our residents.”
The event kicks off on Thursday, September 7 at 7 p.m. with a lecture from Pam Robertson Rivet called Bringing World War II Quilts Back to Canada. The lecture is free to attend and only available by pre-booking, please contact the Grande Prairie Museum at 780-830-7090 to secure your seat.
The rest of the event runs in the museum’s Community Room during regular business hours as follows:
- Friday, September 8: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
- Saturday, September 9 & Sunday, September 10: 12 p.m. to 6 p.m.
Learn more information about the quilting showcase by visiting cityofgp.com/events or by contacting the Grande Prairie Museum at 780-830-7090.
Bringing World War II Quilts Back to Canada Lecture
One of the ways Canadian women participated in the war effort during World War II was by making and sending over 400,000 comfort quilts to England, with over 43,000 quilts coming from Alberta.
Over 60 quilts are currently being returned to Canada by the Canadian Red Cross Quilt Research Group in the United Kingdom; however, only a handful of quilts have ever been returned. The Grande Prairie Museum received two of these quilts.
This lecture includes showcasing these quilts and telling the history of Canadian quilts in World War II.