The Georgian Bay Folk Society is getting 25 thousand dollars for its Quilted Word project.
The project is one of four in our area to receive funding from the federal government’s New Horizon’s for Seniors program.
It’s goal is to ensure seniors are able to contribute to the quality of life in their communities through social participation.
For the Quilted Word project – volunteers from the Folk Society and the Bluewater Quilter’s Guild will work with seniors to construct a quilt that tells the individual stories of the contributors.
It’s all part of an initiative called the Grey Bruce Creative Aging Working Group, which develops and implement’s seniors programs in our region.
Georgian Bay Folk Society President Ruth Parsons says the idea is to get senior’s involved in activities which they may otherwise not get to be a part of.
Parsons says the idea for the Quilted Word project came through a quilting pilot project, which she says was successful — but didn’t get the seniors enough hands-on experience.
The Quilted Word will encourage seniors to design individual quilt squares, which will be accompanied by a story explaining the design, and the significance it holds to the person based on life experiences, wisdom and history.
The stories will be videotaped, and the storybook will accompany the quilt as it tours museums, library’s and schools in Grey Bruce area.
Parsons hopes a few seniors will accompany the quilt on its tour, as she feels it can be inspirational for younger generations to learn from their elders.
Bruce-Grey Owen Sound MP Larry Miller was on hand for the cheque presentation.
He says the federal money will be put to good use by the Georgian Bay Folk Society, and adds they are always looking to support seniors programs.
