‘Hug from afar’: Windsor quilters stich support for families in Tumbler Ridge

Windsor quilters are making and sending blankets to Tumbler Ridge to provide comfort after the mass shooting tragedy.

In the aftermath of tragedy in Tumbler Ridge, B.C., a group of Windsor-Essex quilters are eager to show support in the only way they know how.

The Windsor Quilters’ Guild said 15 quilts have already been completed and are going to be delivered to the northern B.C. community.

Marianne McLean, the 1st vice president of the guild, told CTV News that the idea was created by a member currently in the western province.

“They need quilts. They need to be comforted, and they need to know that we are along with them,” McLean said.

Eight people, including six children, were killed in a mass shooting on Feb. 10, which spanned a school and a residence. About 25 people were injured.

Thousands of kilometres away, McLean hopes the quilts will convey a message of hope to the entire community, which has been rocked by tragedy.

“It’s nice to know that they have support from afar and even from Windsor. Not just in B.C., but all across the country,” McLean said. “I’m hoping they’re going to just get flooded from a lot of communities.”

Crafting each quilt can take days and, in some cases, even weeks. The quilts feature different patterns and figures that can appeal to children and adults.

The guild is currently working on the logistics of transporting the sometimes-heavy quilts across the country.

Once delivered, McLean said those in the community will help distribute the quilts to families in need.

According to Sue Inkster, a member of the guild, quilts have often been used as a sign of support to those faced with tragedy.

Referencing the Humboldt Broncos bus crash tragedy that shook the nation in 2018, Inkster noted Windsor-Essex quilters stepped up to fill the need for warmth and support.

“Feeling the sorrow they’re feeling and knowing that you’re too far away to do anything, saying anything doesn’t help because we know that pain, so a quilt is a good answer,” Inkster said.

In each quilt, Inkster said there’s a “hug from afar,” and a symbolic message that “somebody, somewhere is thinking about you.”

As a mother who lost a child at a young age, Inkster wants parents in Tumbler Ridge to know they’re not alone.

“I just need other moms to know there are a lot of us out there who have lost children,” said a teary-eyed Inkster. “And we’re hugging you tight because we want you to know we hurt with you.”

Members of the Winsor Quilters’ Guild plan to continue making quilts in the lead-up to sending the donations to Tumbler Ridge.