Quilts of Valour – Canada Society sewing up a heartfelt thanks to veterans
[caption id="attachment_29378" align="alignnone" width="595"] Lynn Carroll (front row, third left), Quilts of Valour Society Canada representative for Southern Vancouver Island, gathers with members of the Esquimalt Transition Centre for a group photo in December 2021 after receiving a Poinsettia as recognition for her volunteerism. Carroll and her organization have teamed up with the Transition Centre to distribute hand-made quilts to injured military veterans. Photo courtesy of Transition Centre[/caption] Peter Mallett Staff Writer — A troop of dedicated quilters is providing warmth, comfort, and gratitude to Canada’s injured veterans. Armed with the tools of the trade - scissors, rotary cutters, stitch rippers, and sewing machines – members of the non-profit Quilts of Valour – Canada Society (QOVC) are on a mission to wrap quilts of comfort around ill or injured Canadian military veterans. Since commencing operations in 2006, QOVC has distributed 18,409 quilts across the country. Nora Johnson, Service Coordinator for the Transition Centre at CFB Esquimalt, says the efforts of QOVC are very beneficial. “I think this is a wonderful initiative that is allowing people outside of the Department of National Defence to recognize military members’ contributions,” she says. “They are truly beautiful gifts and a heartfelt way to recognize people who have been injured in their service.” A few years ago, QOVC on Vancouver Island teamed up with the Transition Centre at CFB Esquimalt to distribute quilts on Southern Vancouver Island. The centre is part of the Canadian Armed Forces Transition Group network and works with Veterans Affairs Canada and other partners to provide professional, personalized, and standardized transition services to discharging Canadian Armed Forces (CAF) members. Johnson adds the gratitude is a two-way street and being recognized in this manner is a morale booster for veterans as well. National Movement The charity was founded by Lezley Zwaal, who says its origins stem from a personal visit she made to an Edmonton hospital back in 2006. Zwaal, who now lives in Parksville, B.C., had seen the news about...