During last years evacuation Nadine King gave away about 3000 different quilts through her garage and social media in conjunction with Quilts for Fort McMurray.
After word spread of her project many Albertans wanted to help out.
“When I was evacuated I started out making quilts, and in my quest to get supplies I ended up going to Country Stitches in Winfield, Alta and I was telling them what I was doing and where I was from and they asked if they could collect quilts for me,” said King.
The owner of the store called King and told her of this amazing, beautiful, one of a kind quilt that Nancy Watt had designed and pieced together.
“When I saw the quilt I was like ‘oh this has to go somewhere special,’” said King.
The quilt resembles the shield that is on the Alberta flag with the word “Strong” along the right side.
She wanted to find a place to put it where people would see the quilt often.
She ended up meeting Annette Anotniak who at the time was the CEO of MacDonald Island Park and decided to put it up there.
“All of Fort McMurray deserves to enjoy it,” said King.
When people visit MacDonald Island Park and look up at the quilt King hopes that people will reflect on how truly strong our community is.
“So many people cared about us, they made this and gave it to us knowing that we are strong and a great community. It’s nice knowing people are still behind us, all the people throughout Canada and even the US were so generous to us and this is just a symbol that we are strong, we can rebuild and it’s going to happen for us.”
The Quilt is hanging on the wall inside the Suncor Community Lesiure Centre at MacDonald Island Park on the main concourse by CNRL Arena 1.
