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Frequently Asked Questions
About the Quilt: You don’t have to be a museum curator to know the
Great Canadian Quilt, with signatures of over 200 men and women from coast to coast to coast, is one of the most important pieces of Canadiana assembled.
Q. What is the Great Canadian Quilt?
A. The Great Canadian Quilt is the brainchild of Sue Cooper, one of the Kamloops CanGo Grannies, a group of over 40 women moved to action in 2004 by the words of Stephen Lewis. Together they created and produced a 7’ x 5.5’ red and white quilt, flag-like in design and shape, with each white patch signed personally by great Canadians.
Q. Who are the CanGo Grannies?
A. The Kamloops CanGo Grannies are a group of women
dedicated to raising funds and awareness of the plight of African Grandmothers, who having buried their own children, must support and raise their own grandchildren and the grandchildren of their villages.
The Kamloops women were the first in Canada to form a group
committed to support the Stephen Lewis Foundation’s many
projects for grandmothers in Africa caring for the children
orphaned by the AIDS pandemic. Since its inception in March,
2004, the Kamloops Grannies have raised over $50,000 for the
Foundation, and continue to loan their voices to the desperate cry for help half a world away.
Q. Who has signed the Quilt?
A. The Quilt has the signatures of some of Canada’s greatest
talents from athletes, politicians, writers, scientists, activists,
business people, and stars from stage, film, radio and TV.
* For a full list, click here.
Q. How were the signatures obtained?
A. Using the principle of “Six Degrees of Separation” (an
unproven theory that anyone on earth can be connected to any
other person on the planet through a chain of acquaintances with no more than five intermediaries), the Grannies leveraged the internet, telephone searches, personal contacts and media to find addresses and connections to Canadians who have made a contribution to this great country.
A list of Great Canadians was compiled (and ever expanded).
Despite best efforts, some great Canadians were so well-shielded that even the Grannies could not reach them. Sometimes fabric patches were sent three or four times, without success. The Grannies enjoyed the fact, though, that in general, the “Six Degrees of Separation” theory holds true!
Q. How can I see the Quilt?
A. Starting in May 2007, the Quilt will start touring Canada. It is
the Grannies goal to have the quilt exhibited in every province
and territory of Canada, in galleries, museums, airports, and/or
universities. As it travels, it will raise awareness of the plight of
the African Grandmothers, and support for the Stephen Lewis
Foundation.
Q. Where will the proceeds go?
A. Net proceeds from the sale of the Quilt will go to support the
Stephen Lewis Foundation, earmarked for the Grandmothers to
Grandmothers Campaign.
Q. What is the Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign?
A. The Grandmothers to Grandmothers Campaign of the Stephen Lewis Foundation aids grassroots projects in Africa, supporting women and children in their struggle with the HIV/AIDS pandemic. Often without formal income these grandmothers must care for and often bury their own children and grandchildren. The need is desperate: food, shelter and
education, even coffins for their deceased family members.
Sub-Saharan Africa accounts for over 65% of the world’s cases of HIV/AIDS. In some countries the incidence rate reaches as high as one out of three persons. Almost an entire generation is lost. The majority of those infected are women under the age of 50. The loss of so many young adults results in an increase in
orphans that defies belief. Grandmothers must support not only
their own grandchildren, but often those of other grandparents
who have died.
Q. What does the Stephen Lewis Foundation do?
A. At a grassroots level the Stephen Lewis Foundation provides
funds for the basic necessities, and gives guidance in becoming
self-sufficient. As African granny groups supported by the
Foundation become self-sufficient, new groups are funded. For
more information on the foundation, please visit:
www.stephenlewisfoundation.org
Q. Why grandmothers?
A. Grandmothers are role models for the children, teaching them social customs, and how to be responsible adult members of their communities. The basis for future political stability in Africa is in their tired hands. As Grandmothers ourselves, we support the African Grannies, the unsung heroes of Africa.
Q. How receptive were the Canadians who signed the quilt?
A. Amazing! We not only received only signatures, but other
kinds of support. Some returned envelopes included donations,
along with the signed patch, to help pay for quilting materials.
And some of the stories are worth sharing. For instance, there
were parents who helped: the mother of Nia Vardalos
telephoned en route to Australia, gave us Nia’s address and
wished success for the project; fathers of Paul Gross, Eugene
Levy, and Mark Recchi, the mother of Scott and Rob
Niedermayer, and Shirley Douglas, mother of Kiefer Sutherland
all helped with making contacts.
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