Residents at Tapestry at Victoria Harbour are hoping their quilting efforts will help raise invaluable funds for displaced Ukrainians hoping to find peace, security and opportunity in Victoria.

Tapestry’s residents have partnered with the Inter-Cultural Association of Greater Victoria (ICA) to support the settlement of Ukrainian Nationals seeking temporary residency in the Victoria region after fleeing their country following its invasion by Russia. To date, ICA has supported nearly 100 displaced Ukrainians who have recently arrived.

“Like many others, we were distraught watching Russia’s invasion of the Ukraine in late February of this year, says resident Angie Chan. “Out of love and compassion for these displaced people, we felt we had to find ways to help them feel welcome and secure.”

The resulting “Patchwork of the Heart” quilt is a spectacular tapestry of blue and yellow, weaving in the colours of the Ukrainian flag with an embroidered sunflower. The “Sip & Stitch” team of four residents spent three intense weeks completing the quilt.

“As a group we were relatively inexperienced quilters so we picked a simple pattern,” says Pat Montgomery and Helen Van Alstine, also residents at the community. “With great anticipation and expectation we headed off to the quilt store to purchase required materials, and the next day we started cutting and sewing the blocks which were arranged on the design wall as went along. It is a work of caring to honour and support the Ukrainian people.”

Tapestry’s Victoria Harbour residents aim to raise $10,000 through the sale of raffle tickets to win this special quilt with 100 percent of the proceeds going directly to the ICA. Raffle tickets can be purchased from either employees or residents of Tapestry at Victoria Harbour or at the community’s concierge desk located at 777 Belleville Street in downtown Victoria.

Tickets are also being sold at Tapestry’s two Vancouver communities. Costs are $2 per ticket, $5 for 3 or $20 for a booklet of 10. Ticket sales will end on August 31 with the raffle draw taking place at a special community event on September 1st.

Don Ross, who supported the “Sip & Stitch” team is hoping the broader community comes together to raise “as much money as possible” to support Ukrainian citizens. “After visiting the Ukrainian Cultural Centre and the ICA, it was very clear that many displaced Ukrainian citizens would require homes, support, plenty of compassion and good old-fashioned love,” says Don.

Tapestry is extremely proud to support its residents with this exceptional fundraising initiative. “The creation of this quilt is a tangible reflection of our active aging community’s commitment to wellness,” says Adena Waffle, Senior Vice President (Interim). “We are focused on inspiring residents to create unique experiences that draw on their talents and interests, while engaging in meaningful and purposeful activities that enrich the broader community.”

This unique approach to wellness earned Tapestry at Victoria Harbour the 2021 Pinnacle Award, which recognized the community as number one in wellness among senior living communities in North America. This achievement is even more remarkable when you consider it was earned during the community’s first year of operation!

Tapestry invites you to support its residents and this extremely worthwhile charitable endeavour by buying raffle tickets with a chance to win the spectacular resident-created quilt.
Call 250.999.1631 to learn more.

To see local press regarding the Patchwork of the Heart Quilt, please see below:
CHEK News
Victoria News
Saanich News
Goldstream News Gazette
Vancouver Island Free Daily
Sooke News Mirror
Peninsula News Review