Ten years ago the Federated Women’s Institute of Ontario (FWIO) embarked on an ambitious project that included the publication of a children’s book.
During a recent move of the organization’s head office from Guelph to Stoney Creek, a box of unsold books was discovered.
The book titled Quincy and His Quilt: A Northern Adventure won out over 93 other entrants in the FWIO Children’s Storybook Competition in 2005.
Written by Loreen Ambler and illustrated by Debbie Thompson Wilson, the book recounts the adventure of a northern doctor who takes a journey by dog sled across the north to deliver medicine to a sick child.
In celebration of its 119th anniversary on Feb. 19, the institute created the Quincy Project. Each branch of the organization was given a copy of the book and was asked to make or purchase a bear and a small bear-sized quilt to be given to an ailing child in its community.
“The first print of the book was sold out and a second print followed,” said Myrtle Reid, Coningsby branch member.
“The Coningsby branch of the Women’s Institute received two of the books that were found packed away. We were able to give a Quincy package to a young girl in Hillsburgh along with a child-size quilt made by member Mary Hutchings.”
Reid’s grandson, Mike Reid asked his grandmother if she had found a recipient for the second Quincy book. As she hadn’t, he suggested a young boy that he read about on a GoFundme page on Facebook.
After investigating the young boy’s story and need, Myrtle Reid contacted the family about giving the book to their son. Through telephone conversations with the child’s father, a connection was made to family roots in the Hillsburgh area. The recipient is four-year-old Evan Conway of Drayton.
Leukemia treatments
Conway is currently receiving leukemia treatments at McMaster Children’s Hospital in Hamilton on a weekly basis. He has celebrated the completion of one round of chemotherapy and is expected to continue treatments until January 2017.
Lilli Lockhart, also of the Coningsby Women’s Institute, went above and beyond the Quincy Project’s requirements by creating an additional matching child-sized laptop quilt.
“I am a nurse and it has been a pleasure to create these quilts. I wanted the finished product to be something a child could think of happily so I included hearts representing love and bears to represent Quincy. The colours are warm and vibrant. The quilt is created to be used by Evan,” Lockhart said.
After sharing Evan’s story with Reid and Lockhart, Conway’s mother Maggie read the story of Quincy and His Quilt to Conway.
“We are thankful to the ladies and the institute for these beautiful handcrafted quilts, book and Quincy bear. It has been a pleasure to meet these two caring ladies,” Maggie said.
Reid and Lockhart both agreed the work of the Women’s Institute is focused on being open to learning in the community and it was a pleasure to be able to meet Conway and learn all about his journey battling leukemia.
“Moments like these are ones you never forget and treasure for a lifetime, “ Reid said.
