TMU presents exhibition of rare Canadian World War II quilts at Toronto City Hall this Remembrance Week

November 07, 2024

A close-up of the Kingston Log Cabin quilt that is made of multi-coloured square tiles patterned with wide diagonal lines

The Kingston Log Cabin quilt is one of 20 repatriated WWII quilts donated to TMU’s MLC Research Centre Archive on display at Toronto’s City Hall from November 12 through November 15.

Photo credit: MLC Research Centre, Toronto Metropolitan University

Highlighting a unique chapter in Canadian WWII history, a first-of-its-kind exhibition at Toronto’s City Hall features Canada’s largest collection of surviving quilts handmade by Canadians and sent overseas to survivors of the London Blitz. Toronto Metropolitan University’s (TMU) Modern Literature and Culture (MLC) Research Centre offers the public a rare opportunity to view these textiles from November 12 to 15, 2024, as part of Remembrance Week.

The Threads of History: Repatriating Canadian World War II Quilts exhibit features 20 quilts repatriated to Canada and donated to the MLC Research Centre in 2023 by the British Canadian Red Cross Quilt Research Group. Among the highlights is the Toronto Signature Quilt, made locally and embroidered with over 1,000 donor names and red maple leaf patterns, emblematic of the community solidarity expressed during the war.

“This exhibition is an exciting interdisciplinary venture that intertwines history, textile and fashion studies with material culture,” said Faculty of Arts professor Irene Gammel, executive director of the MLC and co-curator of the exhibition. Now housed in the MLC Research Centre’s archives, “these artifacts serve as both research resources and educational tools that recover the stories of Canadian women volunteers,” said Jason Wang, co-curator of the exhibition and executive member at the MLC Research Centre.

The exhibit also includes hand-drawn sketches by members of the MLC War Quilt Research Task Force, illustrating unique quilt features, such as wear patterns and stitching techniques. The Task Force, made up of experts, TMU students and international historians in quilt research and preservation, uses drawing to document and preserve each quilt’s unique characteristics.

“The Threads of History exhibition offers Torontonians an opportunity to connect with the lived experiences and stories stitched into these quilts, created during the Second World War blitzes. Hosting this exhibit at City Hall during Remembrance Week not only honours those who endured such times but also reflects our commitment to an inclusive history that values every voice. I encourage everyone to visit, explore this vibrant cultural heritage, and consider the enduring legacy these quilts embody,” said City Councillor Chris Moise, whose office collaborated with the MLC Research Centre on the exhibit.

The quilts on display are part of an estimated 400,000 made by Canadian women and girls to comfort British bomb victims. “Toronto’s young people also contributed to these quilts, making this exhibition a meaningful addition to Remembrance Week as part of our shared, inclusive heritage,” added TMU President Mohamed Lachemi.

Learn more about the exhibit, including an opening night reception on November 12, 2024.

Learn more about the MLC’s Repatriating Canadian War Quilts project.