Couple create quilted Canada 150th tribute

A local couple recently completed a personal tribute to Canada’s 150th birthday. On July 1, Peter and Christine Oosterveld will display their contribution to the celebration.

As Christine’s hobby is quilting, she thought a quilt with a Canadian theme would be an appropriate project.

“I came from the Netherlands to Ontario in 1951 and settled in Harriston. My husband and I have lived in Drayton for 52 years. This quilt is my tribute to the celebrations on Canada Day,” Christine said.

Peter’s role in the tribute involved making a trip to the arena to find a couple of hockey sticks that were no longer usable. He braced two sticks together and mounted a Canada flag on the end.

His next project was the construction of the frame to hold the quilt.

“I came to Ontario from the Netherlands in 1956 and ended up in Moorefield. My wife has put a lot of work into the quilt and we wanted to share the quilt with everyone,” Peter said.

Christine called on the skills of employees from Creekbank Sewing Machine Shop in Conn,  who machine quilted part of the quilt. Christine pieced together the quilt this spring. Each one of the smaller triangular shaped squares in the quilt are called flying geese squares, appropriate to the theme.

The quilt will be on display on Canada Day, July 1 at the Oostervelds’ home, located on Wood Street in Drayton.