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Quilting project comforts veterans

Marcie Erick grew up on a farm in the Arcola district and now lives in Swift Current with her family. She recently returned to the area, when she was completing a project that is very dear to her heart.
Quilt project
Marcie Erick was presenting quilts to local military veterans in Kisbey and Pheasant Rump First Nations.

Marcie Erick grew up on a farm in the Arcola district and now lives in Swift Current with her family. She recently returned to the area, when she was completing a project that is very dear to her heart.

Erick began quilting about 20 years ago, taking it up in memory of her grandmother, who had passed away before she was born.

People over the ages have passed down quilts to family and Erick was blessed with her grandmother’s love of quilting.

Erick, who has a very strong connection to her family, became involved with the organization Quilts of Valour Canada [QOVC] in November 2017. The organization’s primary mission is to recognize ill or injured Canadian Armed Forces members and veterans.

The QVOC became a registered charity and a Federal not for profit corporation in 2014, and currently has representatives in every Canadian province.

Erick’s passion for QOVC came from a staggering loss in 1999 with the passing of her uncle and hero Cpl. R.T. Lougheed. He was a fierce friend, brother and an amazing soldier who suffered from post-traumatic stress disorder from his service with the Canadian Armed Forces in the former Yugoslavia.

Erick has been a part of a group contributing to the charity in the making and presentation of 95 quilts to date for veterans, and it is in Erick’s plan to complete 100 quilts by summer’s end. On this trip back home she had the honour of presenting three quilts to veterans at Pheasant Rump First Nation and in the village of Kisbey. Erick has presented quilts from St. John’s, Newfoundland to Victoria, British Columbia and proudly contributes her time to the making of each quilt to achieve the goal set by QOVC of 20,000 quilts by the end of 2020.

Anyone wishing to contribute, donate, nominate or help in any way can find more information on how to do so online by searching the Quilts of Valour Canada website.