Quilts of Valour offers a ‘hug from a grateful nation’

A non-profit organization that drapes members of the military in handmade quilts is hoping to grow in the North.

Krystine Nicol is the NWT presenter for Quilts of Valour Canada and recently became the northern representative for the organization.

“It’s basically a hug from a grateful nation,” she said of the organization’s work. “This is our way of saying thank you.”

The national charity honours serving and veteran Canadian Armed Forces members, reservists and rangers who have served in a combat or peacekeeping mission or have become ill or injured due to their military service.

Quilts of Valour originated from a movement in the United States. The Canadian version began in Edmonton in 2006. Over the past 20 years, more than 29,000 quilts have been presented to military members across the country.

Eligible military members can nominate themselves or be nominated by others to receive a quilt. Valour quilts are made by volunteers and draped over recipients as a source of comfort at presentation ceremonies with their family or other military members.

Nicol said while she was in Kingston, Ontario, she presented more than 100 quilts. This December, she will present her 12th quilt in Yellowknife.

She said some of the quilts presented in the NWT come from the Quilted Raven in Yellowknife but, due to high demand, many are made in Edmonton.

During quilt presentations, Nicol said she likes to share a quote from a friend: “A life or a career can be seen as a single thread, connecting people, experiences, and places, like the stitching that joins each quilt panel together. Each stitch represents relationships and shared experiences made with care by those who created this quilt.”

‘It’s on my bed every night’

Rick Francoeur, a Yellowknife resident who recently retired after 37 years of military service, said he received his quilt in 2024.

“It’s on my bed every night and it’s nice to have,” he said.

Francoeur said he enjoys the fall colours of his quilt, noting the season is one of the things he misses most from his hometown in Quebec. He added he likes the comfort of the blanket, which he said was made by a woman from Cochrane, Alberta.

“Having it with me, I guess it helps to sleep better,” he said.

Nicol said Francoeur spearheaded efforts to bring eight quilts from Edmonton to Yellowknife with 440 Transport Squadron, which is based in the territorial capital.

Nicol said the smiles that quilts bring keep her involved in Quilts of Valour.

“Like Rick sleeping with it on his bed every night – that brings me a smile, knowing somebody will have that hug that I may never be able to receive myself,” Nicol said, explaining she is not currently eligible for a quilt.

“Where I’m at now in my career has been paved by other people, and this is my way of saying thank you to these people.”

Beyond volunteering with Quilts of Valour, Nicol is a sergeant and mobile support equipment operator with the Canadian Armed Forces.

She said one of her goals is to present more quilts to Canadian Rangers as well as raise awareness about Quilts of Valour in the North.

She encouraged people to donate their time, quilt pieces or money to the organization.