Community
Help the Gander & Area SPCA
Photo from the Town of Gander 2001 Archives
If you’ve ever visited their shelter, you will know that they have outgrown the current space - which was constructed in 1993.
They are looking to expand to include a dedicated space for adopters to meet potential family members, no place to meet with community partners or sponsors, and most importantly, no room to take in more animals in desperate need of shelter and care.
They are now on the final stretch of the completion of our long-awaited new building, but are not quite at the finish line yet! Shelter residents are desperate to have a bigger and brighter space to call home while they await their furever families.
The Warm embrace
Although there are only 46 characters represented in Come From Away, there are tens of thousands of stories of the 9/11 airplane landings in Gander, Stephenville and St. John’s –stories of grief and loss, stories of kindness, stories of friendship, of rising to the occasion and of finding the helpers.
To make our own Newfoundland Come From Away, we want to echo the welcome that was exemplified on that day with a set that represents the 9/11 stories held in communities right across the island.
The Memory Squares Community Project
A long-held tradition all across Newfoundland is knitting or crocheting small woolen squares into blankets - practical, warm and comforting. In tribute to the warm embrace extended by communities across the island we are reaching out to people who have a special relationship with those days of September 2001, to crochet squares to contribute to the creation of our set for Come From Away. These squares may be in memory of, or in tribute to, a person, an event, a meal, a trip to the cabin. It may be in memory of someone lost on that terrible morning, or it may be in honour of someone who helped make the world a bit better after.
Over 1000 squares have been created along with 1000 stories about that day. As we use these squares to create the set, each memory…each connect becomes part of the story that will be told in Gander this summer. Having the set reflect the people and the stories of that week in September in Gander makes this production truly our own.
There are so many stories of the days after 9/11. With your participation, audiences will wrap themselves in your own warm embrace too.
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It’s been great to be a part of this project and I look forward to seeing the small contributions of many come together as a whole – not unlike how many people came together to help the many stranded passengers at their time of need.
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I created an image of a house using the dark grey shade. The bright yellow surrounds the building representing the glow or warmth when one thinks of home and family. Home is often thought of as a safe place. Secure and peaceful for many. When 9/11 occurred this sense of safety was shaken. HOME is a state of mind as well as a physical place. The passengers who were forced to land in our province found people who welcomed them to their homes wholeheartedly. People who truly understood what it means to be a good neighbour.
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This was my first attempt at crocheting. It was a fun filled hours at the Arts and Culture Centre. Would like to do more of this. Thanks.
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I will forever remember sept 11/2001. I was watching TV that morning and watched it all happen on live TV. It was hard to watch but I found myself wanting to know everything about what was happening. When the north and south towers collapsed, I cried as I watched so many people running away with faces of shocked and dust covered from fallen debris. I felt hopeless and so sad somebody could deliberately do this. Then my heart was filled with pride of my fellow Newfoundlanders helping the many people stranded here waiting to go home. All the kindness, goodness, and love they gave to them that helped them feel safe in such a terrible time. I crocheted some flowered squares to represent all the loved ones lost, moms, dads, nans, pops, brothers, sisters, friends, etc. the bigger squares represented the twin towers that collapsed. Thank you for the opportunity to do this project to be on part of your set for this amazing show. The star square represents Newfoundland showing the stranded people the way to their home away from home.
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In this piece, the lowercase alphabet represents all of the children whose lives were disrupted in 2001. The letters in the blue (LIBY) are for Libby, the young women who stayed with us back then. I needed another “b” so I added a bumble bee at the start of the alphabet. It completes Libby’s name and symbolizes the people of the province who were so busy at that time. This is the 25th anniversary of my first book (A NL Alphabet) so this also represents me.
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September 11, 2001, the whole world saw the worst of humanity but what happened in Gander and the whole province in the following days prove that kindness, caring, love, and friendships was still alive. Today we honour the friends we made during that dark time. The knitted and crocheted squares are “our warm embrace” to honour them and our lifelong friendships.
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Thank you for tis opportunity to be a part of Come From Away – The Warm Embrace Project. My inspiration for this square is from the saltwater classics knitting book. I chose bright colours as it reminds me of the quilts my nan used to make and give to all of her grandchildren as gifts, Usually her quilts were made from old pieces of clothing, giving the quilt many colours. To this day I still have my grandmothers quilt and it definitely is still a warm embrace.
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My mother, Marie Dawe, now in her 93rd yea has been crocheting for well over 80 years, a skill she learned from her English aunt. Lately, she has been crocheting Afghans, sells them, matches the money and sends to operation mile, fixing about three smiles a year. I heard about the set for the “Come From Away” production and decided mom might be interested and indeed she was. Her contribution was 11 twelve inch squares and 9 six inch squares. During 911, Mom had been recovering home from a heart attack. And was not able to extend herself much. This crochet project has given her the opportunity to again show support to her community. She’s proud of her ability to be able to do this. Dad would be so proud…
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I was working in Corner Brook, nL when 911 happened. Couldn’t believe what had happened. We had the television on all day, and every conversation was about 911. Being a Newfoundlander I wish I could do something to help. It’s awesome that the Arts & Culture Centre has this Warm embrace Project. I am honoured to have a small part in this project. I did several squares which I thought is appropriate for this project and how we all feel as Newfoundlanders. One square is the NL map, Love NL, and two heart squares. Thanks for the opportunity, helpfully I will get to see Come From Away in Gander this year. I would love to see how this project is utilized.