TMU-led exhibition at Toronto City Hall highlights Canadian women’s pivotal role on the World War II homefront

By Sarah Bauly

History of feminine resilience and creativity comes to life at the “Threads of History: Repatriating Canadian World War II Quilts” exhibit, which opened Nov. 12 to 15 at Toronto City Hall. 

Displays of aged newspaper clippings laden with voices from the Second World War and photographs of young children on the homefront wrapped around the heart of City Hall. These historic archives accompany hand-sewn wartime quilts and enhance the raw and empowering stories deeply entwined into them. 

This Toronto Metropolitan University-led (TMU) exhibition is the first of its kind that showcases rare quilts fashioned in Canada during the Second World War.  Each scrap of fabric interweaves the powerful, nearly-forgotten stories of Canadian women and their unique war efforts into a collection of pieces, immortalizing their work in the history of our country.

The true beauty of these quilts goes beyond their craftsmanship; instead, they stem from the extensive and dedicated efforts of selfless volunteer women during the Second World War. These were where they were designed to provide aid and warmth to people impacted by the war, especially victims of the London Blitz — a German bombing attack in early 1940. 

Out of the 400,000 quilts sent by the Red Cross overseas to the United Kingdom, 20 made a grand return back nearly 85 years later to be housed at TMU’s Modern Literature and Culture Research Centre (MLC). 

Jason Wang, TMU professor and MLC executive member, co-curated the exhibit and spoke about his goal with planning such a captivating showcase. 

“I think it’s about how we do justice for the forgotten stories of women’s contributions,” said Wang during the exhibit’s reception. “I hope people come here to not only enjoy the beauty of [these pieces] but also see the collective storytelling of women’s labour that are put into war efforts.” 

One quilt took centre stage for its undeniable connections to our city, earning the title ‘Toronto Signature.”

City belonging: Toronto Signature Quilt 

This piece was crafted together in the area of Yonge and Eglinton at John Fisher Public School during the Second World War. 

The hand-stitching of maple leaves dances upon the fabric, showcasing the interconnectivity of Canadian culture and its contributors. 

Hand-embroidered Torontarian signatures in red thread fill the 108 blocks that represent the thousands of donors who funded this iconic piece. 

Ward 13 City Councillor Chris Moise attended the opening night and spoke about the significance of the quilt’s return to its provenance. 

“To see this is such a tangible reminder of the efforts made by women… I’m happy that it’s come home to City Hall,” Moise told CanCulture. 

Moise reflected on how the influence of Canadian women has often gone unrecognized throughout war history, emphasizing the importance of publicizing events like this.

“Having this public display, reading the messages and origins of these quilts…  all those things are important…  despite how difficult it may have been, there was support on the homefront by women,” Moise accentuated.  

Torn but not tarnished: Mothy Afghan Quilt

The once colourful squares of this quilt now faded, yet still rich in its lively storytelling. Its worn and fragile condition mirrors the reality and horrors of war. In the centre, a bright red cross symbolizes the need to make use of limited resources during that time — a plea for survival. 

Professor Irene Gammel, director of MLC, expressed her immense fascination with the knitted Afghan quilt. 

“You can see the wear-and-tear, the unravelling of the quilt and also the need for it to be preserved,”  said Gammel. 

The inimitable presentation of these quilts draws in not only art and culture enthusiasts but an entire community of people eager to walk through history and pay homage to those who are largely forgotten in conversations of war.

“We want to honour and pay tribute to the work of women. They volunteered their energy, their skills and they did so because they felt that they had to get up and fight the good fight against fascism.”

The “Threads of History” exhibit is a testament to the innovative excellence of Canadian women —  rewriting, or perhaps restitching, history one thread at a time.