TIMMINS - A handmade quilt created to honour residential school survivors has been returned.
The wall hanging, made by Katherine Jeremiah-Génier, was taken from the Timmins Museum: National Exhibition Centre on Feb. 18, just two weeks after it was put on display.
Vanessa Génier, founder and CEO of Quilts for Survivors and Jeremiah-Génier’s mother, confirmed the quilt’s return.
“I got a call this morning shortly after nine from Amy at the library. And she said that when they got in this morning, they checked their book return and it was in there,” said Génier.
According to Génier, the quilt was placed in a plastic bag and returned through the book return slot attached to the library building.
It was not exposed to the elements and appeared undamaged. Volunteers at the library promptly returned the quilt to the museum.
SEE: Quilt honouring residential school survivors stolen from Timmins museum
“We are celebrating this morning for sure. We are so thrilled and relieved to see its safe return. The quilt is on its way back to the artist,” Kaitlyn Dubeau, director of the museum, told TimminsToday.
Génier is relieved the quilt is back.
“That's all we wanted. We don't care who took it. We don't care why they took it. There's no excuse for taking it, but we're just glad it's back,” she said.
Jeremiah-Génier, the studio manager at Quilts for Survivors who uses the pronouns they-them — said the quilt took 50 hours to make and was their first wall hanging.
The piece was part of The Art of Healing series by Mushkegowuk Council and was set to be displayed at the Quilts for Survivors studio in South Porcupine after the museum exhibit.
The design features a digitally printed panel by Indigenous artist Karen Erickson, illustrating the journey of children who attended residential schools. Traditional colours and elements with cultural and symbolic significance are incorporated into the piece.
Following the incident, Quilts for Survivors plans to organize a wall-hanging workshop aimed at youth.
Génier said they hope to secure sponsorship for youth participation and offer a separate session for adults, where participants would pay a fee to take home their completed wall hanging.
Génier noted the strong community response to the quilt’s disappearance and return, adding that many had hoped it would be found quickly.
“It was really quick to be returned. The response was amazing,’” she said.