Kensington Knitters
A touch of grandma's warmth for street kids
by Charles Montgomery
For the sixth year Father Emmett Johns, known to some as “Pops,” paid a visit to Place Kensington seniors' residence in Westmount to admire the handiwork of the Kensington Knitters Club.
But Pops hadn't just come because of his keen eye for quality quilts; he was there because the blankets on display have all been made especially for his organization, Dans La Rue. Since 1988, Father Johns' Dans La Rue has been working with Montreal's street kids to give them a warm meal and a warm place to go. Six years ago the women of the Kensington Knitters decided to lend a hand. The Knitters spend all year making blankets and hats, and each November they present them to Pops and their fellow residents in a fashion show.
“It's the biggest event organized by the residents,” said Place Kensington's Recreation Coordinator Doreen Friedman. “At Place Kensington we're supportive.” Friedman says the residence provides the knitters with a certain amount of time a day and organizes the club space for them. The residence also donates much of the money needed to buy materials. The rest is donated by residents and their families.
According to Miriam Berger, founding member of the Kensington Knitters' Dans La Rue project, the initiative serves two purposes: it provides warm blankets for kids who need them and it also keeps Place Kensington's residents active and driven.
“I'm an old social worker and so I come with some knowledge of how to stimulate people,” said Berger. “A group activity with a purpose breaks through the shell. It gives [seniors] a reason for doing, a reason for moving and a reason for thinking of other people.”
The thought definitely counts. Dans La Rue Volunteer Coordinator Carolyn Cutler says the blankets have become almost a status symbol among the youths. “For the kids at our bunker, which is our shelter, and the young mothers, this is part of Christmas,” Cutler said. “Someone's grandma has knitted this for them; it's a grandma blanket.”
While the blankets provide relief to kids at the shelter, the fashion show is a much anticipated event for Dans La Rue staff. “It's one of the highlights of my year,” said Cutler.
Miriam Berger estimates that in their six years, the Kensington Knitters have crafted almost 600 blankets and clothing items. They've even attempted a few doggie coats when they heard that many kids at the shelter have pets.
Each blanket takes quite a bit of time and thought to produce. They are all about the same size, made up from fifteen individually knitted squares measuring 12x14 inches.
“Every potential blanket design and even each square is inspected by members in an effort to produce the best quality items possible,” said Berger. She estimates that she can create about three squares per week.
After the resident-models had strutted their stuff, Father Johns told them how important the blankets were to the kids he helps.
“In a clump of trees on Mount Royal, we'll find one or two kids sleeping under them and they'll be wearing the shawl that you have provided,” he said. “Thank you so much for doing this again and I hope we can count on having another one next year.”
