Written By JOSHUA DRAKES

LOCAL JOURNALISM INITIATIVE REPORTER

A Shelburne-based initiative is bringing the community together through creativity and compassion to support those affected by a recent school shooting in British Columbia.

‘Crochet for a Cause,' set for April 2 at Streams Community Hub, invites knitters and crocheters to contribute handmade squares that will be assembled into comfort blankets for students and staff at Tumbler Ridge Secondary School.

The gathering will run from 3 p.m. to 6 p.m. and is free to attend, though participants must register in advance.

Attendees are asked to bring their own yarn – specifically four-ply acrylic, smoke-free – as well as their tools, and create 12-by-12-inch squares in any design, from classic granny squares to personalized patterns.

The effort was launched by organizer Mary Marguerite Gee, who lives about an hour from Tumbler Ridge Secondary School. Earlier this year, a shooting at the secondary school resulted in the death of eight people, including six children. The shooting left the community shaken, prompting an outpouring of support from across the country.

Gee turned to social media to rally fellow crafters, quickly gaining traction and inspiring the upcoming in-person workshop in Shelburne. Squares created during the event will be collected, assembled into blankets by Gee and her team, and shipped to the school.

Shipping costs are being covered by Town Tees, one of the local partners supporting the initiative.

For participants, the event is about connection and community support. By creating together in a shared space, participants can contribute to a larger act of kindness, offering warmth and comfort to a community navigating the aftermath of tragedy.

Registration is available online through a posted form, available here on the Streams Hub Facebook page: facebook.com/streamshub