École Notre-Dame-du-Sault Students Create Blankets for Charity

Students at École Notre-Dame-du-Sault have come together to create blankets aimed at providing comfort to women and children in need. A group of ten students from Grades 7 and 8 at the French-language Catholic school, located on North Street, crafted three tie blankets—one for adults and two for children. The initiative, guided by teachers Nadine Campbell and Marie-Pier Lecours, was designed to support clients at Centre Victoria, a non-profit organization based on Elgin Street that offers essential support and counselling services to Francophone women facing violence and sexual assault.

The blanket-making project provided students with an opportunity to learn a valuable skill while contributing to a meaningful cause. Grade 7 student Anna-Gayle Laroulette expressed her enthusiasm for the project, stating, “I really enjoyed it. It was a very good experience and I think it’s good to help people in need. It took us half a week to make the blankets. I’m going to make one for my family one day, maybe for Christmas.”

The initiative has personal significance for Lecours, who recalled being taught blanket-making by Campbell during her own time as a student at École Notre-Dame-du-Sault. “The irony is that Marie-Pier learned blanket-making from me when she was a student in Grade 6. When she started teaching here, she asked me, ‘would you like to do this with me and some of the students?’ so we decided to do it,” Campbell explained. Lecours added, “It was very special to be able to do it for a good cause, so I thought it would be a good idea to do it with these kids.”

The fleece used to create the blankets was purchased by the school, which has a tradition of engaging students in this charitable activity each year. “We do this usually at Christmas. It feels great, and I’ve done it for so many years with so many of my students. It’s a good feeling,” Campbell noted.

The students dedicated their free time during recess to the project, showcasing their diligence and commitment. “They made the blankets on their own free time. It was nice to see their interest in it. They took pride in making them and they know that it’s for a good cause,” Campbell said. Lecours emphasized the importance of the skill they learned, stating, “It’s a nice skill to know. They’ve had conversations about how they’ll be able to make them as gifts in the future.”

This initiative not only provided valuable lessons about community support but also fostered a sense of pride among the students. By engaging in such charitable efforts, École Notre-Dame-du-Sault students have contributed positively to their community while developing skills that can benefit them in the future.