March 19, 2012

Manotick, ON – Eight women from the Manotick Legion, Branch 314, have banded together in an effort to help their fellow citizens in need. Barbara Rowat and her friends Lynn Woodward, Betty Jackel, Sally Davis, Joan Marrow, Mary Goodbody, Sandra Gush and Margery Toner decided that this was the year that they would use their knitting skills to help Canadians in the North.

Rowat and her team of knitters have spent countless hours together using their talent to help others. “Our knitting group at the Manotick Legion has been knitting hats for chemotherapy patients for a number of years,” said Rowat. “This year, we decided to diversify and make ‘warmth items’ for our fellow Canadians to the North.” Without knowing how to get the items delivered, the group approached their Member of Parliament, Pierre Poilievre.

“When my constituents approached me to ask if I could assist with the delivery of these handmade items, I was happy to support the initiative,” said Poilievre. “I think that what these ladies are doing to tangibly help Canadians in the North is truly inspiring.”

Poilievre and his staff are working with Rob Clarke, MP for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, to facilitate the delivery of hundreds of knitted items to the La Ronge Health Centre in the Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region. La Ronge is a small community in Northern Saskatchewan with a base population of 2,700 people plus an additional 2,000 from the neighbouring Lac La Ronge First Nation community which includes seven reserves. The Mamawetan Churchill River Health Region serves over 130,000 square kilometres of north-eastern Saskatchewan, including dozens of First Nation communities.

Poilievre has also helped to get the word out about this initiative, bringing in additional knitted donations from as far away as Montreal. Donations will continue to be accepted at Poilievre’s constituency office located at 250B Greenbank Rd.

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Caption: Pierre Poilievre, MP for Nepean-Carleton, and Manotick Legion representatives, Allan Haan and Sally Davis, show some of the knitted items that will be sent to the La Ronge Health Centre in northern Saskatchewan.