Mr. Speaker, I am pleased to rise in the House today to invite Canadians to the seventh annual Waterloo County & Area Quilt Festival which is now underway until May 26.
Billed as the largest quilt festival in North America, the festival is truly a regional festival that celebrates the art and heritage of quilting. The festival welcomes approximately 35,000 people to more than 40 events taking place in 10 communities.
Quilting is now the number one recreational artistic pastime of men and women throughout North America. The festival brings together local, national and international quilters and their artworks for all to enjoy.
The 2002 quilt festival includes educational programs; the Canadian Heritage River Quilt Celebration and the Grand River Quilt Collection; world class quilt artists; South African and Newfoundland quilt art; and the Ontario Mennonite Relief Sale quilt auction. The Waterloo County & Area Quilt Festival relies on approximately 4,000 volunteers logging over 10,000 hours annually.
I invite everyone to visit the Waterloo County & Area Quilt Festival.