Latest news with #yarnbombing
CBC
13 hours ago
- General
- CBC
Why this organization is 'yarn bombing' Sudbury with these colourful stop sign-size coins
Deafblind Ontario Services, Sudbury region, is "yarn bombing" the city this June to bring awareness to deafblindness. Yarn bombing is a form of street art where public objects or structures are covered with knitted or crocheted yarn. Crystal Pigeon-Way, community engagement manager with Deafblind Sudbury, said the yarn bombing is being done throughout the month of June — deafblind awareness month. She said the aim of the yarn bombing campaign is to let people know that "deafblind people exist." The coins — which are the size of a stop sign, and are made out of yarn — include one with a beaver on one side and the letters DBOS (Deafblind Ontario Services) on the other, and one has some feathers. "They were made big enough that they were visible enough, but also small enough that community members can move them out and about around the community," Pigeon-Way said. She said the four coins are among eight installations across the city. Pigeon-Way said people who find one of the coins should relocate it to another place in the city, and upload a picture of the coin at the new location to help someone else find it. Each of the coins has a QR code, which when scanned will direct people to the campaign's page on Facebook where they can upload the photo. People who find all four coins will be entered into a draw which will be done at the end of June for prizes, Pigeon-Way said. Julie Hayes, assistant manager at Bay Used Books, said they began partnering with Deafblind Services in 2024 by hosting an installation at the store, and the collaboration continues this year. "We really think it's important to bring awareness to Deafblind Services. I don't think people really give a lot of consideration to it unless you're involved directly with someone or you know someone who is needing those services," Hayes told CBC News. "So, to bring awareness to it in a fun and bright and inviting way, it gets people engaged." Meanwhile, Pigeon-Way said Deafblind Services operates three supported-living homes in the city and supports nine individuals who are deafblind. "I just want [people] to know that deafblind people are here, they're here in your community, they're active members of your community," she said. "Some people have jobs, some people go to school, you might see them out bowling, you might see them at the movie theatre…I just want everybody to recognize and understand they are in the community and they do lead meaningful lives."
CTV News
20 hours ago
- General
- CTV News
Yarn bombing, hidden coins raise Deafblind awareness in Sudbury
Eight vibrant yarn displays are set up across Greater Sudbury as part of Deafblind Awareness Month. Lyndsay Aelick has more. June marks National Deafblind Awareness Month, and Greater Sudbury businesses and organizations are participating in yarn bombing installations to draw attention to the cause. Yarn bombing June marks National Deafblind Awareness Month, and Sudbury businesses and organizations are participating in yarn bombing installations to draw attention to the cause. An Under the Sea themed yarn-bombing at Bay Used Books is shown in this image. (Lyndsay Aelick/CTV News Northern Ontarion) 'Essentially, it's wrapping (yarn) around certain items or putting up installations across the world entirely, just to generate a little bit more awareness,' said Crystal Pigeon-Way, community engagement manager for DeafBlind Ontario. Eight installations are set up across Greater Sudbury, including an 'Under the Sea' themed display at Bay Used Books – the store's second year participating. 'We had people stopping their cars to ask what was going on. People walking in the street. It drew people into the store to want to see what else is coming,' said Julie Hayes, assistant manager at Bay Used Books. 'It was great to talk about DeafBlind Ontario services, to talk about what yarn bombing is, because it's kind of neat.' Other participating locations include: Greater Sudbury is the only Ontario community with multiple yarn bombing locations this year. A new addition is the Colourful Coins of Sudbury Hunt, featuring four yarn-bombed nickels hidden around the city. Yarn bombed coins DeafBlind Ontario in Greater Sudbury has added a Colourful Coins of Sudbury Hunt, featuring four yarn-bombed nickels hidden around the city, to its month long awareness campaign. One yarn-bombed coin is shown. (Lyndsay Aelick/CTV News Northern Ontarion) 'You find the nickel, relocate it, scan the QR code, upload a photo, and leave it for the next person to find,' said Pigeon-Way. DeafBlind Ontario officials noted the coin hunt is exclusive to Sudbury, but if successful, it could expand to other Ontario cities next year. Yarn bombed coins DeafBlind Ontario in Greater Sudbury has added a Colourful Coins of Sudbury Hunt, featuring four yarn-bombed nickels hidden around the city, to its month long awareness campaign. One yarn-bombed coin is shown. (Lyndsay Aelick/CTV News Northern Ontarion) According to Statistics Canada's 2022 Canadian Survey on Disability, more than 602,000 Canadians over 15 identify as deafblind – over two per cent of the population. Notably, 52 per cent of deafblind individuals are 65 or older. Pigeon-Way told CTV News that while DeafBlind Ontario operates provincewide, it runs three supported living homes in Greater Sudbury, assisting nine individuals. She said deafblindness affects a smaller population, making it a less highlighted disability. 'The awareness-building piece is really just for people to understand deafblindness, how they can get involved, and supporting people who are deafblind—enhancing accessibility across the province or the world, or however that looks within our own communities,' said Pigeon-Way. 'Just really providing those supports – those integral supports – that they need to live their best lives in their hometown.' Organizers said the coins will circulate the city, and installations will remain up throughout June to promote inclusion, creativity and connection.
BBC News
28-05-2025
- General
- BBC News
Knitted postbox toppers take over Isle of Wight museum
A group of knitters have yarn bombed a postal museum to raise money for an Alzheimer's Isle of Wight Postal Museum in Newport, Isle of Wight, lent their collection of 260 postboxes to the Women's Institute to display their knitted postbox Reeder, who owns the museum filled with his personal collection, came up with the idea two years ago when he met some postbox topper creators. He said: "I'm not normally left speechless but having seen what some of these ladies have done, I am speechless and anyone who knows me knows how serious an issue that is." Event organiser Debbie Hall had hoped for 80 postbox toppers and was surprised to be able to cover nearly 90 of Mr Reeder's said it was a chance for people to show off their said: "There are a lot of postbox toppers on the Isle of Wight and where are they all?"They must be in cupboards and boxes and attics, and it was my job to locate them." Some of the designs included Noah's Ark, The Beatles' Abbey Road album cover and a prisoner that was originally mounted outside a event was free to enter and raised money for the Alzheimer's Café by taking voluntary Rippon knitted the charity's logo of faceless figures in a boat. It was made especially for the event and mounted upon one of the oval shaped London postboxes, of which there are none on the Island. Mr Reeder's collection began when he rescued a wooden postbox from the station at Rhyl in Wales when on holiday and restored it. He has postboxes from Inverness to Truro and there are a few from overseas including the Republic of Ireland, the US and Gibraltar. You can follow BBC Hampshire on Facebook, X, or Instagram.
