Stitching Together Awareness: Our Partnership with Pickering College
What began with a single class in 2025 has blossomed into a school-wide movement. Today, students across multiple grades at Pickering College are uniting for a common cause and creating pieces for National Deafblind Awareness Month and DeafBlind Ontario Services’ Yarn Bombing initiative.
By connecting classroom learning with real-world purpose, Pickering College is helping students see the tangible impact of their creativity.
Where Creativity Meets Community
Yarn Bombing is about more than just colorful installations; it’s part of a global movement to encourage individuals, organizations, advocates, and those with lived experience to share creative expressions that spark awareness and joy. This year, the project sparked a wave of inspiration across all age groups.
Grade 9 and 10 Design Technology students are blending ancient craft with modern tech by crafting yarn-based dreamcatchers featuring custom 3D-printed charms.
“By contributing these dreamcatchers, students see how their learning can extend beyond the classroom, creating something that is not only beautiful, but meaningful and connected to community.” — Niki Mehta, Design, Technology & Innovation Coach
This year, Pickering College introduced a Crochet Club elective for Grades 3–5. This meaningful experience allows students to sharpen their fine motor skills while contributing to a community awareness campaign. The club members are working together to crochet a panel for a yarn installation at Fairy Lake Bridge.
“At our school, we strive to connect learning beyond the classroom and help students find purpose in their work. This meaningful experience has allowed students to apply their newly developed crochet skills while helping to raising awareness in the community.” – Jodie Mutwale (Junior School Social Worker)
Bringing Lived Experience to the Classroom
To ground this work in its true purpose, raising awareness for deafblindness, our Yarn Bombing Crew Leader, Amy Stevenson, and Community Services Facilitator, Vera Mota, visited the school. They provided hands-on experiences and shared insights into the lived experiences of people who are deafblind, helping students approach their crafts with deeper empathy.
The Design Technology students received a special visit from Justice Jodi Wadalove, an Anishinaabe and Lenape community member and school parent. She shared the deep cultural history of dreamcatchers, allowing students to weave personal storytelling and respect into every piece.
The students even turned the tables on our team! Amy and Vera were invited by the radio elective for a live interview segment on 102.7 CHOP FM, sharing the mission of Yarn Bombing with the entire campus.
This collaboration is a perfect example of how community partnerships help us create and connect across Ontario. By involving young people in Yarn Bombing, we aren’t just decorating public spaces, we are fostering a more inclusive world and ensuring the next generation understands the importance of accessibility.
Click here for more information about Yarn Bombing and a list of installation locations across the province!