'Fairy of Mile-End' sewing dreams into colourful wedding train
They call her the "Fairy of Mile-End" because she comes up with art projects that involve the community.
This summer, Patsy Van Roost is stitching people's dreams together into a long, colourful fabric train.
With her sewing machine set up on a table and two chairs right on St-Hubert Street near St-Zotique Street, Van Roost is embroidering the dreams of strangers who have become friends.
"I'm there to listen to people's dreams, but a dream is just an excuse to start talking," she said. "Once they sit on that chair and watch my hands work, It opens their heart."
People sit and talk and share while Van Roost sews their dreams into part of a 55-metre flow of colourful fabric that grows daily.
"What I embroider is just a tiny little flicker of a relationship that happened between the person," said Van Roost. "There's something of a confession."
So far, the fabric has 203 dreams and counting, with each telling a story in itself.
Van Roost says weaving the dreams together brings them closer to reality.
"I assemble it with other dreams, so there's more and more chance that it will happen, or that you will do everything you need to do to make it happen," she said.
She's more than halfway to her goal of a 100-metre long wedding train that will symbolize what unites the people in this colourful community.
On Aug. 18, it will serve as a table runner for 100 people picnicking together on Plaza St-Hubert.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
Trump threatens to try to take back the Panama Canal. Panama's president balks at the suggestion
Donald Trump suggested Sunday that his new administration could try to regain control of the Panama Canal that the United States “foolishly” ceded to its Central American ally, contending that shippers are charged “ridiculous” fees to pass through the vital transportation channel linking the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans.
Man handed 5th distracted driving charge for using cell phone on Hwy. 417 in Ottawa
An Ottawa driver was charged for using a cell phone behind the wheel on Sunday, the fifth time he has faced distracted driving charges.
Wrongfully convicted N.B. man has mixed feelings since exoneration
Robert Mailman, 76, was exonerated on Jan. 4 of a 1983 murder for which he and his friend Walter Gillespie served lengthy prison terms.
Can the Governor General do what Pierre Poilievre is asking? This expert says no
A historically difficult week for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his Liberal government ended with a renewed push from Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre to topple this government – this time in the form a letter to the Governor General.
opinion Christmas movies for people who don't like Christmas movies
The holidays can bring up a whole gamut of emotions, not just love and goodwill. So CTV film critic Richard Crouse offers up a list of Christmas movies for people who might not enjoy traditional Christmas movies.
More than 7,000 Jeep SUVs recalled in Canada over camera display concern
A software issue potentially affecting the rearview camera display in select Jeep Wagoneer and Grand Cherokee models has prompted a recall of more than 7,000 vehicles.
'I'm still thinking pinch me': lost puppy reunited with family after five years
After almost five years of searching and never giving up hope, the Tuffin family received the best Christmas gift they could have hoped for: being reunited with their long-lost puppy.
10 hospitalized after carbon monoxide poisoning in Ottawa's east end
The Ottawa Police Service says ten people were taken to hospital, with one of them in life-threatening condition, after being exposed to carbon monoxide in the neighbourhood of Vanier on Sunday morning.
New York City police apprehend suspect in the death of a woman found on fire in a subway car
New York City police announced Sunday they have in custody a “person of interest” in the early morning death of a woman who they believe may have fallen asleep on a stationary subway train before being intentionally lit on fire by a man she didn't know.