Blanket Coat Project

In the face of another harsh Toronto winter, in the midst of a continuing pandemic an increasing number of people continue to experience houselessness in our city. With little support from municipal government, it falls to us to do all we can to support our neighbours with no option but living outside in freezing weather.

With a background as tailors and garment workers, we thought one thing we could do is make coats! We decided that a blanket coat would be the best option. It is a uniquely Canadian type of coat, worn here for almost 400 years. Designed for practical outdoors living, ours are made of wool and lined with wool for maximum warmth, cut large and paired with a wide wool belt it fits a wide range of body types. It is also of simple construction allowing us to enlist help from home sewists and expand production to make as many as needed. In this effort, we have also created a video guide of how to assemble the coats step-by-step.

Or click here for a PDF assembly guide

To date, we have made and distributed over 90 good quality, heavy wool coats, and a good number of mitts and blankets to the community. This year, we will continue making mittens and blankets in larger numbers. Last year we went through all our donated money, and so we need your help to start up ASAP!

Monetary donations will be used to buy fabric and notions used to make coats or blankets as needed, and any amount beyond that will either be spent to donate necessities such as socks and underwear or to be used next year when we start again!

If you are interested in helping with sewing, you will need the following: A sewing machine, steam iron, good quality sewing thread. You should have intermediate sewing skill. Please send an email to blanketcoatproject@outlook.com and you will be added to a list to be contacted when we are ready to begin production again.

We are having to provide these basic necessities due to our municipal and provincial governments not taking the necessary action to provide support, and in many cases antagonizing our neighbours who are in the most vulnerable positions. Rent continues to rise, no housing options are being offered and shelters at capacity every night leaving hundreds out in the cold. The only additional shelter beds being made available are by cramming more people into a small space- an inhumane solution for already full shelters, among a continuing COVID-19 pandemic. The city has even sent people looking for help to encampments, which are under constant threat of destruction from law enforcement. Despite promises to not evict encampments, there have been recent large actions by the police, giving less then a day’s notice. Allen Gardens ahead of the Pride parade, Dufferin Grove where an elder was assaulted, and most recently at time of writing at St. Stephen-In-The-Fields Church. Despite being on private church property, the city once again brought out The Claw. An adapted piece of heavy machinery used for the task of tearing down and throwing out the tents people call home- an especially galling piece of intimidation.

Whether or not you donate, please help by letting Olivia Chow and your local councillor know they need to do more. We need housing available, and warming centres to be opened immediately, to be open 24/7, and an end to encampment evictions.
Although a year out of date, not much has changed- for further information and an email/phone script, you can find this write up from A.C.E.S. Mutual aid network

Thank you for your support!