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Grimsby is a little more colourful than usual.

That’s because of a yarn bombing project designed to raise awareness of the issues the deafblind community face across Canada.

The main yarn bomb was installed in front of the Grimsby Library and Art Gallery, covering “Two in One (Imsby),” a sculpture designed to be a community piece that would be repainted every few years. Two smaller yarn bombs have been placed outside the Peach King Centre.

Yarn bombing is a form of art that involves knitted yarn typically wrapped around objects in the community.

The Grimsby initiative started in March when the town received a community grant to mark seniors month in June and decided to partner with Deafblind Community Services (DBCS) in the yarn bombing project.

Krista Bowie, recreation supervisor at the Town of Grimsby, said it was an “opportunity not only to have fun and create, but to support (DSCS).”

The town distributed knitting kits across the community and in all, there were 160 participants who knitted 2,400 squares for the project in Grimsby.

Marion Petersen, who participated in the project, estimates she sewed 350 squares. “I got carried away,” she admitted.

There were so many squares the town was able to donate some to other areas, including Hamilton, and leftover squares will be made into blankets to distribute to the homeless community and to women’s shelters.

The yarn bomb is designed to attract the eye of passersby and have them engage with the art and then learn about the deafblind community.

“Everyone coming into the building has asked what it is,” said Alex Hartstone, art gallery manager. Staff are then able to raise awareness of the deafblind community.

“It really has been heartwarming to see (participants) get behind this initiative,” said Tammy Taylor, manager at DBCS.

Individuals living with deafblindness usually use the help of intervener services: professional staff members who often live with individuals and act as a “bridge, through communication” to everyday life, explained Taylor.

They use sign language, large-lined notes, print on palm (which involves drawing the letters onto the palm of a hand with a finger) and British two-hand manual (whereby the intervener manipulates the hand of a person with deafblindness to spell out different letters).

Interveners are crucial in “allowing (individuals with deafblindness) to be active members of society,” said Taylor.

Although it is estimated over 460,000 people live with deafblindness across Canada, Taylor admits that intervener “services are not equitable and accessible across the country.” The services are available in only three provinces: Ontario, British Columbia and Saskatchewan.

“The goal, ultimately ,” said Taylor, “is to see all Canadians access intervener services no matter where you live.”

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