A community art project with heart hits Innisfail, Alta.

Local entrepreneur and artist Karen Scarlett started working on the initiative this past January, in partnership with the Innisfail Welcoming and Inclusive Community Committee as well as the Innisfail Art Club.

Handmade hearts lined the chain link fences between the Autumn Grove Seniors Lodge and the hospital in Innisfail, Alta., on Saturday.

That was thanks to something called the Crochet Heart Bomb Project.

"Wouldn’t it be nice if a few people joined in on sharing some love and joy with the seniors at the Autumn Grove Lodge and hospital?" Scarlett said was her line of thinking at the time.

The community is welcome to swing by and lend a hand. Also, to help care for the hearts after they're up.

Turns out she wasn't alone -- others thought it would indeed be nice.

On Saturday, Scarlett said around 300 volunteers showed up, including volunteers ranging in age from eight years old to 90.

"It was a spectacular day of community gathering," Scarlett said, in an email to CTV News. "Even the mayor posted about how great the event was."

"Our free pattern has been downloaded hundreds of times from locations around the globe and now thousands of hearts are arriving in time for our install party," said Wilma Watson, Innisfail Art Club president.

A release to media explains the hearts "consist of handcrafted crochet, knit, quilted, macramé and all manner of hand-stitched items," and "will be installed on June 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m."

The community is welcome to swing by and lend a hand.

Also, to help care for the hearts after they're up.

Local entrepreneur and artist Karen Scarlett started working on the initiative this past January.

"I will be leaning on the community to help,” Scarlett said.

"If the community keeps an eye out for damaged hearts and continues to care for the fence and ask for new hearts to be made, we may have a love-filled fence for years -- maybe decades -- to come."

She says she's doing this for Grandma.

A release to media explains the hearts 'consist of handcrafted crochet, knit, quilted, macramé and all manner of hand-stitched items,' and 'will be installed on June 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.'

Ethel Scarlett was a founding member of the original art club and toward the end of her life, a resident at the original seniors lodge where she was still known for a creative endeavour or two.

All age groups helped with the Crochet Heart Bomb Project. (Photo courtesy Candice Hughes)

"I feel like she would be pretty thrilled with this project," Karen Scarlett said.

More information is available at innisfailartclub.org/crochet.

A release to media explains the hearts 'consist of handcrafted crochet, knit, quilted, macramé and all manner of hand-stitched items,' and 'will be installed on June 3 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m.'

Calgary Top Stories

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

Homeowners brace for mortgage payment shock amid higher-for-longer rate outlook

From ultra-low interest rates that led to a huge spike in real estate demand to the speed with which interest rates shot up to levels not seen in a generation, it's been hard to keep up with the shifting landscape for mortgage holders.

McDonald's, Wendy's defeat lawsuit over size of burgers

McDonald's and Wendy's have defeated a lawsuit accusing them of deceiving hungry diners by exaggerating the size of their burgers.

New study shows where you fall on new internet addiction spectrum

Researchers have come up with categories for people who are addicted to the internet and for those who are at risk.

Trump seethes through the start of trial in New York lawsuit accusing him of lying about his wealth

Aggrieved and defiant, former U.S. president Donald Trump sat through hours of sometimes testy opening statements Monday in a fraud lawsuit that could cost him control of Trump Tower and other prized properties.

What you need to know about the election of a new Speaker

On Tuesday, MPs will be electing a new Speaker of the House of Commons, in the wake of Anthony Rota's resignation. It will be a day for the Canadian political history books, as well as a day full of pomp and procedure. Here's what you need to know about the role, the contenders, and the process.

Alberta launches respiratory virus dashboard with COVID-19, influenza and RSV data

After limited updates on respiratory virus statistics, the Alberta government launched its COVID-19, influenza and RSV dashboard on Monday.
Alberta doesn't plan to increase minimum wage as 6 provinces raise theirs

Six provinces raised their minimum wage this weekend but Alberta has no plans to adjust its base pay of $15 per hour introduced in 2018.
Homicide detectives investigating death outside downtown Edmonton shelter

A 39-year-old man is dead after he was found injured outside a downtown Edmonton shelter Sunday afternoon.

Vancouver

Paralyzed varsity quarterback makes emotional return to Vancouver field

Two months after varsity quarterback Gavin Kamoschinski broke his neck, the 17-year-old returned to the football field Saturday to inspire his teammates.
'It was heartbreaking': Okanagan family targeted by thieves after losing home to wildfire

After a family from B.C.'s Okanagan lost their home to the McDougall Creek wildfire, looters decided to ransack what little they had left.
Cities should cover the costs when bears killed on their land, say B.C. advocates

An animal rights charity has suggested that B.C. cities, towns and perhaps even homeowners should be charged each time a conservation officer is required to deal with a nuisance bear that’s habituated to human food or garbage.

Atlantic

Halifax police say arrests made following 'unsanctioned student gathering'

Police say they've made arrests and issued summary offence tickets after an "unsanctioned student gathering" in Halifax.
Highly successful hockey weekend in Cape Breton

A sell-out crowd of nearly 5,000 fans filled Sydney's Centre 200 on Sunday to witness the first NHL Exhibition game on the island in a long-time.
Minimum wage rises in six provinces, but is it enough?

Amid a cost-of-living crisis driving up food bank visits and economic anxiety, the minimum wage increased in six provinces today – but both advocates and critics fear it may not be enough to tackle the overarching problem.

Vancouver Island

B.C. Conservative leader defends residential school comments as criticism grows

The leader of the Conservative Party of BC is defending a social media post about parental rights denounced as insensitive, hurtful and political on the National Day for Truth and Reconciliation.
New study shows where you fall on new internet addiction spectrum

Researchers have come up with categories for people who are addicted to the internet and for those who are at risk.
International student drowns while swimming in Thetis Lake

A swimmer drowned in Thetis Lake Friday afternoon, according to West Shore RCMP.

Toronto

Bonnie Crombie defends near $1M in campaign donations in bid for Ontario Liberal leader

Bonnie Crombie has raised nearly one million dollars in her bid for leadership of the Ontario Liberals, tens of thousands of which appear to have come from one developer based in the Toronto area.
Toronto police officer charged with assault following 'dispute' with woman

A Toronto police officer with 15 years of service has been arrested and charged in connection with an assault investigation.
Police release photo of woman charged in attempted child abduction in Hamilton

Hamilton police have released the photo of a woman arrested and charged in connected with an attempted child abduction over the weekend in that city.

Montreal

Election day: PQ's Pascal Paradis wins Jean-Talon

Parti Québécois (PQ) candidate Pascal Paradis has won the byelection in the Quebec City area riding of Jean-Talon Monday, knocking the Coalition Avenir Québec (CAQ) candidate to second place and growing the PQ's modest presence in the National Assembly.
Woman, 79, killed at Quebec seniors residence; suspect, 81, under watch in hospital

A 79-year-old woman was killed on Saturday in a seniors' residence in Terrebonne, in the Lanaudière region north of Montreal. An 81-year-old man is considered a suspect in the case, but he is still unconscious in hospital.
Montreal food depot forced to turn people away amid increasing demand

The demand for services at the Depot Community Food Centre in NDG has gotten so high that, for the first time since it opened, the organization has had to start turning people away.

Ottawa

One dead after driver strikes two pedestrians in Sandy Hill

Ottawa police say a woman in her 40s is dead after a driver struck her and another person in Sandy Hill.
Ottawa Student Transportation Authority apologizes for lack of school bus drivers; manager taking leave of absence

The chief administrative officer and general manager of the Ottawa Student Transportation Authority (OSTA) is taking a leave of absence after a tumultuous start to the school year.
One person suffers life-threatening injury after hitting horse on Highway 417

Ontario Provincial Police say a driver suffered a life-threatening injury in an overnight crash on Highway 417 that involved horses that had wandered onto the highway.

Kitchener

'There are thousands of us': Sixties Scoop survivor shares story following National Day for Truth and Reconciliation

Tauni Sheldon is often referred to as “the picture-perfect baby” with full cheeks, almond-shaped eyes and sporting a frilly white dress.
Four teens arrested in connection to Pride flag taken from school and burned: Police

Waterloo regional police have arrested four teenagers after they say a Pride flag was taken from a Kitchener high school, trampled on, and burned.
'Our communities really answer our calls': Funds for dog's emergency surgery raised in hours

A fundraiser for a one-year-old's emergency surgery only needed five hours to meet its goal.

Saskatoon

Sask. First Nation threatens to evict residents of suspected drug houses

A Saskatchewan First Nation has declared a state of emergency after a spate of seven overdoses in a single day.
Saskatoon Transit asking to hire 6 support officers to patrol buses

Saskatoon Transit is renewing calls for its own dedicated team of community support officers (CSOs) to help respond to incidents on buses and transit terminals.
Truth and Reconciliation Day still not a recognized stat in Sask.

While some provinces and territories have joined in recognizing Truth and Reconciliation Day as a statutory holiday, Saskatchewan remains outside of that fold.

Northern Ontario

BREAKING
BREAKING Teen dies in ATV rollover on Wahanpitae First Nation near Sudbury

Tragedy has struck another northern Ontario family, as a 14-year-old boy from Wahnapitae First Nation was killed in an ATV rollover marking the 10th death in the region involving an off-road vehicle since July.
Northern Ont. driver crashed after fleeing RCMP, throwing beer cans out window

A 35-year-old northern Ontario driver is charged with impaired driving after allegedly evading Royal Canadian Mounted Police in Manitoba, throwing beer cans out the window and assaulting his passenger before crashing vehicle into a ditch.
Sudbury police use surveillance video to catch trio of mugging suspects

A violent attack on man lying on the ground in a downtown Sudbury underpass tunnel was captured on surveillance video and police are looking for the third suspect who fled.

Winnipeg

'High interest election': Less than 24 hours until Manitobans go to the polls

The clock is counting down on the provincial election campaign trail, and it's been anhistoric year for advance voting as a record 200,790 Manitobans cast their ballots ahead of time.
'We are dead inside': Mother of 3 lost to alleged drunk driver

A Winnipeg family is in mourning after a mother of three was killed by a alleged drunk driver last week.
5 dead after single-vehicle crash near Swan River, Man.

Swan River RCMP are investigating a single-vehicle crash that killed five people in western Manitoba Saturday afternoon.

Regina

After years of waiting, construction of Grenfell long term care home begins

Following years of concern around long term care in the town of Grenfell, construction on a new home for the elderly has officially broken ground.
Suspect in Moose Jaw home invasion faces additional charges

More charges have been laid in connection to a home invasion that saw a man shot and stabbed in Moose Jaw on Sept. 13.
Grizzly bear attacks rare, but a risk in wilderness, experts say after Banff deaths

Grizzly bear experts say fatal attacks are extremely rare, but it's always a risk when people venture into the wilderness.

A community art project with heart hits Innisfail, Alta.

CTVNews.ca Top Stories

BREAKING | Teen dies in ATV rollover on Wahanpitae First Nation near Sudbury

Stay Connected

BREAKING Teen dies in ATV rollover on Wahanpitae First Nation near Sudbury