Handwritten messages of gratitude transformed Campbellford, Ont.’s Old Mill Park over Thanksgiving weekend.
In preparation for the town's Oct. 9 to 12 displays, the third annual Gratitude Project encouraged residents to share thank-you notes and warm sentiments on strips of fabric. The tradition connects neighbouring communities through a shared spirit of gratitude.
Ward 4 Coun. Rick English has fond memories of participating in Warkworth’s Gratitude Project with his family.
“I have five grandchildren, and my wife and I would take the kids down on Main Street and grab a ribbon. They had to write down what they were grateful for,” he said. “Those ribbons still come back and are put up every single year.”
The Municipality of Trent Hills, halfway between Toronto and Ottawa, includes both Campbellford and Warkworth, Ont.
English emphasizes the importance of including children in the annual tradition and expresses his pride in the collection of ribbons contributed by residents of all ages.
Campbellford resident Marg Graham, who was inspired by Warkworth’s decade-long tradition, established a Gratitude Project.
The first edition introduced younger residents to the project, inviting kindergarten students from Kent Public School to help hang ribbons in Old Mill Park.
“I love hearing about the children's excitement leading up to Thanksgiving weekend,” Graham said.
In 2024, while leading her Aquafit class, Graham proposed the Campbellford edition of the Gratitude Project. Pam Fisher and other participants agreed to help bring it to life.
It began with a resourceful approach to using donated sheets and materials. Graham and Fisher sat at Campbellford Lions Park, tearing sheets of fabric into strips to make ribbons.
In the weeks leading up to Thanksgiving, Graham delivered repurposed Kawartha Dairy ice cream pails to participating downtown businesses to serve as collection containers.
Customers wrote messages of gratitude on the fabric strips before they were collected and sewn together for the installation.
“It amazes me what people write,” Graham said. “It shows me there is so much positivity in our town, [and] how warm it is.”
By the second year, the project was supported by municipal leaders as well as residents. Graham was joined by Coun. English and Trent Hills Mayor Bob Crate in hanging ribbons in Old Mill Park.
Most of the ribbons hang along the community gazebo, with another installation across from the Trent Hills Hardware store. Additional messages of gratitude are incorporated into the display, allowing it to grow with each annual celebration.
Downtown businesses have helped sustain the project by providing opportunities for residents to participate, encouraging the initiative.
At the corner of Saskatoon Avenue and Bridge Street East, Trent Hills Hardware owner Naveed “Chico” Khan welcomes the opportunity to take part in the project each year.
“It's so cheerful, so colourful,” Khan said. “It lifts everyone's spirits. When we see these activities, it brings joy and peace, and it soothes our souls.”
The Campbellford Business Improvement Area (BIA) has supported the project by arranging the hosting of gratitude kits, while creating promotions through its website and social media.
Jenn Hudson, an employee at Village Paint & Paper and a member of the downtown BIA, said that participating in the project creates opportunities for meaningful conversations.
She also observed youth’s firsthand connection with the project, and their excitement as they searched for their messages among the ribbons.
“It was so sweet to see kids looking for their ribbon message. I feel like it gives the community a feeling of ownership,” Hudson said. “We need more positivity in the world and reminders of the good.”
