Storytellers of Canada-Conteurs du Canada
The 2009 Story Save Quilt

The Untold Story in Saskatoon

To celebrate the arrival of the 2009 quilt in Saskatoon, Jo and Jerry Haigh hosted a house salon that also featured Edmonton storyteller Renée Englot who was in the middle of a Saskatchewan tour. We started with a pot-luck supper with a nice variety of dishes from humus to elk chili and beyond. After the feast a story circle formed and Jo told the Untold Story, which follows. Our other stories covered the gamut from classical to personal, and string to two of the at least seven hundred versions of the world’s most popular story, Cinderella. One of these was from the point of view of one of the ugly sisters, a fascinating twist.

Everyone loves a lottery, but winning, as long as you buy a ticket, is like finding the pot of gold. 649, Kinsman Home Lottery, Guess The Number Of Seeds in the Jar, and Casinos all work on the principle that only one in a thousand, million or gazillion will win. What have I won over more than a half a century supporting many fundraisers in town? Well, let’s be honest, I know that I won’t get the prize but I reckon that it is usually money well spent. Recently I did win at a silent auction in aid of the Children’s Museum here in Saskatoon. My bid on the breast pumps was the only one on the sheet. I also won the various creams and salves to stop lines from appearing on pregnant tums. I am a bit past both possibilities. Then at the Storytellers Conference in Victoria, Pearl Ann and Renée did a very good job at extracting money from wallets for the quilt, a fund raising for the Story Save project. Jokingly I told Pearl Ann that she would have to send the quilt to me in Saskatoon as we had to leave early to catch our ferry. “Sure “ she said. Then Kathy emails Jerry that Jo won the quilt. Perfect, as she would be in Manitoba as storyteller in residence in the winter, wrapped up in the quilt, telling stories. Surprise, surprise, Kathy Bennett brings the quilt to Saskatoon ……for Jo Haigh. I am delighted. A storyteller, Renée, has slept under it.

There is a special feature in this quilt. One of the squares is unfinished. This unfinished square, like the unfinished symphony is the untold story which can continue, year after year after year, waiting to be told. This story comes with many thanks to the quilt compilers and the storytellers of Canada. I found the blue ring binder enclosed with the quilt a fascinating read, especially with the explanation by the various quilters of their ideas and making of their squares. It lies on the bedside table in the guest room, next to the quilt.

The 2009 quilt with members of the Saskatoon Storytellers Guild. The Untold Story Square lies 2nd from the left in the bottom row.

From left. Judith Benninger, Kathy Bennett, Jo Haigh, Jerry Haigh, Renée Englot, Chris Lindgren, Rhonda Brown.