This Month’s Co-op Community Champion is Rose Fuhr, who has assisted with the Fort St. John Country Quilters Guild’s care quilt program over the past several years.
Co-op highlights people in Fort St. John who should be recognized for their work in the community. Anyone looking to nominate a community-minded person in need of recognition, head to Energeticcity’s website.
Fuhr and her husband were beekeepers and started their own business known as the Honey Place, where they sold honey and beeswax. After her husband passed away in 2008, Fuhr had decided to auction off the beekeeping equipment and “take life easy”.
She was left with an empty shop that she decided to rent out for a while before allowing the quilters to use the space for free.
The individual who nominated Fuhr said she had done a lot more for the quilters.
“She has also given fabric, finished quilts, shelving and other supplies,” said the nomination.
In response to the kind words, Fuhr says, “the community provided us with a good living, a good place to raise our children; it was time to give back.”
“When my husband was sick, the quilting guild was there to support me. I just felt this is where I belonged.”
Unfortunately, the program doesn’t have a home anymore since Fuhr is moving to her son’s property, but a guild member just wanted to acknowledge her support.
Fuhr was born and raised in Alberta until her parents moved to Vernon B.C. in 1947. She then met her husband in Vancouver, where she had relocated for work.
Eventually, they headed up north to Baldonnel in 1962, where they eventually had three children.
“I couldn’t believe my husband brought me to such an area. They had wooden sidewalks, and only [a couple of streets] were paved. Back alleys were full of mud. No lawns, no gardens, no trees. Well, there were trees, but no flower beds and stuff. What really surprised me, I had no running water. ”
The negative thoughts about the area quickly disappeared when the couple met community members.
“Within 48 hours, I knew all my neighbours, found out that people were extremely friendly and very helpful. I just got to really love the country and love the people. I love the winters. That’s when I catch up on my quilting and my reading. In springtime, It’s my gardening. So I keep busy.”
Co-op’s Community Champion highlights people in Fort St. John who should be recognized for their work in the community. Anyone looking to nominate a community-minded person in need of recognition, head to Energeticcity’s website.
