OTTAWA, ON — Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon, 30th Governor General of Canada, received a one-of-a-kind, handcrafted rug designed by her own hand and made entirely from 100% Canadian wool, at a special ceremony held at Rideau Hall in Ottawa. The unveiling of the Vice-Regal Wool Rug, hosted by the Canadian Wool Council and the Campaign for Wool in Canada, brought together the artisans, designers, and partners whose skill and dedication made the piece possible — and offered a fitting tribute to Canada’s first Indigenous Governor General, and her distinguished service to Canada.
The rug, measuring 8’ x 10’, was conceived and designed by Governor General Simon herself, drawing on the vivid colours and textures of a cherished childhood place in the Canadian North. Working with the support of the National Capital Commission (NCC) and Toronto-based rug design firm Creative Matters, Her Excellency’s vision was brought to life by the skilled craftspeople at Cabernet Carpets in Waterloo, Ontario — entirely on Canadian soil, using 100% Canadian wool. The project was generously supported by Dr. Michael Dan, C.M., O.Ont.
In a private presentation just prior to the main reception, Their Excellencies Governor General Simon and Mr. Whit Fraser saw the completed rug for the first time, greeted the partners who created it, and posed for the official group photograph before joining the wider celebration.
“This rug is 100% Product of Canada in every sense — the wool, the design, the manufacturing, and the vision behind it,” said Matthew J. Rowe, Chair of the Campaign for Wool in Canada and Canadian Wool Council, and Head of Delegation—Canada for the International Wool Textile Organization. “Governor General Simon honoured our industry and our country by choosing to tell a piece of her story in Canadian wool. We are especially grateful to our donor Dr. Michael Dan for making this special project possible, and hope this piece will inspire Canadians for generations to come as it takes its permanent place at Rideau Hall.”
The rug will remain at Rideau Hall as a permanent donation to the Canadian Crown Collection, a lasting record of Governor General Simon’s mandate rendered in the fibres of her country. The Canadian Wool Council has extended the same invitation to Madam Justice Louise Arbour, incoming Governor General of Canada, as well as Prime Minister Mark Carney, to design their own custom Canadian wool rug for donation to the Crown Collection — a tradition the Council hopes will grow into a cherished feature of public life in Canada.
The project is a proud expression of the Campaign for Wool, the international initiative founded under the patronage of His Majesty King Charles III, which champions wool as a natural, renewable, and biodegradable fibre. Canada’s participation in the Campaign, and this extraordinary gift to the Governor General, reflects the depth of Canada’s wool industry and its world-class creative and manufacturing talent.
“There is something profoundly moving about seeing Canadian wool, Canadian craftsmanship, and Her Excellency’s own memories woven together into a lasting piece for Rideau Hall. Projects like this remind us that craft can hold history, identity and emotion in a way few other mediums can. It was incredibly meaningful for Creative Matters to help bring this vision to life,” said Ali McMurter, Managing Partner, Creative Matters.
“This project is a testament to what Canadian craftsmanship can achieve using what we have right in our own backyard. Canada produces exceptional wool, and we have the skill and talent here in Ontario to manufacture pieces fit for the most important rooms in this country and across the globe,” said Mike Fuendling, President and CEO, Cabernet Carpets Inc. “At a time when buying domestic and supporting Canadian manufacturing matters more than ever, we are proud that Rideau Hall will tell that story. We are grateful to Creative Matters Inc. and the Campaign for Wool for their partnership in bringing this project to life, and we are deeply honoured to present Her Excellency the Right Honourable Mary Simon with something that celebrates the very best of what Canada has to offer.”
From a Canadian flock, through the hands of a Canadian design team and Ontario craftspeople, to the walls of Rideau Hall — this ceremony is a reminder that Canadian design and manufacturing excellence belongs not only on the world stage, but at the very heart of our national story.
It also fulfills the mission of the Canadian Wool Council to develop high-value added opportunities for Canadian wool as outlined in the Carpet Plan.
About the Canadian Wool Council / Campaign for Wool in Canada
The Canadian Wool Council is the national voice of Canada’s wool industry, representing producers, processors, designers, manufacturers, and retailers committed to developing opportunities for Canadian wool and the Canadians who transform it.
About Creative Matters
Established in 1988, Creative Matters designs handknotted rug collections and custom, fair-trade floor coverings for clients in over 40 countries.
https://creativemattersinc.com/
About Cabernet Carpets
Cabernet Carpets, based in Waterloo, Ontario, is a proud Canadian manufacturer of custom, hand-tufted carpets and rugs. Their skilled craftspeople produced Governor General Simon’s rug entirely in Canada, and previously made the rug in the Ballroom at Rideau Hall.
About the National Capital Commission (NCC)
The NCC is the federal Crown corporation responsible for planning and protecting Canada’s Capital Region, including the stewardship of Rideau Hall and its historic interiors.