In 2000, the Rug Hooking Guild of Nova Scotia forged ahead with ideas for the Guild to explore. The Millennium Mat was created led by Bette Wrathall. For a year, Guild members from Nova Scotia, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island designed and hooked 14 eight-inch squares to create this beautiful 42 inch x 68 inch historic piece. Each Maritime region picked their own colours for their block with the exception of the ivory used for the floral background and the blue representing water. The mat was hooked in #3 and #4 cuts of wool. The edges were whip stitched by Bette Wrathall. Embroidered information is attached to the back of the mat explaining what each square in the mat represents.
After the mat was completed, it toured the Maritime provinces and was on exhibit from April 2 – June 3, 2000 at the Mary Black Gallery, Halifax, NS. It was displayed in the Canadian Embassy in Washington, DC for six years.
The mat was donated to the Agricultural Campus, Dalhousie University, Truro, NS and is displayed in a frame at the MacRae Library for the enjoyment of students, staff, faculty and the community.