A Memory Lane Project ©

Curated, Facilitated and Edited by ecmunson

A project to engage elders to chronicle their life experiences through conversations, storytelling, their artifacts, ecmuson’s candid portraiture, pastel paintings, and writing.

“Tell me a story, Grandma. When you were a girl.” And the stage is set for grandparents, aunts, uncles, and our elders to sit back, clear their throats and begin .... “I remember when ...”.

Storytelling, sifting through our memories, and revisiting our personal histories are key developmental tasks for people as they age. Those family albums, videos, and favourite mementos of events are a treasure trove that can trigger a cascade of stories. Often forgotten until downsizing or settling an estate after somebody passes, just think of the richness of life experiences to unpack and share.

Health benefits to seniors for working on a creative project are well-documented for their value to improve and maintain emotional and cognitive well-being. Plus, purpose and making positive contributions in your community give value to any person’s days and help reduce the social isolation brought about through the pandemic.

Finally, there is the pure historical value we gain from learning about another century and era through primary research. Anecdotally, a sense is gained of the ethics and mores held by people, the physical look of the communities, people’s homes, farms, and businesses. People share stories about their livelihoods, the long walks to school, what local government looked like in action, and the community events that brought people together throughout a year.

Opportunities for Individuals & Groups are to

• Attend FREE Workshops, WritingYOU, to start writing anecdotes

• Sign up for From Memories to Memoirs with Much Inbetween

• Create a StoryBoard with anecdotes & artifacts

• Visit public displays of Memory Lane Project© - location and time TBA

• Enjoy the Ontario Culture Days presentation, October 7 onsite and a FB Live Event