RECORDING HISTORY
Untold Stories of Sparwood
Elkford Living History Project
Learning of a sense of isolation of her
community’s elderly while meeting
local citizens, school teacher Yvonne
Prest formulated a plan to introduce
her Grade 11 (2017) students to the
residents of Lilac Terrace in Sparwood.
Through a series of interviews and
social sessions over cookies and
games, the teens and seniors found a
common bond. Prest says the meetings
were invaluable in bringing to life
the hardships and challenges faced
by young immigrants escaping war-
torn Europe over half a century ago.
By sharing these first-hand stories
with her English class, the seniors
shared not only their own lives, but
the foundations of the pioneering
communities of the Elk Valley.
Untold Stories of Sparwood is a
truly collaborative effort spanning
generations. The piece was typeset
and prepared by Randal Macnair of
Oolichan Books and features original
portraits photographs by Kyle Hamilton
and a cover image by Mike Cotton, and
is available in paperback for $15 from
the Sparwood Library. This year’s Year
11 students are working on Volume II of
the initiative. The result will be a 2019
calendar featuring original poetry and
photographs and will be available for
purchase from June, 2018.
Inspired by the upcoming 50th
anniversary of Elkford in 2021, the
Living History Project is recording
oral histories and collecting artifacts
to mark this important milestone.
When the local Heritage Association
disbanded several years ago, they left
only a small collection of boxes of
records and objects by which to mark
the small town’s history. Recognizing
that much of the history was still
available through residents’ memories,
the Living History Project was
established to record and memorialize
voices, personalities, and stories.
The Living History Project is presented
on a series of digital tablets with
complimentary artifact displays. View
the collection at the Elkford Visitor
Centre Monday to Saturday,
9am-5pm.
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