The Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital Auxiliary is delighted to announce it has received Community Participation and Leadership funding from the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program for its Recollections Project.
The Recollections Project is a special initiative to mark the 90th anniversary of the Auxiliary in 2010 by gathering, recording and publishing a collection of stories that demonstrate the life experiences, accomplishments and rich legacy of 90 years of hospital volunteers in the community. Led by a team of seniors from the Auxiliary, the initiative will actively seek participation from the community to conduct research, engage seniors, document their stories, and publish a collection of their recollections. The project will conclude with a community event to launch the publication and celebrate the achievements and contributions of senior volunteers.
Members of the community with photographs, memorabilia and stories to tell are encouraged to come forward and contribute to the project. For more information, please contact Laurie Harley at 905-468-5600.
BACKGROUND
NOTL Hospital Auxiliary - The Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital Auxiliary is a non-profit organization that provides a range of services in support of healthcare in our community, including direct patient services and fundraising for the NOTL Site, supporting the community foot care clinic, and providing annual scholarships to paramedic students at Niagara College.
New Horizons for Seniors Program - The Government of Canada supports community-based projects across the country by promoting one time, start-up funding for projects that encourage seniors to play important roles in their communities. Community Participation and Leadership Funding is directed to projects that encourage seniors to contribute their knowledge, skills and experience to their communities. For more information, visit www.hrsdc.gc.ca/seniors
Recollections Project - The Recollections Project is an initiative developed by the Niagara-on-the-Lake Hospital Auxiliary to celebrate its 90 years of service to the community. Many of its members have decades of experience and stories to tell that teach us what life was like as a volunteer in the earlier years of the Hospital. The Auxiliary applied for funding to the New Horizons for Seniors Program to gather, record and publish a collection of their stories to ensure their accomplishments are recognized and remembered by future generations, and in particular, for the Hospital and Auxiliary’s 100th anniversary in 2020. The project will conclude with a community event to launch the publication and celebrate the contribution of senior volunteers. The Auxiliary has received a grant of $17,400 from the New Horizons for Seniors Program to carry out the Recollections Project.
Phases of the Recollection Project - The Recollection Project will involve four phases:
- Research and outreach to the community
- Gather relevant historical information
- Identify sources for volunteer stories by decade (1950s – 90s)
- Gather pictures/memorabilia
- Outreach to community for volunteers and participants
- Gather and Document Recollections
- Consult with Brock, Niagara College, Historical Museum for advice on gathering oral history and logistics of recording & transcribing
- Engage facilitators
- Host Recollection Cafes where stories are recorded
- Preparation and Publication of a Collection of Stories
- Transcribe stories
- Select stories to be published
- Write and edit stories
- Publish
- Celebration Event
- Celebration event that reflects ‘days gone by’
- Engage Niagara College Event Management students
- Community exhibits, refreshments, entertainment
- Promotion & launch of publication
Community Involvement - The Recollections Project welcomes the active participation of volunteers in all phases of the initiative. Please contact Laurie Harley at 905-468-5600 for more information on how you can help.
For more information, media may contact:
Caroline Bourque Wiley
Public Affairs Consultant
905-378-4647, ext. 43113
cwiley@niagarahealth.on.ca
