Preserving the Past Program

KWRGS’ Preserving the Past program, which started in October 2010, was initially funded by New Horizons for Seniors.  The original project was created in response to an identified need that came out of the Not Just A Tea Party book project.  Volunteers from that venture saw the way that individuals had their keepsakes, mementos, and photos stored and wondered if there was a way to improve our knowledge about how to increase the longevity of these types of personal items. 

From that, the Preserving the Past program was born. It is a workshop series that is provided by senior women within our community to help all individuals learn the skills to preserve their own personal items.  Although the workshops are not aimed solely at seniors in our community, it is this group who has been benefiting most frequently from the program.

As part of the original grant expectations, the Preserving the Past team (which has consisted of a Facilitator and a number volunteers since it’s beginnings) developed a display of 10 personal archives which was a combination of both volunteers and workshop participants.  In addition to these displays, there was also digital scrapbook pages developed which were individually framed.

The project has been able to continue due in part to the great response of the Activity & Recreation Directors throughout Kamloops. The workshops continue to receive positive feedback through the evaluative process and a number of the community’s seniors residences and centres regularly offer the Preserving the Past workshops to their residents. The Facilitator and her team work with these individuals to introduce the material, provide hands on opportunities, support them with using the various tools, and encourage their continued work on their own projects.

Some of the other work this program has undertaken has included the organization of binders protecting and displaying information associated with the history of Westsyde Centennial Park which was formally donated to the Kamloops Museum and Archives by its owner in August 2012.

Our Preserving the Past Program has now ended.  A big thank you to all of the participants and volunteers of the program who made it such a great success!  A special thank you to our Facilitator, Diana, who turned it into a valuable program that we hope to see again in the near future!