by Jo Barnes –
The tea is hot and the coffee is brewing. The place is filled with people deep in conversation at tables around the room. But the talk isn’t about the quality of the coffee or what the weather is like; these café patrons have never met each other and there’s at least a 70-year age difference between them.
Welcome to the Memory Café. Pull up a chair. You’ll leave this café refreshed by more than what’s poured into your cup.
Memory Café: Remembering Our Canada is an intergenerational project spearheaded by The Eldercare Foundation, a non-profit group. The project aims to bring generations together, share stories and celebrate Canada’s 150th birthday. The ultimate goal is to create visual and performing art pieces that reflect Canada’s history from those who lived it.
“We were looking for an intergenerational project that would meet the objective of supporting social participation and inclusion of seniors while, at the same time, celebrating the rich cultural diversity that makes Canada such a vibrant and welcoming country,” says Lori McLeod, Executive Director of Eldercare.
One proposal came from Trudy Pauluth-Penner who has a background in gerontology and theatre. Her idea of creating performances based on seniors’ memories captivated Eldercare and the Memory Café project was born. Trudy was appointed Artistic Director and was keen to start the unique venture.
“Today families are often fragmented in society. The opportunities for seniors and younger people to come together are rare,” she says.
Phase one of the project is a series of social evenings where young people and seniors meet to share life stories. These run the first Tuesday of each month from September to December at the Oak Bay Lodge. Participants include lodge residents, local and international students from Oak Bay High, UVic and the community, as well as members of the Victoria Storytelling Guild.
“I absolutely love the range of ages. We approach everyone as capable participants in this project. We’re doing this together,” says Trudy.
Collaboration goes to the heart of this project. Participants share their experiences and perspectives, and in the process gain a better understanding of each other.
At each session, Trudy provides thematic questions and participants take turns interviewing each other.
“I have activities planned and key questions to start the conversation, such as “what does Canada mean to you?” says Trudy.
Sometimes groups are invited to form a tableau to represent a perspective. For instance, the suggested phrase might be: “When I think of Canada, I feel” and participants take turns creating a still image in response to the phrase. Often this activity evokes deep emotions, strong responses and personal transformations.
“One evening we were all mesmerized by the images of hope, resilience and connection,” says Trudy.
In today’s society seniors are often isolated, seen perhaps as less capable and less active. Memory Café sessions provide a place where seniors can be heard, feel connected and valued by community.
“If you’re old you’re not capable. We are dispelling this myth of aging. Seniors have led remarkable lives,“ says Trudy. “Humour, special talents, inner strength … these kinds of things shine through when they talk about their lives.”
The-four month storytelling phase provides the material for a community arts festival in March that will showcase these stories and ties in beautifully with Eldercare’s “Embrace Aging” initiative. This reminiscence project echoes others that have occurred in Britain and the U.S. So while the Victoria events bring generations together, inspire mentorship, collect and bring life stories to life, it is all part of more long-term goals.
“Our long-term goal is to establish a Canadian affiliation with the European Reminiscence Network and establish our own Victoria-based Age Exchange network,” says Lori.
It all starts with a chat over a cup of tea, but it’s the start of reconnecting generations and honouring the Canadian community and those who helped shape it.
For more information call 250-370-5664 or visit www.gvef.org.
