A student from the University of Waterloo is set to release an anthology of stories about life in the Ontario city of Stratford.
STRATFORD, Ont. (Monday, August 12, 2013) – A student from the University of Waterloo is set to release an anthology of stories about life in the Ontario city of Stratford that could otherwise be lost for future generations.
Riding on the wagon with workers during Stratford’s General Strike of 1933, gathering milkweed pods for the war effort, distributing the first electric lawn mower—Gather by the Avon collects stories from the memories of 50 Stratford seniors.
Lindsay Kroes will launch the anthology of stories collected through interviews with Stratford residents between the ages of 70 and 98. Gather by the Avon is a community history initiative that aims to preserve the stories of Stratford’s seniors.
Kroes is a third-year student of English and History at the University of Waterloo and began the project in May 2013 for her summer co-op term. The resulting 250-page book, illustrated with period photographs, will be released at a book launch held on August 15 at 7:00 p.m. at the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus.
Kroes initiated the Stratford Story Project through the University of Waterloo’s Enterprise Co-op program, which allows students to create their own business for a semester.
“Lindsay’s work term is a good example of the versatility that our co-op program offers students,” said Rocco Fondacaro, director of student and faculty relations, Co-operative Education & Career Action at Waterloo. “It also demonstrates how the University of Waterloo’s experiential philosophy fosters the entrepreneurial spirit of our students.”
The idea was inspired by Kroes’ earlier work term at Doon Heritage Village, a living history site in Kitchener. There, she was astounded by the recollections that senior visitors shared.
“I realized the importance of recording and preserving these stories for future generations,” said Kroes. “Not only are they historically rich, but they’re also full of charm and wisdom.”
The launch party will celebrate the seniors who shared their stories in the book. There will be readings, refreshments, and a chance to purchase the anthology. The event is open to the community.
More details are available at www.stratfordstoryproject.ca.
Event date: Thursday, August 15
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Place: University of Waterloo Stratford Campus, Room 1104
In just half a century, the University of Waterloo, located at the heart of Canada's technology hub, has become one of Canada's leading comprehensive universities with 35,000 full- and part-time students in undergraduate and graduate programs. Waterloo, as home to the world's largest post-secondary co-operative education program, embraces its connections to the world and encourages enterprising partnerships in learning, research and discovery. In the next decade, the university is committed to building a better future for Canada and the world by championing innovation and collaboration to create solutions relevant to the needs of today and tomorrow. For more information about Waterloo, please visit www.uwaterloo.ca.
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Nick Manning
University of Waterloo
519-888-4451
226-929-7627
nmanning@uwaterloo.ca
www.uwaterloo.ca/news
@uWaterlooNews
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