Gather by the Avon: The Stratford Story Project Book was just beginning to take shape on my laptop screen.  I can’t help but marvel at how many copies of Gather by the Avon have been passed from reader to reader in the months since, and how many people those tales have touched (in one way or another). Lately, I’ve been looking back at the project often, remembering the many different people I met and the stories they shared during the term.The summer of the Stratford Story Project will always be a blur in my memory – but I’m proud of that blur and the wonderful stories that resulted.

Meanwhile, my co-op journey continues at breakneck speed. In the past eight months, it has taken me across the country and back, from the classroom to the cyclotron roof, and into a whole new world of storytelling. I spent this winter in Vancouver, B.C., working for TRIUMF – Canada’s national laboratory for particle and nuclear physics.

TRIUMF is the happening spot for subatomic physics research in Canada. Forget test tubes and lab benches - behind TRIUMF's fence you'll find cryogenic vacuum pumps, thousands of tonnes of concrete blocks, electron guns, beam dumps, and the world's largest cyclotron (confirmed by the Guinness Book of World Records). Intimidated doesn't even begin to cover how I felt on my first day. 

Instead of capturing local stories from the past, I was now tasked with sharing the extremely high-level physics results that emerge from TRIUMF's multiple experiments. For a girl who didn’t know the difference between a neutron and a neutrino, this was no easy feat. However, after my first few interviews, I began to notice a marked similarity between this writing assignment and my work during the Stratford Story Project. Simply put, people are generous with their stories. Just as the seniors interviewed in my book generously and openly shared their memories with me, the scientists at TRIUMF were patient and passionate in describing their work to me. With their help, I was able to get past the jargon, acronyms, and precise technical intricacies to find... the story.

I shared my reflections on the experience in a guest post on the particle physics blog Quantum Diaries.  

If you'd like to see for yourself how it turned out, check out my last TRIUMF article, detailing some of the leading-edge nuclear medicine research underway at TRIUMF. 

And now? Off in search of new stories... stay tuned. 

Well, the colourful leaves are falling and I, like most students, have returned to the classrooms. However, the Stratford Story Project is continuing into the fall with a few exciting events on the horizon! 

On Friday October 4 somewhere around 10:30 am, I'll be interviewed on Rogers daytime, a program on Kitchener Rogers TV. Very much looking forward to talking about the book with host Susan Cook-Sheerer! 

On Saturday October 5 at 11 am, I will speaking at the Stratford Perth Museum. I'll be talking a bit about the book, the process, and what I've learned along the way. Books will be for sale, and of course I'd be happy to sign them!  Afterwards, be sure to check out the museum's exciting exhibits. 

On Thursday October 10, Treasures is turning 10 years old! They're having a 10th anniversary party, and I will be on hand (from 4 pm onwards) to sign books. You can buy them there or bring in your copies. It promises to be a fun evening with lots of activities and entertainment. 

What a whirlwind last week was. 

Beginning on Tuesday, the phone calls started coming. First, CJCS radio, then the Stratford Beacon Herald. Next thing I knew, I was waking up at 5 am for a live radio interview with CBC's Ontario Morning. It was surprising, strange, and very exciting to become a 'media darling' for a week... but most importantly all these interviews spread the word about the book and helped the launch pick up some fantastic momentum! 

Check out the results of all those interviews in my new Press section. 

The book launch for Gather by the Avon could not have been more perfect. The evening sunlight was streaming in the tall glass windows of the Stratford Campus as guests began to arrive. I was delighted to see familiar faces in the crowd- many of the book's subjects and their families, my own family, friends, former teachers, neighbours, and mentors were in the audience. However, it was equally exciting to see many unfamiliar faces- community members whose interest had been piqued by newspaper or radio interviews. 

My growing nervousness surrounding my impending speech was heightened by the arrival of Kitchener CTV cameras. However, when I stood before the huge audience the jitters dispersed. I felt a lot of gratitude towards all the people who helped me see this project through. The sweetest part of the evening was witnessing the excitement of interviewees and their families at seeing their story in print. After the speech, I was whisked away to the signing table where I remained the entire night. 

Thank you to all those who attended the event! It was truly an unforgettable experience for me.

And if you couldn't make it- don't fret! I'll be updating this page soon with a list of future speaking engagements I'll be doing in the area. The book is, of course, still available online or in local stores. 

Also, thank you to Wayne Chang, Paul Kroes, and Kamil Rexton for snapping the photos above. 

    I'm delighted to announce the publication of Gather by the Avon: The Stratford Story Project Book.  This anthology consists of fifty-one stories gathered through interviews with Stratford seniors between the ages of 70 and 98.   
    When I began this project four months ago, I felt sure that I would come across some wonderful tales. I was not disappointed. Full of social history and charm, these stories offer a fascinating glimpse into the past.  

  Please join me to celebrate the book's launch on Thursday August 15 at 7 p.m. The launch party will be held at the University of Waterloo Stratford Campus, located at 125 St. Patrick Street. There will be readings, refreshments, and a chance to purchase a signed copy of the book, which sells for $20.00. All are welcome to attend, and admission is free.

Hope to see you there! If you are unable to attend the launch party but are interested in purchasing a book, further details can be found here.

In the past few months, I have met with fifty Stratford residents between the ages of 70 and 98. Starting from the simple question, “Where were you born and when?,”  I have asked them to tell me about their past. Their responses, as you can imagine, have been fascinating.

I have heard war stories and love stories, tales from locales as far-flung as Ethiopia and Papua New Guinea and as familiar as the Avon River. It was my challenge and privilege to capture these stories in writing.

Now, the stories are written, and the book is nearing completion. I look forward to sharing the finished product with you in mid-August! 

The Stratford Story Project is underway! It has been an eventful and exciting month of interviews, as I set out on my story-gathering quest with digital recorder in hand. Beginning the project, I wasn’t exactly sure what to expect – but I had a feeling that I was going to hear some fascinating stories.

I was not disappointed. Rather, I was amazed, touched, amused, and enlightened.  This month, I’ve had the pleasure of sitting down with 25 Stratford residents, each of whom was generous in sharing their stories and memories with me. Again and again, I was struck by how much change many of these individuals have experienced over the course of their lifetime. From homes with no telephones to a cell phone in every pocket… from the poverty of the Depression to the prosperity of the post-war period to the current uneasy economic times... from a small manufacturing town fuelled by the railroad to a sophisticated tourist destination centred around the theatre…

All of these changes have left them with no shortage of tales to tell! I look forward to sharing these stories with you as I put pen to paper and begin writing.  

As I mentioned in the Story Behind the Story, I am embarking on the Stratford Story Project through a program at the University of Waterloo called Enterprise Co-op. Enterprise Co-op provides all kinds of resources for co-op students like myself who wish to start their own business. This includes access to the Communitech Hub, a nifty space in downtown Kitchener which is all about helping start-ups get off the ground. Besides the cool factor of sharing an office building with Google, they provide various resources as well as an up-and-coming atmosphere which is inspiring to be a part of. 

This month, Enterprise Co-op hosted a business pitch competition for the summer co-op students- think Dragon’s Den but without the cameras and Kevin O’Leary. Along with my fellow Enterprise co-ops, I presented my plan for the Stratford Story Project to a panel of business-savvy judges, who chose the five most promising business ideas. 

 I was delighted to be awarded $4000 for my successful pitch! 

This will provide some much-appreciated funding assistance to the project. You can read the full story here.