Client: BC Ministry of Tourism, Sport and the Arts & Ministry of Attorney General
Needs & Opportunities
British Columbians and local residents can learn much from our history in promoting the value of multiculturalism. This project was one of 33 BC150 Mosaic Grants celebrating the province’s 150 year anniversary. They were created to honour the diverse cultures that have shaped BC by recognizing the contributions made from the Indigenous, pioneering and immigrant communities.
Project Description
BC150 provided an opportunity to recognize the past, but it was also a lens through which to focus on the future. The Silverdale project activities included:
- Community mapping of social connections and cultural features;
- Community photography of special places;
- Afternoon tea with friends and neighbours, a local tradition;
- Storytelling about the neighbourhood, past and present;
- A cultural diversity workshop on appreciating cultural diversity and building an inclusive community; and
- An evening celebration during Heritage Week
The workshops and events brought a deeper appreciation for heritage and culture, as expressed through the residents and their landscape. People came together to discover, or re-discover, special qualities of their community – one with a unique multicultural history in a compact, rural setting.
The Heritage Week event showcased the project with a broader audience. The event included a display of community maps and other information gathered through the project. But the highlight of the evening was a slide show beautifully composed by Paul Horn with some of the photographs taken for the project in addition to historic photographs from personal collections.
Services & Deliverables
Kim Walker initiated this project with the support of Silverdale Heritage Society and several local residents including: Mike Donatelli, Paul Horn, Karin Edberg-Lee, and Joan Fishleigh. Additional contributions were made by the District of Mission, the Mission District Historical Society, the Lifetime Learning Centre Society, Silverdale Elementary School, and Aaron Fujikawa.
Kim designed and facilitated the five planned activities. The mapping, storytelling and workshops were well attended. The community photography event only produced pictures from four photographers. However, there was an overwhelming and unexpected interest in sharing pioneer family photographs which Kim scanned for preservation and a potential future project. In addition to the popular evening of storytelling, Kim also gathered stories and recollections through individual interviews.
Accomplishments
The BC150 Mosaic Silverdale project buoyed the spirits of those who became involved. New and old residents learned from each other, and gained some pride in their community. The project received very good media coverage to a regional population of 150,000 and great support from the local District. Sixty-six people directly participated in the project, contributing their stories, photographs and support. Although small in its initial scope of influence, energies have been rejuvenated to create new initiatives and revive old ones.
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