A project aiming to preserve the history of Black Creek through memories of the neighbourhood's older residents is seeking participants.
The Black Creek Living History project started up in July out of York Woods Library branch at 1785 Finch Ave., east of Jane Street, said librarian Jessica Rovito. Seniors have been invited to share their stories, past and present, about living in the Black Creek community.The interviews will be conducted and digitally recorded by teens in the community, which will then be posted on a Black Creek Living History website in November, following a formal exhibit at the library. The project will also include a series of talks on local history subjects and a bus tour to historical sites in the Black Creek community. Transportation costs for seniors and youth participating in the project will be provided."We wanted to get seniors involved and engaged in the community," Rovito said. "We want to pair up teens with seniors to show how important it is to have a relationship with seniors."Rovito sought young people and seniors from neighbourhood community centres to participate in the project, with interviews between the two groups beginning Wednesday, Sept. 15 at the library. "We are looking to get 30 video clips," she said, adding about 10 seniors have signed up. "We are looking for lots of participation. We want to hear from seniors who have lived in Black Creek for 10 to 20 years, before development. We want to address the media's misrepresentation of Black Creek and celebrate what the community is."The Black Creek community is bounded by the area north of Hwy. 401, east of Weston Road, west of Keele Street and south of Steeles Avenue.The Black Creek Living History project is funded in part by the federal government's New Horizons for Seniors program.For information or to participate call 416-395-5980 or email Rovito at jrovito@torontopubliclibrary.ca