FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
Middlesex County Library launches Tales & Trails: Connecting our Community through Storytelling Project
Middlesex County is now home to eight storytelling trails. These ‘Tales & Trails’ sites, located in eight communities across the County, will feature pages from children’s storybooks as well as community stories. Through this project, people of all ages can now experience the power of storytelling while enjoying the wonders of nature.
Middlesex County Library received a non-repayable contribution of $135,000 from the Government of Canada through the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario (FedDev Ontario), as part of the Canada Community Revitalization Fund (CCRF). With this funding, Middlesex County Library, in partnership with the eight local Municipalities, have installed storytelling display structures along publicly accessible paths in eight communities. Each site includes one entry sign and twenty storytelling frames.
For 2023, the storytelling themes will reflect the CCRF priority of encouraging the participation of underrepresented groups, and take into consideration the unique challenges of rural and remote communities. In support of this priority, story themes will highlight the strengths of a diverse community with diverse experiences and encourage community connections and social belonging.
The June ‘Mental Health’ theme highlights the importance of opening your heart to sharing your feelings and listening as others share their feelings. This theme also highlights the important connection between social belonging and mental health. The four featured storybooks aim to help caregivers start conversations with their children about feelings and building resiliency. Residents are encouraged to travel between communities to read all four storybooks.
Each site also features a story from Mason, a 40-year-old Middlesex County resident who has been working with a Transitional Case Manager with Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). Mason’s story describes his struggles with anxiety and addiction and highlights the instrumental role his connection to CMHA has had in his mental health journey. Mason hopes sharing his story will empower others to reach out for support and will encourage people to show empathy and compassion towards people struggling with mental health.
Other upcoming themes include: embracing cultural diversity; accepting yourself and celebrating differences; celebrating Indigenous communities, culture and history; and understanding homelessness.
Children’s storybooks will align with each of these respective themes. Four storybooks will be featured per month.
To correspond with each theme, the Library is seeking stories of hope, inspiration, strength, resilience and community connection from Middlesex County residents, specifically stories from persons new to Canada, Indigenous people, individuals who have experienced or are experiencing homelessness, persons who identify as 2SLGBTQIA+, persons with disabilities and persons with a mental illness or addiction. Residents can visit the library website for more information on story submission: www.library.middlesex.ca/community-storytelling
Tales & Trails Sites
- Adelaide Metcalfe – Kerwood Ball Park, Kerwood
- Lucan Biddulph – Walnut Street Walking Path, Lucan
- Middlesex Centre – Ilderton Rail Trail, Ilderton
- Village of Newbury - Newbury Ball Park, Newbury
- North Middlesex – Lions Park, Ailsa Craig
- Southwest Middlesex – Strathburn Park, Glencoe
- Strathroy-Caradoc – Alexandra Park, Strathroy
- Thames Centre – Dorchester Community Park, Dorchester
For more information visit library.middlesex.ca/community-storytelling.
QUOTES
“The Middlesex County Library has created a wonderful storytelling experience for locals and residents. The Tales & Trails project will bring people together in nature and share the important tales of our communities and our culture,” said the Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario. “Our government is happy to support projects like these that create experiences for people and families to enjoy.”
“Storytelling brings people together, celebrates diversity and culture, shares experiences, and preserves history. Through this Tales & Trails storytelling project, Middlesex County Library will share stories that celebrate the extraordinary diverse experiences of our communities and stories that speak to the importance of inclusion”. - Warden Cathy Burghardt-Jesson
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Middlesex County Library is a system of 15 libraries that provide free access to quality materials and resources to all residents of Middlesex County. Our libraries are staffed by over 70 dedicated, friendly, and helpful community members. Our mission statement is informing, enriching, and connecting Middlesex County with our mandate to provide a vibrant community space that encourages people to gain knowledge, build relationships, be creative and enhance their lives.
For 13 years, the Government of Canada, through FedDev Ontario, has worked to advance and diversify the southern Ontario economy through funding opportunities and business services that support innovation, growth and job creation in Canada’s most populous region. The Agency has delivered impressive results, which can be seen in southern Ontario businesses that are creating innovative technologies, improving productivity, growing revenues, creating jobs, and in the economic advancement of communities across the region. Learn more about the impacts the Agency is having in southern Ontario by exploring our pivotal projects, our Southern Ontario Spotlight, and FedDev Ontario’s Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.
MEDIA CONTACTS:
Middlesex County Media Relations Legislative Services Division
Edward Hutchinson
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Southern Ontario
