Prince Edward Island Seniors’ Secretariat is pleased to announce the winners of the 2011 Intergeneration Week Storytelling Contest.
Intergeneration Week begins on the first Sunday of October each year and focuses on bringing generations of people together for their mutual benefit. The week encourages individuals, families, organizations and communities to gather and strengthen their bond through communication, celebration and education.
To recognize the week, the Seniors’ Secretariat launched a contest for Islanders to submit stories that featured characters from two or more generations. The Secretariat received dozens of contest entries from people of all ages. Entries portrayed positive images of older and younger Islanders, and featured the unique voice of Island storytellers.
“It is a pleasure to have an opportunity to celebrate an event that recognizes the many and varied contributions that people of all generations make in our Island communities,” said Chairperson of the Seniors’ Secretariat Mary Hughes. “The Prince Edward Island Seniors’ Secretariat storytelling contest for Intergeneration Week highlighted the very best of Island stories and poems.”
Contest winners:
First prize: Susan Buchanan of North Tryon for her entry, “My Grandmother’s Hands.”
Second prize: Janet Murphy of Seaview for her story, “The Broken Horseshoe.”
Third prize: Connie Martin of Stratford for her poem, “A Journey.”
Honourable mentions: Paul McKnight of Charlottetown for his story, “Wrestling with Dad,” and Jane von Bredow of Cornwall for her story, “Story of Samuel Bagnell.”
Contest winners were recognized at an Intergeneration Week celebration on Thursday, October 6. First and second place contest winners received cash awards and the third place winner received a gift certificate. All winners received a congratulatory certificate from the Prince Edward Island Seniors’ Secretariat.
To learn more about Intergeneration Week, visit www.intergenerationday.org.
Background:
Intergeneration Week began in 1997 when Sandy Kraemer (a lawyer, author and estate planner) became concerned about the increasing isolation between people in different generations. Kraemer created the Intergeneration Foundation. The idea of bringing generations of people together for their mutual benefit was embraced by many and, today, Intergeneration Week is celebrated around the world from the United States to Africa to New Zealand.