Connecting Generations

Guildford Social Gathering

Join us to work on community projects that will be implemented in the Guildford neighbourhood. The social gatherings will facilitate conversations and activities exploring social and cultural connections in the community. If you are 55+ and live in and around the Guildford area, we would love to hear about your unique experiences.

Connecting Generations: Legacy Project Exhibit

Leave your legacy in Surrey! The Surrey Intercultural Seniors Social Inclusion Partnership are hosting a visual interactive installation at the Museum of Surrey within the Community Treasures exhibit space.

Community Treasures exhibits are an opportunity for community groups, individuals, and cultural organizations from Surrey to showcase their treasures and share their stories with a wider audience. They serve to increase community access to Surrey’s diversity. Visitors are given access to view items that would normally be unavailable elsewhere in the community.

From May to August 2023 a series of workshops will be delivered to provide skills, inspiration and digital multimedia that will become part of the final exhibit display. The pieces developed in these workshops, along with other intercultural, historical, intergenerational photos and video within the SISSIP network will be displayed in the Community Treasures exhibit between September 19 and December 23, 2023. This is a unique opportunity to become increasingly connected with the people of Surrey by engaging with their histories, culture, and stories.

Introduction to Photography

June 9 from 1 to 4pm

Guildford Recreation Centre

Join us for this free workshop and consider being part of this community-led exhibit!

This workshop, led by local Surrey Artist Leah Murray, will provide you with digital multimedia inspiration and skills. The pieces developed in these workshops, along with other intercultural, historical, intergenerational pieces within the SISSIP network will be displayed in the ‘Community Treasures’ exhibit at the Museum of Surrey.

Learn the basic functions of cameras, as well as going for a walk to take come pictures.

Complimentary refreshments and lunch.

Register

Textile Dye Garden at the Museum of Surrey

Address: Museum of Surrey - 17710 56A Avenue

Are you curious about what plants can provide the colours and fibre for our clothing? Did you know we can grow certain types of plants that can be used to create natural dyes for textiles? Join us on the Museum of Surrey campus and experience a unique opportunity to create a Textile Dye Garden!

Sharon Kallis of EartHand Gleaners Society will be leading conversations around plant selection for a diverse array of both colour and fibres. Through interactive workshops and in-person hands-on activities discover how we all share the cultural legacy of how plants have been an integral component of history and evolution of our clothing.

Volunteer at the garden

Do you have a passion for textiles? Would you like to learn more about textiles? Sign up to become a volunteer and help maintain Surrey’s Textile Dye Garden at the Museum of Surrey (17710 56A Avenue Surrey, BC V3S 5H8).

We are looking for passionate individuals with a desire to learn or develop skills, and to promote the unique textile experiences provided. If you would like to spend time with textile experts and others who contribute to the magic of textiles, fill out the volunteer application form!

Tasks include:

• Assisting in the delivery of hands-on programs
• Assisting the workshop leader during specific events
• Garden maintenance on Wednesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays (1 hour per month)

As a Garden Assistant, you can:

• Receive free lab time to observe textile work.
• Gain knowledge of plants, gardening and textile techniques
• Have the opportunity to observe textile instruments at work.

Sign up to volunteer

Connecting Generations: Yarn Around Project

Yarn Around Project phases through 2023

Are you a knitter? Do you enjoy textiles? Join us for a year of celebrating knitting and textile arts!

Phase one

Experienced knitters, crocheters and textile artists are invited to demonstrate their skills during a Surrey SPARK Stages performance this May 27 & 28, 2023. Surrey SPARK Stages is presenting Tricoter by Foolish Operations, a performance celebrating knitting and textiles for babies, toddlers and their families. This performance for 20 to 30 people recreates the community of a knitting circle, with soft music, dance, and textile play.

Tricoter is inviting knitters, crocheters and textile artists to demonstrate their skills around the performance circle while the show is happening.

Phase two

Join workshops in the community for people ages 55+ in preparation for Culture Days, September 23, more information coming!

Phase three

October 14 to December 2, (excluding November 11,) take part in knitting workshops building materials to Yarn Bomb the Clayton Community Centre. More information on registering coming!

Phase four

Take part in all things knitting, music and community celebration at Clayton Community Centre on February 18, 2024.

If you are interested in attending or learning more information on any of these activities, contact Matthew DeSiena at Matthew.DeSiena@surrey.ca.



Garden of Generations at Unwin Park

Address: Unwin Park - 13313 68 Avenue, Surrey

Do you have a passion for edible plants? Want to try your hand at building an edible garden from beginning to harvest and learn along the way? Curious about some edible plants in Indigenous culture? Learn to maintain a garden, get your hands dirty, and tend to plants' needs. Enjoy the benefits gardening brings, and enjoy freshly harvested foods.

We are looking for people of all ages, experiences and backgrounds. Join us to create a space to grow, gather and nurture the plants, and one another, through the Garden of Generations. Help us build community through collaboration.

Connecting Generations: Gathering Time

Gathering times will resume in spring 2023.

How to Participate

Register above, or contact agefriendlyforseniors@surrey.ca to sign up for a volunteer shift to participate in garden care.

Program Funding

The Connecting Generations Initiative and the Walkit Web Map Activity Program are made possible through the Surrey Intercultural Senior Social Inclusion Partnership Network, funded by Employment and Social Development Canada, under the New Horizons for Seniors Program, which:

• consists of organizations from different sectors
• is a collective impact initiative multi-partner approach
• aims to address systemic barriers of social inclusion faced by seniors 55+
• supports an interculturally inclusive and engaged community

The core network consists of the backbone organizations:

• Progressive Intercultural Community Services (PICS)
• Seniors Come Share Society
• SOURCES BC
• UNITI
• Fraser Region Aboriginal Friendship Centre Association (FRAFCA)

Contact

Have a question or comment about one of these initiatives? Reach us at agefriendlyforseniors@surrey.ca.