They are building bridges in Peachland - bridges to better understanding between generations. Under the umbrella of Peachland Wellness Centre (PWC), young people are recording the life histories of local seniors.

It began last year when Wendy Howard retired to Peachland after teaching on the coast and discovered "a continuing craving for time with teenagers." Believing that community service enhances the development of self-esteem, she presented her youth-service concept to fellow PWC Board members. With the endorsement of those plans, Wendy promoted the program in the schools as another means for Grade 10 and 11 students to receive graduation credits for community service. Young recruits were soon meeting to plan their service activities in the Centre's home-like setting. They decided to join area seniors to play cribbage regularly and to assist with errands like library exchanges. Additionally, they set up seats, waited tables, and impressed the whole community with their energy and willingness to help at numerous local events.

Their latest initiative is to collect the life stories of Peachland's old-timers who agree to archive their histories in the museum. Four young people are involved in this project: Charlie Crittenden (Grade 11 - KSS), Coulter Andrews (Grade 10 - Mt. Boucherie Secondary), Tiffany Cunningham and Becky Elliott (Grade 9 - Glenrosa Middle School). Local Marie MacRae helped with interview techniques. Don Wilson, Peachland Museum Curator, helped develop comprehensive questions and provided a list of area old-timers. About twenty-five are to be interviewed this year. Some interviews are already complete. These transcripts, typed by volunteers, capture the unique personalities. All histories will be incorporated in a book titled Senior Life Stories.

Tiffany Cunningham wants to be a social worker someday and feels that the interaction of the life-history project improves her "people skills." "I like meeting older people," she says, "because I get to show them that not all teenagers are bad."

Hazel Wilkinson, whose husband was interviewed, especially appreciates the cribbage nights: "Jack and I do not have grandchildren nearby so we enjoy this chance to be around young people."

Phyllis Papineau, Municipal Council and driving force for the opening of PWC five years ago, has observed enormous growth in the comfort levels between the young people and the seniors. Furthermore, "By recording personal histories, these youth are making a lasting and invaluable contribution to our community."

Barrie Hewer, Board Chairman of PWC, notes that a nearly identical life history initiative in Barrie, Ontario, recently received a government grant and national media coverage as a "unique" endeavor. "We were already doing the same thing here!"

There is no grant for the life history project at Peachland Wellness Centre. As a registered, non-profit organization, PWC receives United Way funding but its varied programs remain largely dependent upon donations and volunteerism. To fulfill its mandate - to meet the needs of the whole community -PWC draws upon a network of community resources including local residents, service clubs, corporate sponsors and the District of Peachland. More information about PWC programs may be found at http://www.peachlandwellnesscentre.org/htm

Barb Shave