story: Tailored Memories

Here is a video about the history of the building Re Entry Espresso now resides in!

story: emergency situation

When I called Riley Park Community Centre I was put on hold today.

When someone came on the line to talk to me they were distracted. Their hand went over the receiver and I could hear muffled talking.

I guess there was an emergency situation going on.

When she got back on the line to talk with me I learned there was indeed an emergency... in the pool.

I asked what happened.

I was told that someone had puked in the pool.

PUKED in the pool?

I was intrigued and horrified.

I guess this kind of thing happens...a public establishment and all.

I just never even considered it.

I asked about the procedures for this kind of emergency...

Well, the pool is heavily chlorinated, but first it is evacuated.

All the folks get vouchers to return on another day.

The swimming classes were cancelled.

It fully shut the pool down!

Shut down!

Of course!

What else could you do?

I just never even considered it.

This kind of emergency isn't normally talked about.

Whoops!

story: babies on deck

Rose told me that when she brought her son to Percy Norman Pool when he was a baby he could play and sleep on the deck of the pool!

This was curious at first to me and I thought that this must be because she worked at the pool...so she had special privileges... but no, this was standard practice at the time! In the late 1970's, moms could come to the pool and swim and do aquafit and have their kids right there looking on - from the pool deck!

And then I found the picture below in the Percy Norman Archives!

What a great idea!

Except now the kids have to be in day care separate from the moms....

No judgement from me, things change - I know...

but, I can't help thinking what a good idea that is...and I always seem to love things from the 1970's.

by lisag

story: Conversation with Daphne

How do you tell a life story encompassing 93 years?

A difficult prospect, I must say.

Also, being the collector of the stories, I feel privileged to hear and learn more than I can possibly share...but I do my best.

This short video hopes to capture the vibrancy that is Daphne, a few of her memories, a sense of a neighbourhood from a time that seems simple yet hints at the challenges that everyone has...

I thank Daphne for taking the time and having the patience for me to ask a lot of questions!

I thank her son Greg who continues to collect the family history...I hope everyone has someone in their family to take this on!

story: Turner's Dairy

Check out 3333 Main street in 1950!

Alot of nuthin' there now, used to be a car sales showroom...

The red brick building on 17th just peeks out from behind the old dairy in the shot from 1950, but in 2010 it gets to show off!