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Writing History
OKANAGAN WRITERS AND STORIES
» Thursday 18 June 2009 | 5 pm
» The Bohemian Café, 524 Bernard Avenue
An informal afternoon hour showcasing ideas
and people in the Okanagan creative economy. Join us as local historians, geneologists and
biographical writers Dorothy Zoellner, Sharron Simpson and Robert Hayes discuss the joys and
challenges of producing historical works.
» $2 at the door. Refreshments are available at a modest cost.
» Seating is limited, please reserve yours HERE
The Stories That Define Our History
What were those pioneers really up to on the long summer afternoons up in the back forty? Was cousin Doris really Elsie's twin or did Aunt Francine's boyfriend from Quesnel have something to do with it? Tabloid journalism really should have no place in our local history but, truth to tell, the human stories still grab us first. However, there's more to our past than soap opera storylines.
Writing local history has been called a strange journey to a familiar place. What happens if we try to follow the common stream back in time, back to where the creek bends, to where the bodies are buried, to where the good neighbours lived and others left hardly a trace behind?
On Thursday, June 18th at 5 pm the ongoing weekly Okanagan Institute Express series at the Bohemian Café presents Writing History: Okanagan Writers and Stories. Join us as local historians, geneologists and
biographical writers Dorothy Zoellner, Sharron Simpson and Robert Hayes discuss the joys and
challenges of producing historical works.
Local history takes a wide view but mines a deep vein. It is a labour of love that uncovers the past and lays up treasure for future generations. It encompasses our view of the landscape, the changing ecology, late night council debates on street names and land reserve exceptions, pioneers and city builders, architects and local characters. It provides generational links that transcend the spread of neon, the decline of green space, and the growing, lively neighbourhoods that cover the fields of lonely pioneers.
Thanks to our local history writers, biographers, memoirists and genealogists, the voices of the past aren't lost forever and the inevitably scene changes can be placed in helpful context. Understanding ourselves in time is both cerebral and passionate and is a task taken forward by the three speakers at this event. Join us to learn the tricks of their trade, the research discoveries that can change perceptions, and the power of recording local stories and voices.
 Bob Hayes was born in Kelowna and has lived all his life there. On his mother's side, he is descended from the pioneer Whelans (who came here in 1873) and the Clement family (who came here in 1898). Bob taught elementary school locally for about thirty years, and is in the process of retiring. His hobbies are writing local history, collecting antiques, and doing genealogy. He is an active member of the Okanagan Historical Society and the Kelowna and District Genealogical Society, having served as President of both societies for several years. Bob will talk about selecting a writing topic, filling out the information (which sources to use), and on the challenges and rewards of writing family history. As a genealogist with a focus on the local level, and a specialist in biographies, Bob will show what Okanagan history has to offer a contemporary audience .
 Sharron J. Simpson, committed to the notion that history is made up of the stories of ordinary people, will talk about telling personal stories and will share some stories from a variety of sources. Sharron was born in Kelowna and after varied careers in social work, the investment business, and in politics, she discovered writing and storytelling. Sharron has since become a passionate advocate for the preservation of family and community stories to ensure they will not be lost to time or vanish from our collective memory. Sharron has designed and taught Memories into Memoirs, a series of workshops designed to assist those who do not see themselves as writers, to record and preserve their family stories. Sharron has also written Boards, Boxes, and Bins: Stanley M. Simpson and the Interior Lumber Industry, and co-authored with Ian Greenwood, Deep Roots, Strong Branches: The History of Sun-Rype Products Ltd. Both of these volumes, along with Kelowna General Hospital: The First 100 Years 1908-2008 have been published by Manhattan Beach Publishing, a division of Sharron Simpson & Associates.
Dorothy (Whitham) Zoellner was born and grew up in Kelowna. She is a graduate of UBC and taught high school, latterly at KSS. Her maternal grandparents came to Peachland in 1908 while her father's parents came to Glenmore in 1912. She became interested in local history through working as a long time member of the Okanagan Historical Society, serving as Editor of their yearly publication, Okanagan History for five years. Dorothy will focus her remarks on the use of research sources that are available from the historical society.
FOR MORE INFORMATION AND TO REGISTER ONLINE CLICK HERE
Writing History: Okanagan Writers and Stories takes place at the Bohemian Café. This marks the 95th event the Okanagan Institute has held since the Express series got underway in July 2007.
Express has played host to many Okanagan luminaries, including former deputy secretary general of Amnesty International Derek Evans, artists Lee Claremont and Gary Pearson, BC Book Award nominee Don Gayton, CBC Literary prize winner poet Harold Rhenisch, distinguished editor and author Jim Taylor, poet and professor John Lent, animator and filmmaker Jim Cliffe, community activist Don Elzer, dancer David LaHay, architect Jim Meiklejohn, culinary artist and writer Heidi Noble, broadcaster Marion Barschel and others from a wide range of creative fields.
Mark you calender for this exciting event in Lake Country!
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