Stories of a Lifetime was a 2025 collaboration between Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre and Sherbrooke Community Centre.

Stories of a Lifetime is a collaborative arts project that brought together ten Elders from Sherbrooke Community Centre with a team of multidisciplinary artists, creating space for storytelling, artmaking, and connection. Inspired by a childhood memory of listening to his grandmother’s stories, project lead Lautaro Reyes reflected on how rarely such stories are seen beyond the roles society assigns. Over 18 weeks, Elders explored their memories, humour, wisdom, and resilience through theatre, poetry, collage, photography, and music. These stories were shaped into a short film, a live performance, and an exhibition of visual art. Co-facilitator Alana Moore describes the process as “a privilege to work alongside these Elders and witness the humour, courage, and trust they brought to each session. Their presence and stories are the heart of this work.” At its core, Stories of a Lifetime is about dignity and connection, about being seen and seeing others, and affirms that every life holds stories worth telling.

Artists & Stories

Thank you to the  following Elders for sharing your stories, creativity,  and joy: 

Participating artists living at Sherbrooke, included:

• Ricardo Henrique

• Hal Vernon Trask

• Doris Friesen

• Dennis Vanghe

• Della Morgan 

• June Dyck 

• Greg Seipp 

• Lee-Ann Irvine

• Richard Romando

• Harley Welsh

Project Overview

Lead Artists: Lautaro Reyes (GTNT) & Alana Moore (Sherbrooke Community Centre)

• Ran from January–June 2025, over an 18-week period

• Supported 10 Elder participants selected from across Sherbrooke’s neighborhoods

• Delivered nearly 30 creative workshops in theatre, poetry, altered books, yoga, and storytelling

• Facilitated 10 individual filmed interviews, later edited into a short film

• Achieved 95% attendance, with participants often prioritizing the project over other activities

• Culminated in a final celebration event on June 9, 2025, featuring:

  • A live theatre performance

  • Film screening of Elder interviews

  • Art exhibition & installation of altered books and other works

• Welcomed over 120 attendees to the final event, with every Elder supported by family or friends

Partners & Support

• In partnership with Gordon Tootoosis Nīkānīwin Theatre and Sherbrooke Community Centre, Saskatoon, SK

• Funded in part by the Government of Canada’s New Horizons for Seniors Program
  
  Special thanks to:

  • Lautaro Reyes, Project Lead, GTNT

  • Christy Norrish and the Sherbrooke Recreation Team

  • Art Studio volunteers: Maryam, Norma, Phil, Spencer, Janice, and Nigisti

  • All the friends, families, and staff who shared their time, presence, and care

  Collaborating Artists:

  • Peace Akintade – Poetry & Collective Storytelling

  • Alana Moore – Visual Arts & Altered Books

  • Mitchell Larsen – Theatre & Drama

  • Jeff Culbert – Yoga & Relaxation

  • Guillermo Galvan-Gracia – Filmmaking & Interviews

  • Elder Corine Eyahpaise – Indigenous Storytelling & Elder Talk

Project Highlights

Process and Approach

Weekly small-group workshops created a space where vulnerability, humour, and trust could grow. Through poetry, movement, collage, performance, and conversation, Elders explored and shared personal stories, from cherished memories to unexpected moments of resilience.

Workshops combined different art forms to meet participants where they were. Some days were about making marks on the page; other days the art happened in a story shared over tea, or in the collective rhythm of breathing together in a yoga session.

As Lautaro reflected, “Telling our stories is remembering that we exist. Listening to others’ stories is remembering that we are never alone.”

Outcomes

• Increased creative confidence, with many Elders discovering new ways to express themselves

• Strengthened relationships between Elders, artists, and staff, enriching Sherbrooke’s community life

• A range of creative outputs, including collective poems, altered books, a theatre performance, and a short film

• Positive participant feedback, with Elders describing the sessions as a highlight of their week and a rare opportunity to feel seen and heard

Final Performance Highlights

photos from Final Performance taken by Eric Anderson