I recently attended (and presented at) a conference in Ottawa on the topic of oral history: recording and preserving the life stories of others. We discussed the technical aspects of doing this, as well as how and where such stories are archived, and ethical issues concerning how to attain and care for stories from people who may be from different cultures and walks of life. 

I have been involved with a number of projects over the years involving recording and publishing oral histories, where people tell their stories in their own words while being recorded. While we don’t engage in that specific practice at Boyle McCauley News, we do publish stories often written by community members themselves, which then become part of our permanent archive online and in hard copy at the City of Edmonton Archives.  

Stories here at the paper are presented from a uniquely local perspective, often about news and events you won’t read about anywhere else. The historical record created by this grassroots community effort spans nearly 50 years. 

One of the presenters at the conference said something profound: that stories keep people alive. It’s true. Long after people have gone, their stories will remain if care has been taken to collect, preserve, and present them.

In a similar way, Boyle McCauley News is keeping the history of the area alive, thanks to the collective efforts of a community passionate about its stories. It’s a history worth saving.