The following text may have been generated by Optical Character Recognition, with varying degrees of accuracy. Reader beware!

He has been drawn to the staff and students of Harold W. Wagner public school as his latest subject because of the building‘s 45â€"year histoâ€" "Every photo evokes an emotion, or some kind of recollection from the person who sees it," said Gifford. "The picture can mean something different to every person who sees it. "They can look at it and say, ‘I remember when the happened," and the story goes on from there." Preserving stories is what Gifford‘s latest project is all about. A local public school board employee, his partâ€" time passion has become a fullâ€"time mission to preserve the essence of a local school. Gifford, who has sought out the advice of professionâ€" al photographers like Carl Hibbert in developing his eye for a shot, said he likes the way he‘s able to capture a moment, and once the image is caught the effect it has on its subject. It‘s an interest he first developed in his native North Bay, when he bought a camera kit and became the chronicler of his hockey team‘s trips to places around Ontario. Those shots have allowed him to capture old friends and old memories, helping the 42â€"yearâ€"old recall a gentler time. ( :apluring snapshots of time has always been a passion for Waterloo‘s Michael Gifford. A local amateur photogâ€" rapher, he can often be found on the sidelines of events like university footâ€" ball games or firemen‘s musters suspending the action in snippets of time with his everâ€"present camâ€" era. Photographer captures memories of Harold Wagner public school Paund Wollpagpes ~YTervor ”y-a«m-«o E > mestiAt" Bos Vrsanac Chronicle Staff * Hesfigheies "reendlann" ~‘epinites _ ons CD Gifford said the project, called "One In Fortyâ€"Five â€" The Best Year Yet," was an opportunity for him to reconnect to . significant events in their lives all through a simple still image. But Gifford‘s interest is more personal than simply preserving the end of an era. His children Mike and Christie once counted themâ€" selves as members of that school community. The school is one of two historic schools in Waterloo‘s core that are slated to close because of a population shift to the city‘s suburbs, and because of a change in the provincial funding formula for local school boards that no longer allows them to preserve these former hubs of the community if there‘s excess space. ry, and the fact that it is closâ€" ing its doors for the last time this June. Local photographer Michael Gifford is putting together a collection of pictures of staff and students at Harold Wagner public school. The school will close its doors next June. ,.] Â¥ 2 Bes Yea*?efl ;i' g * *A 1 te 9 P i ym A ‘ §_ LIFESTYLE Gifford breaks out an example of the work he‘s done chronicling the school year so far. One of the most poignant shots is of a little girl starting her first day of junior kindergarten. "They‘ll remember what they were thinking at the time, who their friends were, and maybe who taught them," said Gifford. "It‘ll open them up to a whole host of memories." He‘s hoping that one, two or three decades from now that the people who once had a connection to the bricks and mortar of the school will still have some remnants of it locked in their minds. The key to opening those memories will be through the images he‘s capâ€" tured. And he‘s hoping it does the same for the staff, students and parents involved with the school. g}’% C:; "A; zfi_» f " \ \"‘ "It reminded me of my own daughter‘s first day of school," said Gifford. "The project has allowed me to reconnect to a number of events in my own life." Perhaps it‘s the medium that helps. In addition to the still photography, Gifford shoots exclusively in black and white. "There‘s less clutter in a Gifford said it‘s a shot that every parent can relate to, as the first apron string is cut. It opened up a flood of memoâ€" ries of his own daughter Christie. The trepidation, the hesiâ€" tation, the confusion are all frozen in time as the girl looks back to people who have left her on someone else‘s doorstep. But the expectation, the excitement and the knowledge of what‘s to come are also conveyed by the shot. .'?r:s' “flg-‘ Continued on page 15 * #,~ B08 VRBANAC PHOTO The 2002 Edna Staebler Research Fellowship is now open to applicants. Awarded yearly for research and judged to increase knowledge and expand understanding of the cultures of the folk and foundâ€" ing peoples of Waterloo Region/Waterloo County, the Fellowship is sponsored annually by the Friends of Joseph Schneider Haus and is accompanied by a stipend of $1,000. Applications are available at the Joseph Schneider Haus Museum, 466 Queen Street South Kitchener, Ontario N2G 1W7, 742â€"7752, and must be returned to the museum on or before 5 p.m. Monday, Nov. 5. The 2002 Fellow (or joint Fellows) will be announced at the annual Schneider Haus Christmas reception on Dec. 7, 2001. For more information contact the Joseph Schneider Haus Museum at 519â€"742â€"7752 or visit our web at http://www.region.waterlo0.on.ca/jsh For more information, contact: Doriann Seifried, Waterloo & Area Quilt Festival (519)699â€"5628, or eâ€" mail info@quiltcapitalfestivl.com. Receive your registration form and complete details by contacting the Waterloo County & Area Quilt Festival, proud partners of the Grand River Conservation Authority and The Grand River Foundation. The Waterloo County & Elora Antique Warehouses have generously sponsored a $500 viewâ€" er‘s choice award. Deadline for registration is Jan. 31, 2002. Quilts must be received for the exhibition by May 1, 2002. The Waterloo County & Area Quilt Festival‘s "The Grand River Quilt Celebration" will be displayed in the Grand River Conservation Authority headquarters, 400 Clyde Rd., Cambridge,May 19â€"26 , 2002. This collection is available to other host comâ€" munities for public exhibit, enjoyment education. The annual Waterloo County & Area Quilt Festival is voted one of the top 50 Festivals in Ontario, and the largest quilt in Canada. There are over 40 events in 10 communities, including exhibits, workshops, lecâ€" tures, merchants, teas, a huge quilt auction, the Ontario Juried Quilt Show, and more! Waterloo County is the Quilt Capital of Canada. For more inforâ€" mation visit www.quiltfestival.com Local residents are being challenged to interpret the life, geography or heritage resources of the Grand River Watershed, through the art form of quilting. Both new quilted designs and old favorites are accepted in this collection. The exhibitor must describe how their quilt represents the Grand River watershed. Staebler Fellowship now open to applicants Interpret the Grand through quilt contest pommuqmenpmepemmpmeee in Walsr}00 mazbpa teA*s WATERLOO NORTH Northfield at the Parkway 0 A a % FINANCING Ask for details