Tea for Tales
A celebratory tea party for the one hundredth anniversary of the Old Y Building.
Tea for Tales
Program for Old Y Centenary
Shelley Ouellet
12 - 2 p.m.
June 24, 2011
The project began with research in the Old Y Archives. The Archive is a simple blue scrapbook that I imagine someone buying out of their own pocket to save the organization a few bucks. It is an attempt to capture some history. Inside the documentation is humble and spotty for a building one hundred years old. From an assortment of documents and newspaper clippings we can follow the trajectory establishing the building to be a home for women who nursed, taught, entertained and lived in our budding city. There they quietly learned to tame broken-down boilers, to swim, to scuba drive and to debunk myths about what makes a lady a lady. Taking care of each other while impacting their community and making Calgary a better place for women. The building continues to house organizations determined to help citizens adjust to a new world, connect to communities and expand their horizons. This roll-up-your-sleeves determination maintains and drives Calgary’s social and cultural services. One hundred years later, the Old Y Building continues to serve as it was intended.
Tea for Tales
Ideas are born through conversations around the table and stirred to action with like-minded people. The Old Y is symbolic of what is possible when communities work together.
Guests were served tea at tables adorned with commemorative tablecloths. The tablecloths have images and text printed on them highlighting historical facts about the building, the investment and the people involved. The tablecloths were intended help initiate conversations and inspire reminiscing. After a very busy two hour tea service, the tablecloths were still quite pristine and have been gifted to the Old Y for future events.
Tea Service
Tea was served hot and iced with an assortment of borrowed teapots as well as a few cups and saucers. Sonia Edworthy and Sinela Jakova, from the current Old Y staff, put out a lovely assortment of finger foods and got an amazing cake. Guests shared their 'Tales of the Old Y' while enjoying the glorious company over a cup of tea. Fabulous volunteers, like those original resident ladies working in the “hostess houses”, helped make guests comfortable by pouring tea and making introductions. Our anticipated crowd of 25-40 swelled to more than 100 and included former residents of the YWCA and former tenants from 1970’s on. Tables and chairs were pulled from all corners of the building while the crowd mingled and giggled over tea.
Thanks to:
Brenda Leiberman
Claudina Morgado
Melissa Centofanti
Sinela Jurkova
Sonia Edworthy
Courtney Robertson
Vicki Chau
Kristin Marquardt
Erin McFarlane
Chantelle Grayston