A First Capture Education ProjectIn Partnership with Alzheimer Society of Toronto.
EMPOWERING MEMORIES
The power of images to evoke memory is unmatched in history. Since photography's invention, many of humanities most important moments have been preserved in our collective consciousness by iconic and unforgettable still photographs. Like catching lightning in a bottle, photography has the power freeze time and allow future versions of ourselves to be transported into memories.
For individuals living with dementia and their caregivers, creating and preserving memories can be an exhausting daily challenge. However, as we learned during this collaboration with Alzheimer Society of Toronto, the camera can be an empowering tool. For the participants of this program, photography was not only a creative form of expression but a literal form of communication that helped foster deeper connections and understanding between the two people who love each other the most.
Steve & Arleen
“I still have everything that I wanted to say, that I didn't have time to”
— Steve
“I still have everything that I wanted to say, that I didn't have time to”
Steve
Dogs just want to love you and loving them back is pure joy. No judgement, no expectations. She makes me forget about dementia. You can still be happy!
Arleen
Physical strength does help your mental strength.
Some days you can’t even muster the strength to do
something good for yourself, even though you know
you need to be strong in every way.
Other days you crush it!
“Using photography to help capture memories and replay them, is really significant for us.”
— Arleen
“Using photography to help capture memories and replay them, is really significant for us.”
Gerry & Binta
“For me, the camera meant that there's a future here.”
— Gerry
“For me, the camera meant that there's a future here.”
Gerry
In Binta's words 'It’s important to stay active and connected. At the Alzheimer’s Society of Toronto, we meet new people, find creative ways to move, and build meaningful relationships'.
Binta
In Gerry's words 'My care-partner not only provides me with my basic needs, she is also my friend, my daily companion, and has become an important part of my family'.
Stanley & Rebecca
“We were able to communicate in an art form that's nonverbal.”
— Rebecca
“We were able to communicate in an art form that's nonverbal.”
Stanley
In Rebecca's words 'Stanley’s fashionable sense and style cultivate authenticity in his diverse identities: a gentle man with 90 years of life experience, a father/grandfather, a friend, a caregiver, a phenom chess player, a person with dementia'.
Rebecca
My feline friend, Rousseau and I are interconnected through love and play. Rousseau teaches me the importance of being a rascal as an act of self-care
Don & Leslie
“Photography is important to me because it's saving some of my life for the future; for our children, for our grandchildren.”
— Don
“Photography is important to me because it's saving some of my life for the future; for our children, for our grandchildren.”
Leslie
The view from my chair. No matter what, we are connected!
Don
Weekly get-togethers with my friends allow me to tap into my inner Pool Shark.
“Your eye see something and your want to remember it. So, if you can take a photo of it, then you've got it.”
— Leslie
“Your eye see something and your want to remember it. So, if you can take a photo of it, then you've got it.”
