Everyone has a story from this past year, a year like no other, a year of COVID-19. Stories of resistance and change, often heartwarming, sometimes heartbreaking.

Grade 11 student at the Foothills Composite High School, Chelsea Taylor has been collecting these stories of the foothills in an effort to preserve these experiences and inspire others to do the same. 

Taylor has been putting these stories in the form of an E-Book titled "Impact." With proceeds of the book going to support the Okotoks Foodbank. 

These stories feature youth still in school to the Superintendents of those schools. Even MP John Barlow telling his experiences, both highs and lows, of the past year.

Taylor adds it's incredibly important to preserve these stories. 

"I think it's such an important thing to document it. Even like the things that didn't go so well or mistakes that were made. Not just the highlights, but the things that were kind of sucky just so you can like look back on it and see how much you've grown in that past year."

She adds the stories also add a way to connect with these individuals. Little things you may not know about them and that really lends itself to a better-connected community. 

"I felt like I had a support system of everyone around me that was going through the same thing. I felt more connected in the ways of seeing the differences between people and how their years were so different and they learned different things and we all came out with different skills and different mistakes and different trials and things from it, so I think that that was really interesting. I think that's really important to see."

Taylor did find some difficulty knowing when to stop collecting. 

"I don't have all of the stories of everyone and there's so many more people in Okotoks who have unique stories or diverse stories and there's so many, even ones that you would think that that should be included. Since most of the book is to really inspire other people to write their own story...even though I couldn't put every story in there, the ones that I had in were hopefully inspiring enough for other people to add on.” 

One hundred per cent of the proceeds are going towards the Okotoks Foodbank and their effort to purchase a new supply van. 

"Not only will it help people in Okotoks, but it also will distribute food and items and supplies to surrounding areas like smaller communities, more rural communities … So I thought that is a really good way to support all of the foothills 'cause it's not just about Okotoks and then also I know the money that goes towards them is well used and put to good use, and I thought that it was fitting."

Taylor says she wanted the funds to go to a deserving cause.

"I didn't feel right taking any money from it because I'm not a professional writer, I haven't even graduated high school yet, so I didn't really feel like people were going to buy the book for writing. I thought it was a really nice gesture in bringing the community together...I'm acknowledging all of these hardships that people have had and through that I found it really important that it goes back towards the community so all of the funds go towards the Okotoks Food Bank."

Her E-Book is available for download with a donation of any amount through her website. CovidFoothills.com

She has no plans yet for a second volume. However, she adds her email is always open.

"They can get in touch with me. I'd love to hear your stories. I don't know if I'm going to write another book who knows what the future holds, but I would love to hear the stories anyway and write it down for yourself too 'cause even if you don't want it anywhere, it's so nice to look back and see it for yourself.

Taylor mentioned a quote from one of her interviews with a School Counsellor has really stayed with her.

"I interviewed her and she put it really well. She said 'We're all in the same storm but in different boats'."

 

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