A Flood of Stories
Contact Dr. Superle if you’d like to run a pilot and/or host a museum.
Led by Dr. Michelle Superle and Sydney Marchand, "A Flood of Stories" began as the "Flood Stories Project" which initially engaged farmers in the Fraser Valley who were affected by the November 2021 extreme flooding events. We invited farmers and their families to share their experiences in spoken, written, and artistic format. The project uses a narrative approach (developed in consultation with narrative therapy expert, Dr. Stephen Madigan) to better understand how Abbotsford farmers have been affected by floods and what they need to begin thriving again. After working with farmers, we invited children and youth in Abbotsford and Chilliwack, as well as members of the UFV community, to use expressive arts as a way to communicate their flood experiences. These creative projects were made public in the "Flood Stories" exhibition at
the Reach gallery in early 2023.
"Flood Stories" participants reported feeling heard, empowered, and validated as a result. Once we recognized the ways that sharing stories can support resilience, we became determined to continue supporting children, youth, and the UFV community through expressive arts and storytelling.
The result is our next chapter: the "Flood of Stories" project.
We’re now officially partnering with the Climate Disaster Project and actively accepting requests for interviews!
Update!
We Collaborate With...
.jpg)
Photo Taken by Sarah Sovereign
Dr. Michelle Superle discusses the Flood Stories on Global News
The results from this work will inform recommendations, which government (at different levels), community associations, non-profits, and academic institutions can adopt to better support Abbotsford farmers. The project also aims to highlight and raise public awareness around the importance of local farmers, the challenges they experience, and the supports that would help them thrive. The specific activities and objectives for this project are below.
Project Objectives
To provide a platform for Abbotsford farmers affected by the flooding to share their experiences.
To help support farmers as they strive to make their homes and farms viable again.
To enrich public understanding of farmers’ experiences of the natural disaster and its consequences.
To engage UFV community members & Abbotsford school children in artistic celebrations of farmers’ contributions to food security
To celebrate Abbotsford farmers’ contributions to local
food security.
To provide opportunities for processing experiences of this natural disaster.
Flood Stories
Exhibit at The Reach Gallery
Photos taken at The Reach Gallery Museum
Flood Stories Expressive Arts contest - WINNERS!
University of the Fraser Valley
1st place written category: Sarah Brown's creative essay on the Chilliwack River flood 2021
1st place visual art category: Brianna Plett, sculpture, Our Lost Paper Memories (artist statement)
1st place photography category: Cobi Timmermans, Lake Bottom series (special mention photo)
2nd place written category: Sha Scholtens' poem titled Waterlogged
2nd place visual art category: Victoria (Vivi) Vergara, painting, Hope for Farmers
2nd place photography category: Adam Magalhaes, photograph
3rd place written category: Emili Kaplin's short fiction titled I Drowned in the Flood (artist statement)
3rd place visual art category: Jenna Cowie-Randle, graphite, ink and pencil crayons
3rd place photography category: Jennifer Martel, photograph, Flood and Fire
Kindergarten - Grade 7
1st place written category: Clara Fairbairn's poem titled Sandbags
1st place visual art category: Barrowtown Elementary collaboration project, mosaic pathway
1st place "other" category: Greendale Elementary Division 4 & 5 mapping project
2nd place written category: Greendale Elementary, class submission Division 8, written scripts of flood stories (unable to post accessible link)
2nd place visual art category: Greendale Elementary, Ms. Durflinger's class, Helping Hands
2nd place "other" category: Greendale Elementary, Division 7, creative video submission, (unable to post accessible link)
3rd place written category: Audrey Kaszonyi, creative writing, (unable to post accessible link)
3rd place visual art category: Susan White's Grade 2/3 class, honorable mention to Bhavdeep Malhi
3rd place "other" category: Greendale Elementary, Division 1, photo essay
Grades 8 - 12
1st place written category: (no submissions)
1st place visual art category: Jessica Boon, Hysterics (artist statement)
2nd place written category: (no submissions)
2nd place visual art category: Julia Janzen, painting
3rd place written category: (no submissions)
3rd place visual art category: Finn Toews
_JPG.jpg)
_JPG.jpg)
(1)_JPG.jpg)
Photos Taken by Sarah Sovereign
We collaborate with professional photographer and UFV alumni Sarah Sovereign as part of our healing process. Check out Sarah's trauma-informed approach to narrative photography.
We are partnered with the Climate Disaster Project
Special thanks for extra support from:
Ecodairy for donating field trip tours to Barrowtown, Greendale, and Se:Math elementary schools as prizes for their submissions to the Expressive Arts contest.
Restaurant 62 for donating one of the UFV student prizes for the Expressive Arts contest.
United Way for their Local Love grant to support the Flood Stories exhibit opening celebration and award ceremony at The Reach Gallery
Connect with Dr. Superle to schedule an interview and/or workshop, get more information about the artistic projects and/or gala, and discuss ways to collaborate.
Michelle Superle is also a contributing author in Edible Magazine.
To see a complete list of Superle's most recent articles please click here.