Wayoata School is helping the Transcona Historical Museum with its 2013 exhibit.

Linda Copeland’s Grade 1/2 class will be contributing a collection of photographs to the museum’s new Love Letters to Transcona exhibit, which will open on Mar. 22. The idea was proposed by museum curator Erin McIntyre after a visit to the class.

Copeland said the class makes a point of discussing community, so the offer was welcomed with open arms.

"We can show the future what we like about Transcona," she said, noting the students chose to document the school, Crocus Park Hill and the numerous parks in the area.

The students made a point of expressing that they love living in the Park City.

"(I love) the parks and the hills to slide on," said Grade 1 student Nico Klassen.

"We have lots of parks and lots of very good schools," added Grade 2 student Nieve Wesa.

Copeland said she hopes students learn that they are a part of history.

"They can share the things we know about Transcona now with the future," said Copeland. "I was born and raised in Transcona and I’ve seen the growth and change. One day, they’ll come back to their school and see how it’s different. They’ll visit the parks, or perhaps even be citizens themselves, and they’ll see the growth and change."

The photos will be a part of the museum’s new community submissions wall, which McIntyre views as a community scrapbook. She invites members of the community to submit photographs and other artifacts to help document the neighbourhood’s past and present.

"It can just be everyday Transconians. What makes it special is how all of these stories work together to be the story of Transcona," she said.

McIntyre explained the Love Letters to Transcona theme was chosen to highlight the museum’s archival collection, with paper artifacts like photographs and ration tokens on display. The centrepiece of the exhibit will be letters written by military members to family back home in Transcona during the First and Second World Wars.

"I found those letters just so personal and so touching. It gives the war a totally different perspective when you’re coming at it from a young man in a prisoner of war camp writing to his mom and telling her, ‘It’s OK. I’ll be home soon’," said McIntyre, who noted brief biographies on the letter-writers will be included in the exhibit.

The deadline for submissions to the exhibit, which must include a short write-up, are due at the museum by Feb. 11 at 4:30 p.m. For more information, contact McIntyre at 204-222-0423 or email info@transconamuseum.mb.ca.

dan.falloon@canstarnews.com