Literacy for Life, the High River Library, Bow Valley College, and McBride Career Group received almost $25,000 from the federal government's New Horizon Grant. Program Coordinator with the High River Library Joyce Brown says as part of the project the library will help seniors make digital copies of records, pictures, VHS and cassette tapes.

"So we are purchasing scanners that will do negatives and slides, pictures. We'll be buying record players so they can be turned into digital. You can change your cassette tapes. And that equipment will all be stationed here at the library, and once people are trained they can come in and use it."

Brown says the group has also purchased 10 tablets to help seniors learn about technology in the library, Literacy for Life, Bow Valley College, McBride Career Group, and Sunrise Village. General Manager of Sunrise Village Michael Bittante says many residents are far away from their families and could be much more connected by using things like email, Facebook and Skype.

Regional Lead for Bow Valley College in the Foothills June Diment says they're hoping to get youth in the community involved with the project as well.

"Through building a relationship with both the schools and Sunrise Village Management Team, we saw an opportunity to bring together youth and seniors using really technology and teaching each other how to use whether it's tablets, computers, and other forms of technology and really engaging conversations where stories of people's lives are told."

She says youth and seniors have a different way to engage with each other, and she hopes to see friendships grow.

Executive Director of Literacy for Life Sue Stegmier says there are a variety of ways seniors can benefit from the project.

"It's a way of seniors to be able to get their memories put into a digital-type format. There'll be help to do that. There's also going to be a seniors helping seniors with learning how to use this or maybe they just need someone to do it for them, and youth mentors helping seniors."

High River Town Councillor Cathy Couey says what she really likes about the project is how different organizations and generations are being brought together to participate in enhance the project. She says the project promotes lifelong learning and she looks forward to seeing how relationships and mentorships flourish.

Anyone who would like to become a mentor or learn about the project is asked to contact the library or email the Project Liaison Kalie Mosig at kmosig@highriver.ca.