2024 Community Storytelling Pilot Report

In 2024, memoryKPR Technologies, in collaboration with Innovation Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association (SUMA), launched a pilot project to explore how digital storytelling can drive economic growth and community engagement. The initiative brought together 40 communities across Saskatchewan, engaging local coordinators, administrators, economic development officers, and tourism groups.

By leveraging memoryKPR’s digital storytelling platform, expert guidance and strategic planning, participants explored innovative ways to capture, preserve, and share their community stories. This report outlines the key findings, best practices, and insights from the pilot, providing valuable takeaways for future participants.

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Project Goals & Approach

The primary objective of the Community Storytelling Pilot was to drive community connection and economic growth and honour heritage through storytelling. 

• To help communities identify and share their unique stories.
• To demonstrate how storytelling can enhance tourism, economic growth, and civic engagement.
• To equip participants with tools, strategies, and digital infrastructure for sustainable storytelling initiatives.

How the Pilot Worked

Participants received access to memoryKPR software, enabling them to collect and curate community stories through photos, videos, and text. Additionally, the project included:

• A speaker series featuring experts in placemaking, storytelling, and community development. We learned from greats such as Seth Godin, John Paget, Kelsey Love and Andrew Hertz. You can view the recordings of the ‘let’s talk stories’ series on memoryKPR’s Youtube Channel Here. 
• Workshops and strategy sessions to help communities develop their storytelling plans.
• Ongoing support and coaching from memoryKPR and its partners.

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Key Themes & Lessons Learned

1. The Power of a Clear Strategy

A strong storytelling initiative begins with a well-defined strategy. Communities that succeeded in the pilot took time to:

• Clarify what makes their community unique.
• Develop a plan to leverage those differentiators.
• Align their storytelling efforts with broader economic and tourism goals.

Doug Griffiths, author of 13 Ways to Kill a Community, led the first session, emphasizing the importance of intentional planning and avoiding common community development pitfalls.

2. Placemaking & Experience-Driven Storytelling

Several communities successfully used storytelling to enhance visitor experiences:

• Selfie stations and landmarks (e.g., Mac the Moose in Moose Jaw) encouraged user-generated content and social sharing.
• Interactive exhibits with QR codes (e.g., Regina Eco Museum) connected physical spaces with digital storytelling.
• Event storytelling (e.g., Windscape Festival in Swift Current) allowed communities to gather and showcase visitor experiences.
• Walking tours with digital storytelling (e.g., Coronach’s mural tours) helped preserve local history and engage tourists.

3. Crafting & Delivering Powerful Stories

John Paget introduced communities to the story arc, teaching them how to structure narratives effectively. Later in the pilot, Seth Godin challenged participants to rethink what makes a great story, how to tell it well, and how to use it to inspire action.

4. Intentionality & Audience Engagement

Communities that thrived in the pilot followed these storytelling best practices:

• Defined a clear goal for each story (e.g., awareness, education, community pride, tourism promotion).
• Identified their audience and tailored storytelling approaches accordingly.
• Encouraged participation, making storytelling a community-wide effort.

5. Overcoming Bureaucratic Barriers

One of the strongest indicators of success was leadership support and agility. Communities that had municipal backing and the freedom to innovate saw the best results. Removing bureaucratic barriers allowed for:

• Faster decision-making and execution of storytelling projects.
• More dynamic and creative storytelling approaches.

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The Impact of the Pilot

Community Success Stories

Several communities reported significant outcomes from the pilot:

• Increased tourism engagement and visitor interaction.
• Strengthened local identity and community pride.
• Greater citizen participation in storytelling efforts.
• Enhanced economic opportunities through digital content.

The Role of memoryKPR

memoryKPR’s platform played a critical role by making it easier than ever to collect, manage, and share community stories—all while ensuring that ownership, privacy, and rights management remain in the hands of communities. Our promise is simple:

 Bringing untold stories to life through the safest, easiest storytelling platform ever created.

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Next Steps & Opportunities for New Communities

Why Join the Next Phase?

Building on the success of this pilot, memoryKPR is expanding its community storytelling initiatives. If your community is looking to:
✅ Drive economic growth through tourism and engagement.
✅ Preserve local history and share stories in an impactful way.
✅ Leverage digital storytelling for long-term community development.

Then this program is for you. We invite you to join us in unlocking the power of storytelling to build stronger, more connected communities.

Get Involved

To learn more or sign up for the next phase of the initiative, contact:
📧 Jessica McNaughton
📞 306-519-8489
🌐 memoryKPR.com

Let’s work together to preserve stories, create meaningful connections, and drive community success through storytelling.

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Conclusion

The 2024 Community Storytelling Pilot proved that strategic, well-executed storytelling can have a profound impact on local economies, tourism, and community pride. With the right tools and approach, every community has the potential to turn its history, people, and culture into powerful, engaging narratives that foster growth and connection.

memoryKPR is committed to helping communities take ownership of their stories and share them in a way that is impactful, secure, and easy. We look forward to expanding this initiative and welcoming new communities into the next phase of our storytelling journey.

Click here to download our case stories.
Visit our blog here to learn more about how to help your community’s untold stories come to life.