How stories of love and grief are shared on Summerside park benches

Summerside will take part in a global storytelling project again this summer.

Bench Diarystarted in Atlanta, Georgia, in 2013, and has since spread to 18 cities in eight countries around the world.

Diaries are set up in public places throughout the city like benches and coffee shops. People can write whatever they want, whether it's a personal story, a memory or a list of good book suggestions.

People see it as a release that they can just write whatever they're feeling at that point in time.- Pam Montgomery

Some of the entries are scanned and put online.

Pam Montgomery, executive director of Downtown Summerside, said it's a good opportunity for people to express themselves in a unique way.

"We've had some comments on how much people are in love with each other and some really unique opportunities when people got engaged in the community and some sadness with some loss and grief," said Montgomery.

"I think because of the anonymity of it, people see it as a release that they can just write whatever they're feeling at that point in time."

This is the second year Summerside has taken part in the initiative. Montgomery said this year's diaries should be in place by end of the week.

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