Two oral history contests to promote understanding between youth and seniors were announced today by the PEI planning committee for the International Year of Older Persons (1999).
The national Legacy Collection contests encourage youth to interview seniors about significant events in the past century, and hear first-hand accounts of the major events which have shaped seniors' way of life.
Youth and adults may enter either the video/audio contest or essay contest. Prizes include vacation packages, books and music prizes. Some contest winners will be flown, along with the senior featured in their story, to Ottawa for a special ceremony in October.
Anna Duffy, Chair of the PEI Planning Committee for the year, said the contests are a great way for young people to benefit from the wisdom and insight of seniors who have lived through an amazing period of our country's history.
"Asking questions of a parent, grandparent or senior relative can open up a whole new world for youth," she said. "The spoken word has the power to make the past come alive."
Don Harron, Co-Chair of the Canada Coordinating Committee for the International Year of Older Persons said a permanent collection of submissions will be available through the Internet. "The collection will create an incredible legacy of oral history as seen through the eyes of seniors," he said, "It will be made available to every school child in Canada."
For more information on the contests, please call the Department of Health and Social Services at 902 368 6153, or 1 800 355-4955.
BACKGROUNDER
Two National Oral History Contests in honour of the International Year of Older Persons "The Legacy Collection"
The Legacy Collection Video/Audio Contest: Contestants in the video/audio contest interview a senior about a significant event or personal experience in the last century and capture the best 10-minutes of this interview on either video or audio tape. The contest has four entry categories: youth - video; youth - audio; adult - video; and adult - audio. Canadian residents between the ages of 10 and 18 may enter one or both of the two youth categories. Adults, 19 years of age or older, may enter one or both of the two adult categories. Contestants can enter as often as they wish. Contest closes July 31, 1999.
There will be four winners in all, one for each category of the contest. Each winner will receive a vacation package for two to New Brunswick. The four prize winners along with the senior who is featured in their entry, will be flown to Ottawa for a special ceremony in October.
To obtain a free copy of the video/audio contest instruction kit, which includes tips on creating a great tape, call 1 800 355-4955.
The Legacy Collection Essay Contest: The essay contest is administered by Reader's Digest and Sélection du Reader's Digest magazines on behalf of the Canada Coordinating Committee. Contestants interview a senior about a significant event or personal experience in the last century and compose a 250-word essay in either English or French based on the interview. The contest is open to Canadian residents between the ages of 10 and 18 or any senior 65 years of age or older. Contestants can enter as often as they wish. The contest closes on July 2, 1999.
There will be 4 regional winners in the contest, one for each of Reader's Digest's publishing regions (West, Ontario/Quebec English, Quebec French and Atlantic). Winners will each receive a Reader's Digest library of books, music and video tapes and will have their essay published in the October issue. One grand prize winner, drawn at random from the 4 regional winners, will receive a travel package for four to New Brunswick. The contest winners, along with the seniors they interview, will be flown to Ottawa for a special ceremony in October.
For further details on the essay contest, please call 1 800 355-4955.