Students from across the province will be participating in the seventh annual Provincial Heritage Fair on Thursday, May 9, at the Confederation Centre of the Arts. More than 3,500 students, teachers and volunteers have participated in community-based fairs. Students in grades five through nine have been encouraged to explore their culture and heritage, whether it is their own personal heritage or that of our great nation. This year the provincial fair will feature approximately 200 exhibits in both English and French.
The Heritage Fair Program, an initiative of the heritage focused Historica Foundation, is in its 8th year and currently involves over 140,000 students in 625 schools in every province and territory. Regional Heritage Fairs will take place in Canadian communities from May 9 – 11, 2002. The fair is designed to provide avenue for students to showcase the results of their efforts to the community and encourage them to tell stories and share information about Canadian heroes, events, and lifestyles of the past.
"The Heritage Fair provides our students with the opportunity to discover their culture and heritage and to learn more about the history of our Island. I encourage the public to support this project and to come appreciate and enjoy what our Island youth have to offer," says Premier Pat Binns.
"The Department of Community and Cultural Affairs is pleased to co-sponsor the
Provincial Heritage Fair along with the Historica Foundation of Canada and with the generous support of the Department of Education and the Confederation of the Arts," says Honourable Gail A. Shea, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs.
The public is invited to visit the fair from 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. and the day will conclude with an official ceremony at 3:30 p.m. At this time, the finalists will be announced whom will be considered for the Historica Foundation National Heritage Fair in St. John's, Newfoundland from July 8-15. Honoured guests will include: His Honour J. Léonce Bernard, Lieutenant Governor; Honourable Pat Binns, Premier; Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of Community and Cultural Affairs; Mr. George MacDonald, Mayor of Charlottetown.
The Heritage Fairs Programme is operated by Historica, a not-for-profit foundation dedicated to the promotion of Canadian history and heritage, and supported by The J. W. McConnell Family Foundation and the Department of Canadian Heritage Exchanges Programme. For more information on the Heritage Fairs programme or Historica's seven other educational programmes, please visit www.histori.ca.