Students Take Home Prizes at Provincial Historica Heritage Fair

* Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour [to Jan 2010]
More than 200 students from schools throughout the province took part in the Provincial Historica Heritage Fair at the Confederation Centre of the Arts in Charlottetown on Thursday.

Through researching and developing their heritage projects, Island students celebrate cultural diversity, appreciate connections between the past and present and identify their place in history.

“Island students put a lot of time and effort into creating their displays for the Heritage Fair,” said Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour Minister Carolyn Bertram. “Through their projects the youth were able to learn about the history of our province and our country, and gain a new understanding and appreciation for their own family and community at the same time.”

Awards were handed out Thursday for winning projects in each grade level. As well, a number of prizes sponsored by national and local organizations were awarded. Of the 25 finalists named at the Provincial Fair, 15 will be selected to participate in the National Fair which will be held in Victoria, British Columbia from July 7 to 14, 2008. National Fair participants will receive notification by the end of May.

BACKGROUNDER - HISTORICA HERITAGE FAIR WINNERS:

HBC Explorers Award - “In recognition of outstanding achievement in demonstrating an aspect of exploration that has influenced this history of Canada”, Carsen Campbell and Caitlin Campbell, The Fur Traders, Homeschool Group

Laurier LaPierre medals - “In recognition of exceptional enthusiasm and dedication to history and heritage”, Emma Moore, Beaconsfield, Parkdale Elementary; Daniel MacIsaac, Canada’s Air War, Souris Consolidated; Naomi Cousins, Little House in the Hollow, Morell Regional High School

RBC Foundation Award for the Celebration of Aboriginal Achievement - "To recognize outstanding student achievement in celebrating an aspect of Aboriginal history, heritage, or culture", Hannah Arsenault, Native Medicines, John J. Sark Memorial School

CN Veterans Award - "To recognize outstanding student achievement in honouring the contributions and sacrifices of our veterans", Emma Gallant, They Chose to Serve, Morell Regional High School

McCain Literacy Award - “In recognition of outstanding achievement in researching, interpreting, and effectively portraying findings on a topic in Canadian history”, Emily Wight, Mary Catherine Pineau, Midwife, Parkdale Elementary

Stamp Story Contest - Skylar Tang, Grade 6E, Eliot River Elementary, The Lighthouse; Kaylee Crozier, Grade 5, Eliot River Elementary, Teepees

SPECIAL PRIZE WINNERS

Benevolent Irish Society - Irish or Celtic history, Monica Furness, Vernon River Consolidated, Bishop Fleming; Kaitlyn Trainor, Stonepark Intermediate, Il y a un farfadet dans moi

Canadian Parents for French - Immersion student presenting in French (2 prizes: Gr.5/6; Gr.7/8/9) - Gr.5/6: Magie Francis, Glen Stewart Elementary, Les Traineux Francis; Gr.7/8/9:, Emily Proude, Stonepark Intermediate, Proude’s Shoes

City of Charlottetown - Aspect of Charlottetown’s history, Emma Moore, Parkdale Elementary, Beaconsfield

Community Museums Association of PEI - Local or community history, Jacob MacMillian & Michael White, Stonepark Intermediate, Black History; Connor Herget, Alberton Elementary, The Tools that Built our Island

Harley Owners Group - Transportation or mechanical theme, Jared Fraser, Donagh Regional, History of Motocross

Historic Places Initiative - Built or architectural history, Nancy MacLeod, Morell Regional High, The history of Lorne Valley School

History Department, UPEI - PEI history, Tesa MacCallum, Stonepark Intermediate, Funerals and Wakes of Early 1900s on PEI

Orwell Corner Historic Village Board of Directors - Rural life, 1st prize: Deanne Deagle, Morell Regional High, Old Fashioned Remedies; Honourable Mention:, Kailey Koughan, Donagh Regional, It’s Time to Milk the Cows

PEI Association of Newcomers to Canada - Newcomers to PEI or Canada, Evan Tynski, Athena Consolidated, My Polish Family’s Life in Canada

PEI Council of the Arts - Artistic theme, Breanna Ching, Eastern Kings Consolidated, Quilting – from function to fashion; Kathryn Woods, L.M. Montgomery, Norval Morrisseau; Jordan Hardy & Kyle Marchbank, Hernewood Intermediate, Oyster Fishing

PEI Genealogical Society - Family history, Dylan Lewis, Sherwood Elementary, My Family Tree; Maria MacDonald, Sherwood Elementary, The Chaisson Family

PEI Home and School Federation - Family heritage, Evan Tynski, Athena Consolidated, My Polish’s Family’s Life in Canada; Maria MacDonald, Sherwood Elementary, The Chaisson Family

PEI Home Economics Association - Home economics, 1) Keith Hogg, Glen Stewart Elementary, L’enfance d’hier d’aujourd’hui; Honourable Mention - Breanna Ching, Eastern Kings Consolidated, Quilting from function to fashion

PEI Home Economics Teachers’ Association - Home economics, Niki MacEwen, West Kent Elementary, The times of dresses

PEI Institute of Agrologists - Agriculture, Daniel MacAdam, Morell Regional High, Marvelous Maple

PEI Scottish Settlers Historical Society - Scottish heritage, Ryan Drew, West Kent Elementary, Voyage of the Annabella

PEI Teachers Federation - Education, Amanda Lowe, and Brighid Woodman, Ecole Francois-Buote, Marguerite Bourgeoys

Sport and Recreation Division, Dept of Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour - Sports history, Alivia Bryenton, West Royalty School, Barbara Ann Scott

The Institute of Island Architectural Studies and Conservation - Built or architectural history, 1st Brandon Smyth, St. Jean Elementary, Isaac Smith; 2nd Amy Andrews, Birchwood Intermediate, Grandmother’s House – Queen Anne Style

Wyatt Heritage Properties - Aspect of Summerside history or project by a Summerside area student, Zachary DesRoche, Elm Street Elementary, Unsung Heroine

2008 PEI PROVINCIAL HISTORICA HERITAGE FAIR FINALISTS:

Grade 5

Connor Herget, Alberton Elementary, The Tools that Built our Island; Keely McGill, Sherwood Elementary, Deblois Brothers; Ryan Drew, West Kent Elementary, Voyage of the Annabella; Evan Tynski, Athena Consolidated, My Polish Family's Life in Canada; Jasmine Frizzell, West Royalty School, Maud Lewis; Zachary DesRoche, Elm Street Elementary, Unsung Heroine

Grade 6

Madeline Duffy, Vernon River Consolidated, My Unforgettable History Lesson; Patrick Byrne, Donagh Regional, Potato Cropping: Then and Now; Liam Carpenter, Rollo Bay Consolidated, The Fur Trade; Isaac Taylor, Sherwood Elementary, Sailing Away; Alivia Bryenton, West Royalty School, Barbara Ann Scott; Emma Smith, Spring Park Elementary, Mon Patrimoine Highland

Grade 7

Heidi Matheson, St. Peter's Consolidated, Women in PEI Politics; Sumin Kim, Stonepark Intermediate, Lucy Maud Montgomery; Ed Herring, Stonepark Intermediate, The Great Depression;

Arielle VanIderstine, Stonepark Intermediate, My Travelling Tree; Emily Proude, Stonepark Intermediate, Notre entreprise familiale, Proude's Shoes

Grade 8

Jordan Hardy and Kyle Marchbank, Hernewood Intermediate, Oyster Fishing; Julia Ross, Hernewood Intermediate, St. Anthony's Parish; Amanda Lowe and Brighid Woodman, Ecole Francois-Buote, Marguerite Bourgeoys – Une grande educatrice canadienne

Grade 9

Matthew Reid, Donagh Regional, Anson Aircraft Crashes; Kieran Atkinson, Morell Regional High, Cirque du Soleil; Brodie Burke, Morell Regional High, Changes in Agricultural Machinery

There are currently 1,000 Canadian communities involved in the Fairs Program. For more information: www.histori.ca

Media Contact: Connie McNeill