Grade six history students from Central Queens Elementary and Spring Park Elementary schools were given a first-hand look this morning at new heritage trading cards and a new web page designed to interest Island youth in the history of Prince Edward Island.
The trading cards and website were developed with funding through the Historic Places Initiative, a joint federal-provincial program designed to raise the awareness of the public about the importance of heritage places throughout the country.
Premier Robert Ghiz told the crowd gathered at Province House that the trading cards and new website are a step in the right direction to demonstrate the importance of our past to the youth of today. “You are the people who will be leading our province in the future and making important decisions,” he told the students. “We want you to know how our past shapes our future; after all, it is your history too.”
Each set of trading cards consists of 24 bilingual cards featuring historic properties throughout the province. All properties featured on the cards are Designated Heritage properties and are protected under either the PEI Heritage Places Protection Act or municipal heritage legislation. There are 2,000 full sets of the cards available.
Communities, Cultural Affairs and Labour Minister Carolyn Bertram unveiled the cards and told the students they could have fun collecting additional cards from provincial or community museums, and at some heritage sites. “Then you can trade with your friends and classmates until you collect the entire set,” she told the students in attendance. “The cards are bilingual, and they each list the address for a new website that helps us learn more about historic places in our communities.”
Trading cards will be distributed to grade six history students throughout the province. Minister Bertram also introduced a new web page using new technology to help Islanders discover more about the past. The web page, which features photos and descriptions of historic properties across Prince Edward Island, can be found at www.peihistoricplaces.ca
Master of Ceremonies for the launch was Education Minister Gerard Greenan, who helped Minister Bertram distribute cards to the students, and encouraged students and adults to take part in heritage week events throughout the province February 18-24.