Student historians gather for 1st P.E.I. Heritage Fair since pandemic began

For the primary time in three years, college students and workers gathered in particular person for P.E.I.’s Provincial Heritage Truthful.

In recent times, the pandemic ruined plans for younger historians to assemble and showcase their analysis and historical past initiatives. Previous to COVID-19, greater than 200 college students from roughly 28 colleges could possibly be anticipated on the occasion.

This yr’s honest happened in Orwell and noticed greater than 40 college students from 5 completely different colleges. Although there have been fewer college students than regular, the extent of pleasure was immeasurable. 

Mya Kells is a Grade 5 pupil at Springpark Elementary and her undertaking was on harness racing on P.E.I.

She mentioned she selected the subject due to her deep household roots within the sport. 

“My mom was the ambassador in 2007, my great-great grandfather … was the president of Purple Shores driving park,” she mentioned. The undertaking took her about two weeks to place collectively, and she or he’s pleased with the ultimate product. 

“I am happy with how I designed it and the way I added gold and every part. It simply makes it pop, I feel. I actually like that.”

‘I discovered quite a bit’

Alexander Yonchev and Ammar Al Rahhal additionally go to Springpark and did a undertaking on Africville, N.S. — a historic Black community on the outskirts of RisePEI.

Al Rahhal mentioned he was shocked to be taught that RisePEI metropolis council voted to relocate residents and demolish the group back in the 1960s.

“I used to be within the undertaking and I needed to be taught extra about it, and I feel individuals ought to have respect,” he mentioned.

Like his undertaking associate, Yonchev mentioned he needed to analysis the historical past of Africville. He additionally appreciated studying concerning the individuals who have been born and raised there.

Kylee Rafuse is a Grade 7 pupil at Georgetown Elementary. She did a undertaking on the birthplace of hockey: Windsor, N.S.

“I play hockey, myself, so I feel it was fairly fascinating,” she mentioned. “I discovered quite a bit.”

Morgan Sheppard is in Grade 7 at Stonepark Intermediate. She did her undertaking on Mi’kmaq and Acadian tradition, and “how they actually stayed collectively and helped one another all through the deportations.

“It is actually essential about our tradition, and the tradition of the Island and our society at this level,” Sheppard mentioned.

‘I did not even know that shipwreck existed’

Serena MacDonald goes to Souris Regional College and did a undertaking on the East Level Lighthouse.

“I selected this as a result of I felt prefer it’s an essential a part of P.E.I.’s historical past and I simply began getting thinking about lighthouses,” she mentioned.

One among her favorite elements of the undertaking was taking the historical past, and all that she’d discovered, and placing it collectively on the board for individuals to see. 

“One thing that I discovered, that I did not know earlier than, was the entire HMS Phoenix — I did not even know that shipwreck existed,” she mentioned. 

Sophie Pitre and Sadie Arsenault go to Stonepark and their undertaking was about LGBTQ+ historical past and rights in Canada.

“It is mainly simply telling the historical past of Canada and P.E.I., and who created the satisfaction flags and descriptions of what homophobia and transphobia is like,” Arsenault mentioned.

Pitre mentioned “individuals suppose it is an issue that is occurring now, however it’s been occurring for many years and many years.”

‘It is a actually enjoyable day’

Charlotte Stewart, heritage officer and honest co-ordinator, mentioned in absence of the heritage honest in previous years they inspired lecture rooms to host their very own, “to maintain the heritage honest alive.”

She mentioned the in-person heritage honest went effectively, and it was nice to as soon as once more see college students collectively speaking about their initiatives.

“They’re so excited to inform about their analysis that they’ve performed, which is very nice to see,” Stewart mentioned. 

“What I am listening to in the present day from lecturers and the scholars themselves, and our committee in fact, we might like to see the large honest once more — simply in order that extra individuals can take part and have enjoyable, as a result of it is a actually enjoyable day.”