Student historians gather for 1st P.E.I. Heritage Fair since pandemic began
CBC
For the first time in three years, students and staff gathered in person for P.E.I.'s Provincial Heritage Fair.
In recent years, the pandemic ruined plans for young historians to gather and show off their research and history projects. Prior to COVID-19, more than 200 students from roughly 28 schools could be expected at the event.
This year's fair took place in Orwell and saw more than 40 students from five different schools. Though there were fewer students than normal, the level of excitement was immeasurable.
Mya Kells is a Grade 5 student at Springpark Elementary and her project was on harness racing on P.E.I.
She said she chose the topic because of her deep family roots in the sport.
"My mother was the ambassador in 2007, my great-great grandfather … was the president of Red Shores driving park," she said. The project took her about two weeks to put together, and she's happy with the final product.
"I'm proud of how I designed it and how I added gold and everything. It just makes it pop, I think. I really like that."
Alexander Yonchev and Ammar Al Rahhal also go to Springpark and did a project on Africville, N.S. — a historic Black community on the outskirts of Halifax.
Al Rahhal said he was shocked to learn that Halifax city council voted to relocate residents and demolish the community back in the 1960s.
"I was interested in the project and I wanted to learn more about it, and I think people should have respect," he said.
Like his project partner, Yonchev said he wanted to research the history of Africville. He also liked learning about the people who were born and raised there.
Kylee Rafuse is a Grade 7 student at Georgetown Elementary. She did a project on the birthplace of hockey: Windsor, N.S.
"I play hockey, myself, so I think it was pretty interesting," she said. "I learned a lot."
Morgan Sheppard is in Grade 7 at Stonepark Intermediate. She did her project on Mi'kmaq and Acadian culture, and "how they really stayed together and helped each other throughout the deportations.
