Community and Cultural Affairs Minister Elmer MacFadyen expressed his pleasure with the high quality of student work which will be showcased at the National fair. “Participants in the National Heritage Fair have earned this opportunity to represent Prince Edward Island through hard work and creativity. Each of these students have demonstrated their appreciation and understanding of the unique and important history of PEI and of Canada,” said Minister MacFadyen. “I would like to wish the Island delegation well. As ambassadors of Prince Edward Island they will proudly share our heritage.”

The National Heritage Fair is an annual event which brings together students from across Canada to share their experience and culture. The fair is the culmination of a series of fairs at the school and provincial level in all provinces and territories.

Following judging at the Provincial Heritage Fair and upon recommendation of school principals and the agreement of parents/guardians, the following 15 students have been selected to attend the National Heritage Fair during their summer vacation:

Shelby-Lynn Arsenault, John Joe Sark Memorial

Kyla DeHaan, Eliot River Elementary

Daniel Larsen, Immanuel Christian School

Logan Profit, Alberton Consolidated

Sarah McIsaac, Glen Stewart Elementary

Dexter Gaudet, Tignish Elementary

Kayla Hodgkins, Birchwood Intermediate

Candace Hopkinson, Birchwood Intermediate

Sarah VanIderstine, Montague Intermediate

Jay Noble, Hernewood Intermediate

Kilah Sawatsky, Grace Christian School

Michelle Nabuurs, Montague Intermediate

Rose Leger, Englewood School

Dillon Wight, Englewood School

Kelsey Doucette, Morell Regional High

Matthew McNally, a grade 11 student at Morell Regional High School, will join the Prince Edward Island delegation as an alumni student. An alumni student is one who has previously attended a National Heritage Fair and acts as a junior counsellor to delegates as well as contributing to Heritage Press, the National Fair e-zine.

The Island students will travel with Head of Delegation Roberta Clark (Fortune) and chaperones: Corinne Chappell (Tracadie Cross), Rene Hurtubise (Department of Education), and Mike Smith (LM Montgomery School).

BACKGROUNDER

2005 Provincial Historica Fair Award Winners

The Hon. Laurier L. LaPierre Medal:

“The Honourable Laurier LaPierre, OC Medal was inspired by the Senator's passion for the history of Canada. As Co-chair of the Fairs Program, he is a tireless champion for the engagement of young people in exploring their cultures, history and heritage and sharing their discoveries with other students, their families and community.

The Medal and Certificate will be awarded, nation-wide, to a limited number of students, for their dedication to and enthusiasm for history and heritage. Individual regional and provincial/territorial Fairs committees across the country will coordinate the selection of the medal recipients at their Fair.”

www.histori.ca

Rayelle Morrison, Grade 5, Parkdale Elementary School. Project: Hillsborough River

Devyn MacDougall, Grade 5, Parkdale Elementary School. Project: Home remedies – now and then

Michael Pass, Grade 4, Prince Street Elementary School. Project: Port la Joye

Donald MacNearney and Liam Morris, Grade 9, Montague Intermediate. Project: Montreal Mind Control.

Vanessa Panchuk, Grade 9, Donagh Regional. Project: History of the Hillsborough Bridge.

HBC Explorers Award:

“In recognition of outstanding achievement in demonstrating an aspect of exploration that has influenced the history of Canada.”

Lucas Ramsay and Dylan Ellis, Grade 6, O’Leary Elementary. Project: Mi’kmaq, Then and Now.

Mark Townsend, Grade 5, Prince Street Elementary. Project: Exploits on the Exploits River.

RBC Foundation Award for the Celebration of Aboriginal Heritage:

“In recognition of outstanding achievement in celebrating an aspect of Aboriginal history, heritage or culture.”

Shelby-Lynn Arsenault, Grade 5, John J. Sark Memorial School. Project: Aboriginal Dancing.

Sarah Waddell, Grade 6, Prince Street Elementary. Project: Inuksuk.

Dmitri Zhukalin, Grade 5, Spring Park School. Project: Comparaison de deux peuples autochtones du Canada.

2005 Tattoo Our Moose contest:

Contest for students to design a tattoo on any theme relating to Canadian heritage. Winning designs will be on www.histori.ca and are plaque-mounted for winning entries.

Haley Myatt, Eliot River Elementary

Katie Andrews, Spring Park Elementary