Provincial Heritage Fair

The PEI Heritage Fair program is a student-centered, inquiry-based learning opportunity that allows grades five to nine students to explore a Prince Edward Island or Canadian history topic of interest. Through guided inquiry-based learning, students are encouraged to think critically about history and its implications, acquire a sound understanding of the discipline and become more engaged in history. The grade five study of past societies and the grade six focus on Island history lend well to be tied in with heritage fair. Heritage Fair also has direct ties to grade seven and eight social studies curriculum and the study of Canadian History. 

See links under RESOURCES for more information

Since 1997, PEI students have participated in the Heritage Fair program with an annual participation of close to 30 schools and 1,700 students. Students develop heritage fair projects in the classroom and create a written report, visual display and an oral presentation. See CanadasHistory.ca for heritage fair teacher resources and the student guide titled What’s the Story?    

Approximately 170 students move on to represent their schools at the Provincial Heritage Fair each May. Several students are selected each year to participate in a video contest by Canada’s History Young Citizens.

2024 Awards

Provincial Heritage Fair Award Recipients

Award of Excellence: In recognition of outstanding achievement in researching, interpreting, and effectively conveying findings on a topic in Canadian history

• Isla Lalonde, 6e année, <<La cuisine française de l’Ontario et du Quebec>>, École Sherwood Elementary
• Natalie Waters, Grade 6, “The Halifax Explosion”, Stratford Elementary

Indigenous Relations Secretariat Awards: to recognize outstanding student achievement in celebrating an aspect of Indigenous history, heritage, or culture and to recognize an outstanding  project on an aspect of the archaeology or paleontology of Prince Edward Island’s past

• Brooke MacSwain, Grade 7, Project: “Mawi’omi”, Morell Consolidated

Parks Canada Award: In recognition of the best project portraying the heritage of a National Historic Site of Canada on Prince Edward Island or a person, place or event of national historic significance.

• Violette Eiriksson, Grade 5, Project: “La popularité d’Anne et la maison aux pignons verts au Japan>> École François-Buote

PEI Regiment Museum Award: To recognize an outstanding project on an aspect of military history

• Luke Riley & Jasper MacPherson, Grade 5, “D-Day”, Stratford Elementary
• Clairabella Lidstone-Gallant, Grade 6, “Mount Pleasant Airport”, Ellerslie Elementary

PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation Award: To recognize the best use of material culture (artifacts) in a project interpreting an aspect of Prince Edward Island or Canadian history

• Natalie Waters, Grade 6, “The Halifax Explosion”, Stratford Elementary

2024 Finalists

Grade 5

• Kaylee MacDonald, “Fastest Game on Ice”, Montague Consolidated
• Luke Riley & Jasper MacPherson, “D-Day Canadians”, Stratford Elementary
• Abigail Luo, << Les manières et la politesse chinoise>>, École Sherwood

Grade 6

• Natalie Waters, “The Halifax Explosion”, Stratford Elementary
• Mireille Bernard & Kaleb Arsenault, <<Ferme laitière>>, École Évangéline
• Isla Lalonde, 6e année, <<La cuisine française de l’Ontario et du Quebec>>, École Sherwood Elementary
• Sophia Faccin “Inukshuk: Speaking through the stones” Spring Park Elementary

Grade 7

• Klara Compton, “Savage Harbour, Then & Now”, Morell Consolidated
• Andrew Ellis, “From Drill to Duty – Canadian Cadets", Grace Christian School
• Isaac Gallant, <<La Pèlerinage>>, Hernewood Intermediate

Grade 8

Cassandra Vaglio, “The October Crisis”, Georgetown Elementary

Grade 9
Leah MacNeill & Lauren MacNeill, “The Rix-MacNeill Family Tree”, Grace Christian School

Honourable Mention
Johanna Forbes, <<Comment sont les femmes canadiennes devenu les personnes?>>, École Colonel Gray

Special Prize Award Recipients 2024

Download list of award recipients of special prizes sponsored by community organizations

Photo Gallery

Advance each photo from below for full album or visit Flickr.com

Contact

Provincial Heritage Fair Coordinator
3rd floor Shaw Building, 95-105 Rochford Street
Charlottetown, PE C1A 7N8

Telephone: (902) 368-5940
Fax: 902-894-0342 fax
Email: clstewart@gov.pe.ca or heritagefair@gov.pe.ca