Saturday MAY 03 | 9:30–2 pm | Galt Museum & Archives | Judges Needed!

Lethbridge - From myths and legends to wars and battles, architecture, farming, politicians, archaeology, sports, music and more, you’ll find over 70 student history projects at the 19th Southern Alberta Regional Heritage Fair on Saturday, May 3 at the Galt Museum & Archives in Lethbridge. Support the students and drop by the fair anytime from 9:30 am to 2:30 pm; it is free to attend!

The Fair provides a chance for Grade 4-9 students from across southern Alberta to take any topic in Canadian history that interests them, discover more about it and then share it with others, including judges and the public. Participating schools are Aahsaopi Elementary School, Cape School, Chamberlain, Ecole Agnes Davidson School, Erle Rivers High School, FP Walsh, Fleetwood Bawden, Milk River Elementary, Lakeview, Westminster and Wilson Middle School. These schools represent six communities: Lethbridge, Medicine Hat, Milk River, Grassy Lake, Fort Macleod and the Blood Reserve.

“The Heritage Fair is again involved in Canada’s History Young Citizens,” says Belinda Crowson, Southern Alberta Regional Heritage Fair Coordinator. “It means that four local students, selected by the judges and the fair committee, will each be given a video camera to create a short 3-4 minute news piece or public service announcement about their Heritage Fair topic,” explains Crowson. “These videos will be uploaded to the national site and people across Canada will be invited to vote for their favourite.”

Organizers are still looking for a few judges to interview students and judge the Canadian history projects on May 3 from 8:30 – noon. Training is provided the morning of the Fair to new judges. If you are interested or want more information, please email Belinda Crowson at belinda.crowson@galtmuseum.com

Background

The Young Citizens program focuses on citizenship and is a complementary component to Heritage Fairs, an annual event where students present the results of their research on Canadian heroes, legends and key events in Canadian history. Participants in Young Citizens make a short video about their heritage fair topic, much like an evening news report or short documentary. The student videos are posted online where family and friends can view and share the videos. The videos are reviewed by a panel of judges for a chance to win a trip to Ottawa to attend the Canada’s History Forum.

Canada's History, whose mission is to make the discovery of Canada’s past relevant, engaging, empowering and accessible to all Canadians, is one of two national charities devoted to the field of public history and the only one with a broad national membership base. It publishes Canada's History Magazine (formerly The Beaver) and Kayak: Canada's History Magazine for Kids. Its national awards and recognition programs celebrate the exemplary efforts of others working to preserve, promote and popularize Canadian history.