BC Provincial Heritage Fair 2014

Did you hear? The BC Provincial Heritage Fair in 2014 will be in...

*drumroll*

Kamloops! 

Komagata Maru - 100 year anniversary

Do you know that the 100-year anniversary of the Komagata Maru incident is in 2014? What a fantastic opportunity to create a Heritage Fair project on this landmark event in BC's history. Don't know what it is or where to start? Check out Komagata Maru Journey for an interactive learning experience (Teachers, there are lesson plans!).

Welcome back!

Welcome back to another school year and pretty soon, another Heritage Fair! It's never too early to start planning :)

You are invited to attend the Heritage Fair Welcome Back Social on Wednesday, September 18, 3:30pm at the Delta Museum, 4858 Delta Street (Ladner). Please RSVP to cballard@deltamuseum.ca.

B.C. honours Heritage Fair students, announces funding

VICTORIA - This year the Province is honouring 58 student participants and their history-based projects at the Royal B.C. Museum during the sixth annual Provincial Heritage Fair in Victoria, July 4-8, Forests, Lands and Natural Resource Operations Minister Steve Thomson announced today.

Continue reading the article here.

Sunday Showcase

11:00am Opening Ceremony at St. Ann's Academy

12:00pm Project Showcase at Royal BC Museum

3:00 End of Showcase, students leave

Follow the blog!

Follow the BC Heritage Fairs Alumni's blog at http://www.bcheritagefairs.ca - do you recognize who is on the front page?!

Outdoor Adventures

Jam-packed day of activities, starting with a nature walk at Goldstream Park where we learned about the importance of the estuary.

Followed by a visit to Fort Rodd NHS where we learned about the important role this site played in defending the West Coast.

Then it was off to Chinatown where we learned about the significance of Victoria's Chinatown to the history of Victoria, Canada and China.

And if that wasn't enough, it was into the swimming pool to really tire the kids out!

And we're off!

After traveling for nearly five hours -- by bus, by ferry, and then by bus again -- the Richmond-Delta delegation have finally made it to Victoria. 

Part 5 of 5: An Interview with Tristen

* This is the last in a series of interviews conducted by Manvi Ansal, Provincial Fair 2011 Alumnus, with each of the Richmond-Delta Provincial Fair 2013 delegates. 

Name: Tristen Wong

Grade: 5

City: Richmond

Project Title: Blood and Iron: Chinese Canadians coming to work on the CPR

Tristen’s topic is still important in today’s world because when many people think about the CPR, they think about the Caucasian and Scottish people that built it, but they don’t even realize that Chinese immigrants helped make it too. Without the Chinese, there would be no CPR. When Tristen heard that she had to narrow her topic, she chose it on the Chinese Immigrants that made it, not about everybody that contributed. 

The greatest challenge of making her project was to make her project straight, neat and perfect because she didn’t want it to be messy. She also said that when she had to write a report, she had to do at least 6-7 drafts until it because good enough.  

 Tristen would change the actual project board because it was yellow, but she wanted to change it to blue. It would be like the sky. She had a model of the railroad on her board, and she didn’t think it would make sense for the sky to be yellow.   

Tristen got surprised when John A. MacDonald gave a speech about the CPR, he didn’t mention anything about the Chinese.  Also, the Chinese were being paid 1 dollar when the whites were being paid 2 dollars. They didn’t know that they were being cheated because in China they were used to earning 9 cents. 

Part 4 of 5: An Interview with Jolie

* This is the fourth in a series of interviews conducted by Manvi Ansal, Provincial Fair 2011 Alumnus, with each of the Richmond-Delta Provincial Fair 2013 delegates.  

Name: Jolie Leung

Grade: 7

City: Richmond

Project Title: The Chinese Immigration Act 1923

Jolie’s topic is about the experience of the immigrants and is still important in today’s world because there are a lot of Chinese people in Vancouver and that history shapes the future of us. Jolie’s project has definitely inspired her to learn more about this topic and see what happened. 

Her topic told her about the life of the immigrants and how hard it was. People forbid the Chinese to enter Canada, expect people who got scholars…etc. It was a law made by the government in 1923. The government thought Chinese were corrupt and dirty and how they were pests. 

The greatest challenge throughout making the project was doing the interviews. She spoke to the head activist, Sid Chow-Tan who was one of the relatives of the Chinese.  She also spoke to Professor Henry Yu, whose family was in Canada, while he and his mother were in China. It was hard finding the people to interview. 

One thing Jolie would is that she would change some of the posters she used in some of her projects and turn them into her own posters. Also, she would like to change her creative component into a drawing instead of a poem. Jolie was surprised when the white people got some people from China to build the Canadian Pacific Railroad and once they were done, they sent the Chinese people back to China.

Part 3 of 5: An Interview with Anisha

* This is the third in a series of interviews conducted by Manvi Ansal, Provincial Fair 2011 Alumnus, with each of the Richmond-Delta Provincial Fair 2013 delegates. 

Name: Anisha Gill

Grade: 5

City: Delta

Project Title: Komagata Maru

Anisha’s topic is still important in today’s world because people are still mad about it. They should have apologized sooner to the Indians. It has made an impact on Indians in today’s world. They probably don’t think well of Canada.  

 Her project has inspired her to be proud of her culture. Sikhs did a lot to make a living in Canada. They fought hard and they wouldn’t give up. She is happy they did. 

The greatest challenge throughout doing her project was doing the layout because she had too much information about her topic, so she had to cram it all in.  She would change her project by adding higher vocabulary and to find a way to make my project fit all my information neatly.   

Anisha was surprised when the Indians came to Canada, they got sent back. It was rude how the Canadians forced them to go back only because they were Indian.  If she could share one thing about her project on Global news, it would be how a person named William C. Hopkins was the one that sent the Indians back. That is just so racist. 

Canadians should know about her project because it was a black mark in Canadian history and Sikhs have developed a lot since 1914. Now people don’t care what happened back then, but it should matter because people deserve to know what happened in the past.

Part 2 of 5: An Interview with Hillary

* This is the second in a series of interviews conducted by Manvi Ansal, Provincial Fair 2011 Alumnus, with each of the Richmond-Delta Provincial Fair 2013 delegates.  

Name: Hillary Nelson

Grade: 5

City: Delta

Project title: A Vision of Tomorrow (The George Massey Tunnel)

Hillary’s topic is still important today’s world because it was the only road tunnel below sea level in Canada, making its roadway the lowest road surface in Canada. Hillary goes through the George Massey tunnel every day and she has always wondered how it got built or how it got its name, and stuff like that. 

Her greatest challenge throughout making her project was probably getting the information about how much money it cost to build the tunnel. She noticed that one book said another when another website said another. It was hard to choose. 

She thinks one thing she would have liked to change about her project was to put the interview with Doug Massey on the board instead of in a book because more people would have paid more attention to it. 

One thing that surprised Hilary was how the people built the tunnel underwater, because part of it had to go under the water. She thought that it would be very difficult. 

If there was one thing she could share on Global or National news, she said that it would be that only one person died out of the whole construction of the tunnel.  She said that more people died in the making of any other average tunnel than this one. Canadians should know about her project because it was the lowest road made in Canada.

Part 1 of 5: An Interview with Jonathan

* This is the first in a series of interviews conducted by Manvi Ansal, Provincial Fair 2011 Alumnus, with each of the Richmond-Delta Provincial Fair 2013 delegates.

Name: Jonathan Bridson

Grade: 7
City: Richmond
Project Title: La Conserverie Monstre (The Monster Cannery)

Jonathan’s topic is still important to today’s world because it shows how Canada has worked so hard, and how tough it’s been for people before us. It also is important because it taught us about racism back in the day, How Chinese workers got paid less than white workers. 

His project opened up a lot of other questions to be answers like “Why is the job so dangerous?” He was surprised about the cannery and while he was doing it, he said that most of his questions were answered. 

The greatest challenge throughout making the project was when his teacher told him to redo the poster 2 weeks before the fair because it wasn’t good enough. Another thing was getting the information. He would change some things about his project like he would prefer to do it in English. He had only been in French immersion for 2 years. Last but not least, translating all the information in French. 

Jonathan was surprised about the injuries and how the Chinese had to do hard work that was too dangerous, and that there were very scary tools to use.  If Jonathan could share one thing on Global news it would be about how many people died there and how there are still places in the world that have working conditions like this. He thinks that too many people did there. He thinks that people should start taking action.

Richmond Heritage Fair Students in the Richmond News

Provincial Fair Preview: First Peoples House

This year’s Provincial Fair students will be welcomed by indigenous dancers and singers at the First Peoples House on the University of Victoria campus. Find out more at http://www.bcheritagefairs.ca/provincial-fair-preview-first-peoples-house/

Minister Moore Announces New Programs to Support Canada's History

The Honourable James Moore, Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, today introduced a series of new measures to help promote Canadian history, including the first ever Government of Canada History Awards, new Heritage Minutes, and the official Canada History Week.

Read more:
http://www.pch.gc.ca/eng/1370873738331/1370873756081

Save-the-Date: Sunday, July 7

You are invited to the Provincial Fair Showcase on Sunday, July 7, 11:00am-2:00pm at the Royal BC Museum in Victoria.

Slideshows from the Fair

Please follow the links below for slideshows from the Fair. Thank you, Kimberly, for putting these together!

Slideshow - Part 1 
Slideshow - Part 2 
Slideshow - Part 3 
Slideshow - Part 4 
Slideshow - Part 5 

Provincial Fair

Congratulations to the five projects that have been selected for showcase at the BC Provincial Heritage Fair in Victoria.

• Komagata Maru by Anisha Gill, McCloskey Elementary School
• A Vision for Tomorrow by Hillary Nelson, Neilson Grove Elementary School
• Chinese Immigration Act by Jolie Leung, Choice School
• La Conserverie Monstre by Jonathan Bridson, McNeely Elementary School
• Blood & Iron by Tristen Wong, Richmond Christian School

Please visit http://www.bcheritagefairs.ca for more information about the Provincial Heritage Fair.

Eat Your Primary Sources! Or, Teaching the Taste of History

A fascinating look at incorporating your taste buds in the learning and teaching of history:
http://activehistory.ca/2013/05/eat-your-primary-sources-or-teaching-the-taste-of-history

Provincial Fair

Students selected for the Provincial Fair will be announced later this week or early next week. Thank you for your patience!

Award Recipients

Canada's History Award
#75 - Juno Beach

 United Empire Loyalists Award
#23 - Sir John Franklin 

1812 and More Award
#21 - The Heroine of 1812



<NO PHOTO>
BC Heritage Branch Historic Places Award
#39 - Barkerville

BC Magazine Award
#82 - Chinese Building the Pacific Railway 

BC Hydro Power Pioneer Award
#6 - Paldi

BCHFS Stellar Achievement Award
#11 - History of the Richmond Review 

 



BCHFS Stellar Achievement Award
#12 - Komagata Maru

 



BCHFS Stellar Achievement Award
#55 - Mossy Masterpiece

 



 BCHFS Stellar Achievement Award
#63 - L'histoire de Canadiens d'origine japonaise

 



BCHFS Stellar Achievement Award
#57 - A Vision for Tomorrow

 



BCHFS Stellar Achievement Award 
#64 - History of a Canadian Pioneer

 



BCHFS Stellar Achievement Award
#99 - Chinese Immigration Act

 



BCHFS Stellar Achievement Award
#102 - Blood & Iron

Local Historian of Richmond Award
#106 - The Monster Cannery

Local Historian of Delta Award
#108 - Reifel Bird Sanctuary 

Family History Award
#47 - Early Chinese Arrivals

Aboriginal Award
#100 - Residential Schools

Significant Canadian Award
#113 - Rick Hansen

 National Significance Award
#30 - The Deadly CPR

Industry Award   
#5 - The History of the Britannia Mine Museum

<NO PHOTO>
Sport Award
#123 - Montreal Victorias

Artistic Merit Award
#69 - The Steveston Samurai

 


Archives Award
#76 - La Conserverie Monstre

 


Honourable Mention
#88 - Lumberjacks

Student Choice Award
#101 - The Arrow 

Success!

The 11th Annual Richmond Delta Regional Heritage Fair was a huge success! 

Numbers:
123 Heritage Fair projects created by 172 students
30 classes participated in 12 different schools
500 visitors over two days

Photos and List of Award Recipients to come!

Congratulations and Thank You!

Congratulations Students! Thank you for sharing your wealth of knowledge about Canadian history and heritage.

Thank you Teachers for guiding your students through this Heritage Fair experience.

Thank you Volunteers & Judges! This event would not be possible without you interviewing students about their researching, leading them to their activities throughout the day, assisting with activity stations, monitoring projects in the evening, distributing food and so much more!

Thank you Sponsors for making this all possible!

• Federal Government of Canada
• BC Arts Council
• BC Heritage Fairs Society
• Richmond School Board
• Delta School District
• Richmond Heritage Commission
• Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site

Thank you Workshop Presenters and Activity Sponsors:

• Chinese Canadian Stories
• Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden
• Gulf of Georgia Cannery, National Historic Site
• Kimberly Baker
• Richmond Art Gallery
• Richmond Public Library
• Roberta Price
• Shannon Nordling
• Sylvan Learning Centre
• Wildlife Rescue

Thank you FIeld Trip Sites:

• Britannia Shipyards, National Historic Site
• Steveston Tram
• Steveston Museum

Thank you Food Sponsors:

• COBS Bread
• Envision Financial
• Safeway
• Starbucks Coffee
• Subway

Thank you Award and Prize Sponsors:

• Asian Canadian Writers Workshop
• BC Heritage Branch
• BC Hydro Power Pioneers
• BC Magazine
• Black Bond Books
• Britannia Mine Museum
• Canada's History
• Chinese Canadian Historical Society
• Friends of the Richmond Archives
• H.R. MacMillan Space Centre
• London Heritage Branch
• Museum of Anthropology
• Museum of Vancouver
• Nikkei National Museum
• Provincial Capital Commission
• Ronsdale Press
• Royal BC Museum
• United Empire Loyalists
• Tradewind Books
• Vancouver Art Gallery
• Vancouver Canadians Baseball Club

Here we go!

The 11th annual Richmond Delta Regional Heritage Fair kicks off today! 

The Richmond Museum and Delta Museum & Archives are pleased to present over 120 Heritage Fair project displays at the Richmond Cultural Centre, 7700 Minoru Gate. 

For more information, download the Program Brochure: click here.

Here is a sneak peek of what to expect!
More photos to come.

Heritage Fair Projects - what to expect?

As always, expect a wide variety of topics and themes from Canada's past. Here is just a taste of what you will find at the Richmond Delta Regional Heritage Fair this year:

• The History of the Britannia Mine
• The Battle for Women's Rights: The Famous Five
• Who were the Metis?
• La Conserverie Monstre
• Juno Beach and The Canadian Scottish Regiment
• Alexander Graham Bell: Genius or Supplanter?
• The White Baby of the North
• The Montreal Victorias

School Fairs

We have seen some outstanding projects at the School Fairs and wanted to share some photos. Congratulations to ALL students for their hard work!