The 2020 Nova Scotia Heritage Fair is going virtual and is open to all Nova Scotian students in Grades 4 to 9.
"It was very important to us to find a way to continue, despite school closures,” says Dr. Kirrily Freeman of the Saint Mary’s Department of History, who coordinates the Provincial Heritage Fair each year. “Students work so hard on their projects throughout the year to prepare for this. Holding a virtual fair will be a good way to keep a connection with the kids, showcase their wonderful work, and highlight our youth and community, as well as our history and heritage, in these challenging times."
Every year, schools across the province hold fairs featuring heritage and history-themed projects by students in Grades 4 to 9. Winners go on to participate in the Nova Scotia Provincial Heritage Fair, usually held over two days in early June at Saint Mary’s University with educational workshops, awards and a public showcase.
Africville is the 2020 honouree for the provincial heritage day and heritage fair. The close-knit community was built on the shores of Bedford Basin by descendants of the Black Loyalists and Black refugees who came to Nova Scotia in the late 1700s and early 1800s. See the Nova Scotia Heritage Day website for information and videos.
Students are invited to submit their projects on any aspect of Canadian history or heritage to kirrily.freeman@smu.ca before June 1, 2020. Any parents or students with questions can also send an email to the address above.
Submissions should include:
2-3 digital photos of the project;
captions explaining each photo and describing the research for the project; and
Projects will be displayed publicly throughout the month of June on the Nova Scotia Provincial Heritage Fair Instagram site, @nsprovincialheritagefair. Any students looking for inspiration can check out these highlights from the 2018 and 2019 Provincial Heritage Fairs.
Updates from the Nova Scotia Provincial Heritage Fair will be posted on its website, on Facebook at @novascotiaheritagefairs, and on Instagram at @nsprovincialheritagefair.