By Ms. Jenise Boland, Social Studies Teacher Today, May 28, Kate Montague ’29, Saba Alipour ’29, and Vivian Hao ’29 are representing the school at the Regional Heritage Fair hosted at the University of British Columbia Scarfe Building of Education.
The Heritage Fair program encourages students to explore Canadian history through inquiry, research, and presentation, challenging young historians to investigate the people, events, innovations, and stories that have shaped Canada. Students are asked not only to conduct historical research, but also to communicate their findings creatively and thoughtfully to public audiences.
Kate’s project explored the history and impact of the Canadian film industry, Saba examined the discovery of insulin and its lasting influence on medicine and public health, and Vivian investigated the role of diaspora Chinese labourers in the construction of the Canadian Pacific Railway.
The regional competition follows WPGA’s own highly successful school Heritage Fair, which brought together nearly 100 members of the school community, including parents, students, faculty, and staff. Visitors spent the afternoon engaging with student historians, providing feedback, and helping select projects for regional nomination.
The energy in the room was incredible, and it was clear how much care, curiosity, and pride students brought to their work. From visually striking displays to thoughtful and engaging presentations, the range and quality of projects made this year’s Heritage Fair a truly special showcase of student learning.
Congratulations to Kate, Saba, and Vivian on representing WPGA at the regional level, and to all students who participated in this year’s Heritage Fair.