GNS students win coveted spots to Provincial Heritage Fair

Three Glenlyon Norfolk Junior School students are heading to the Provincial Heritage Fair after being chosen as the top projects out of over 80 students at the South Island Regional Fair held May 11 at the Royal BC Museum.

Grade 4 GNS students Adam Cotterell, Sasha Baterina, and Madeleine Rowand won three of the four coveted spots in the Provincial Fair in Squamish July 4 - 8.

Adam Cotterell did an inquiry project on D’Arcy Island. He interviewed retired UVic professor, Dr. Lai, made a diorama, and wrote a topical poem. In addition to gaining the spot at the provincial fair, Cotterell was also awarded a Lieutenant-Governor’s Award for his project.

“Racism was almost as contagious as leprosy at that time,” said Cotterell. “I think it should be fresh in our minds to not be racist or discriminating against other people.”

Madeleine Rowand discovered last year she was type 1 diabetic. She chose to find out more about Fredrick Banting and the discovery of insulin. Rowand was also awarded a Best Use of Library Resources Award.

“It was a pretty awful, terrifying disease before insulin,” said Rowand. “When I was diagnosed with diabetes, I was eight. I was fully diagnosed on Nov. 11 which is actually two days from World Diabetes Day and Frederick Banting’s birthday, so I found that kind of funny.”

Sasha Baterina inquired about Inukshuks and how the Inuit use them for communicating different things such as marking good hunting grounds. She also won a Canada’s History Award.

“I wondered how a pile of rocks could mean a lot. I knew it meant welcome from the Olympics but I wanted to learn more. I found out that there are many types of inuksuit, with different names and purposes,” said Baterina. “It would be cool to learn even more than I have and see the Inuit.”

“I’m so pleased to see our students going to the Provincial Heritage Fair this year. It’s the first time I’ve had students in Grade 4 chosen,” said Sarah McLeod, teacher-librarian at GNS. “We had eight schools participate in the South Island Regional Fair this year, up from four last year. We are hoping next year to have 16 schools. Double it every year.”

More information about the BC Heritage Fairs can be found at bcheritagefairs.ca

Teachers interested in participating in the future can contact the regional South Vancouver Island Regional Heritage Fair co-ordinator Helen Edwards from the Hallmark Heritage Society at heritagelady@gmail.com.