The Sudbury Regional HISTOR!CA Heritage Fair brings the past to life

A Boy’s Life in Coniston focuses on the personal history of a grandfather, part of the family heritage. Growing up in Burwash explores some of the wonders of life in a small community that is no longer in existence. Trapping in the North describes products of the harvest and commercial goods made from them, part of our Canadian culture. The Sudbury Star 100 Years profiles a significant source of news in our community.

These are just a handful of the many projects visitors will have an opportunity to see on Thursday, May 1st  and Friday, May 2nd, 2008 at the Sudbury Regional HISTOR!CA Heritage Fair, which takes place at Laurentian University. This year, more than 1,600 elementary and secondary school students from Sudbury, Espanola and Manitoulin will attend the two-day exhibition and cultural celebration, making the Sudbury Regional HISTOR!CA Heritage Fair one of the largest in Canada.

The event will feature student projects, local displays, workshops and live performances, including entertainment by Confederation Secondary School’s Evolutionary Band. Under the leadership of Music Director Norm McIntosh, Evolutionary received national television exposure last spring when the band appeared live on Canada AM setting a new Guinness World Record for the deepest concert below the earth’s crust.  Evolutionary performed at VALE Inco’s North Mine at the 3,400 foot level.  As Northern Ontario’s official No Drinking and Driving band, members of Evolutionary and crew are musical ambassadors for Action Sudbury. They have also partnered with the Social Planning Council of Sudbury to sing the praises of peace. At each performance, Evolutionary proudly promotes the social Inclusion slogan "Make peace your choice.  We do." to educate and sensitize their audience about the effects of bullying.

"The HISTOR!CA Heritage Fair, a showcase of our community and country’s rich heritage, gives the youth of today an opportunity to research, discover and creatively capture history and bring the past to life," says Lona Joly, Chair of the Sudbury Regional HISTOR!CA Heritage Fair Organizing Committee. "Once again this year, students will enthusiastically engage in telling the stories of their family and community. The result is a spectacular showcase of our local culture and heritage."

The local fair offers students the opportunity to explore the many aspects of their Canadian heritage in a dynamic learning environment and to present the results of their efforts in a public exhibition. Over the years, student presentations have been as varied as the number of participants, drawing on a variety of creative project formats, including dramatic and musical presentations, videos, posters, maps, essays, and 3-D displays, often with props and costumes.

Winning projects from the Sudbury Regional HISTOR!CA Heritage Fair will be announced at an awards ceremony on May 8th.  Several projects will be selected for the Provincial HISTOR!CA Heritage Fair, to be held in Ottawa from June 11th to 15th.  One student will have an opportunity to attend the National HISTOR!CA Fair from July 7th  to 14th in Victoria, British Columbia.

The public is invited to attend the Historica Heritage Fair opening event on Thursday, May 1st, 2008 at Laurentian University’s Fraser Auditorium. Exciting student stage performances will begin at 6 pm, followed by a Cultural Concert from 6:45 pm to 7:45 pm. The public will be able to view the student projects after the concert, from 8 pm to 8:30 pm in the Great Hall. The community is also invited to view the projects on Friday, May 2nd, 2008 in the Great Hall from 11 am to 1:30 pm. Admission is free for both days.

The Sudbury Regional HISTOR!CA Heritage Fair is a community event organized and sponsored in partnership with a number of local organizations, including the Rainbow District School Board, the Sudbury Catholic District School Board, Laurentian University, the City of Greater Sudbury and the Sudbury Multicultural Folk Arts Association.

Learn more about this year’s local Heritage Fair by visiting: http://www.sudburyheritagefair-historica.ca/

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Media Contact:

Lona Joly, Chair,

Sudbury Regional HISTOR!CA Heritage Fair, 705-522-3171.