Provincial Heritage Fair Home and School Award Winners

The PEI Home and School Federation is happy to announce the winners of the 2015 Home and School Federation Special Prizes, awarded today at the Provincial Heritage Fair.

Each year two Home and School Federation Special Prizes are awarded to Heritage Fair projects selected from those on the topic of "family heritage," reflecting the Federation's commitment to family engagement in education.

Chandler MacIsaac and Benjamin MacIsaac from O'Leary Elementary School were awarded a Special Prize for their project on "Benjamin MacIsaac," veteran of World War One and West Point Lighthouse keeper from 1925 to 1963. Benjamin MacIsaac was great-grandfather to both students, and their project engaged them in the history of their family and their community as well as the history of the West Point light. They were effective, well-prepared presenters who were obviously proud of their family's heritage, and well-versed in relating its story.

Carson Harding from Stonepark Intermediate School, was awarded a Special Prize for his project "A Story That Needs to Be Told," the story of his great-grandmother, born in Poland, forced to Austria at age 13 in World War Two, a survivor of the war who migrated to Canada and settled on Prince Edward Island. Through his research, Carson learned much about his family's history, about the war, and about survival; learning more about his great-grandmother's plight during the war allowed Carson to understand the war in an entirely new context. He as a well-spoken presenter, speaking with conviction about a topic that obviously engaged him.

Peter Rukavina, PEI Home and School Federation President, presented Chandler, Benjamin and Caron with Special Prize certificates and ribbons.