The BC Provincial Heritage Fair

May 29th - June 1st, 2008
Kamloops, British Columbia
History and program details

One hundred students participated in the first ever BC Provincial Fair held at Thompson Rivers University in Kamloops, May 29 to June 1.

During the four days, students attended a number of workshops and field trips to historical sites in the area. Several highlights included a visit to the SekLep Museum and pit houses and a ride on the historic steam train where students were “robbed’ by the bandit Billy Miner and his gang on horseback. Students also were able to carve a part of the Cowichan 2008 Spirit Pole that was touring the province in advance of the North American Indigenous Games.

At a Saturday night concert by the talented Aboriginal performer, Art Napolean, students and chaperones sang and danced to folk songs, aboriginal chants, and even the Beatles. For many of the songs, students were invited on stage as “backup singers”. The concert ended with a “round dance for participants led by several of the aboriginal counselors.

The participants in the Provincial Fair were from all parts of British Columbia – from tiny Kitgatla, a village south of Prince Rupert, from the Interior, from Vancouver Island and from large urban centres in metro Vancouver. Students and chaperones met as strangers on Thursday night and left as friends early on Sunday morning – friends and determined supporters of the Historica Fairs Program. The hugs and the tears as the students parted were visible reminders of the impact the three days together had had on all participants.

Students from Delta Aboriginal Program present their projects at the Provincial Fair 

An email letter from a grade 5 student in Kitkatla to Mary Campone, Kamloops Fair Coordinator, sums up the experience of the Provincial Fair participants:

Hello Mary:

Thank you for the experience of Heritage fair. I enjoyed it very much. I liked all the tours we went on. I am sorry I missed the opening ceremony due to illness. I look forward in participating in another heritage fair project. I learned that working hard has its rewards. I look forward to winning again next year.

Janelle Hill, Grade 5

Students working on the Spirit Pole

Thank you to the Ministry of Education and The Ministry of Tourism, Sports and the Arts for financial support of the BC Provincial Fair and to the Kamloops committee who did an amazing job in organizing a memorable four days in Kamloops.

---