Heritage Fair Held at Biidaaban
Biidaaban hosted its first ever Heritage Fair at the new school location on March 28, 2025. The Fair was well attended by community members and showcased some exceptional information booths.
Creative display boards drew in passersby to have a closer look. Students in Grades 6 to 8 participated in the Fair. In pairs or small groups, they determined a topic of personal interest, performed research, and created a display board with decorative artwork, images, fancy titles/themes, and items on display in front as interactive features for Fairgoers to discover.
Some of the displays included themes on:
- Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women & Girls (MMIWG)
- Traditional Medicines (uses and history)
- Medicine Wheel Teachings
- Residential School History
- Beading and Dream Catchers
- Importance of Elders in the Community
- Hibernation
- Red Dress Symbolism/Meaning
- Snow Snake, and more…
To be recognized as a Heritage Fair, certain criteria need to be met, according to Colleen Toulouse, Student Support Services Coordinator, and these are developed by the Ontario Heritage Fair Association (OHFA). Judging of the displays followed this categorical awards chart:
- Ontario Historical Society Award (OHSA) History
- OHSA Award for Reading and Remembrance
- OHFA Founder’s Award
- OHFA Historical Thinking Award
- Ontario Human Rights Commission Award
- OHFA First Nations, Metis, Inuit Award
- Ontario Library Association Award
- Archives of Ontario Award
- Ontario Genealogical Society Award (Ancestors Award)
- Ontario Women’s History Network Award
- Sponsor’s Award
- Multicultural History Society of Ontario Award
The winners for each grade participating were as follows:
Grade 6: 1st – Avery, Ocean, Layla & Teirne, 2nd – Gavin, Kamryn, 3rd – Madeline
Grade 7: 1st – Claire, Carly, 2nd – Ryder, 3rd – Caius, Cooper
Grade 8: 1st – Aminah, 2nd – Brooke, Emmie, 3rd – Sophia, Halle
Honourable mentions were awarded to: Shaylyn, Keylan, Gilbert, Santino, Zephyr, Archer, Asher, and Charlotte for their wonderful projects!
Congratulations to the students who won an award in a specialized category. You should be proud of your amazing project, workmanship, and display of knowledge. Miigwech to all students from Grades 6 to 8 who participated in the Heritage Fair! The event offered schoolmates, staff, and community members an opportunity to learn about topics they can relate to – building on knowledge, or perhaps even learning something about themselves for the first time! The diverse perspectives and interactive presentations made it a great learning environment for all.
Door prizes were also awarded to three lucky community members who came out to support the Heritage Fair and the students. 1st prize included a $25 restaurant gift card won by Jessica Hardisty, 2nd prize was a $25 Tim Horton’s gift card won by Trista Toulouse, and 3rd prize was a $25 Marks gift card won by Ricky Lee Toulouse. Congratulations and chi miigwech, everyone!