Project #1
“How did Provincial and Federal Relations Evolve after Confederation?” by Caitlin
Student Summary:
This project concerns the evolving political landscape of Canada. Britain had once ruled Canada, but in 1867, it was time to find a new political system. In order to do so, many prominent political figures struggled to implement their own ideas. John A MacDonald knew what he wanted, but his idea of an all powerful federal government was questioned by many. As political issues arose all around the country, the federal and provincial governments clashed. Land rights, minorities, education and the decision to leave confederation were discussed. What began as discussions, turned into petitions, protests and, in some cases, riots and death. Issues fought about centuries ago are not dissimilar to what we are facing today. Race and religion tore the country apart as many fought to be heard. Confederation was the beginning of a new era in Canada. It was a solution for a lot of people, but for some, it created new problems that had to be solved. But Confederation managed to create a new country and Canada is still strong now. Today, we face many of the same issues that were fought over in the 1800s. We face many important decisions during the pandemic, such as who should be in charge. Does a virus that threatens our whole country attempt to be stopped by the federal government? Or, if the provinces receive impacts differently, should they be in charge. This project will mainly go over how people struggled during the 1800s, but it isn’t hard to see how many issues can be solved and thought about differently by consulting the decisions made in the past. Post-confederation is a very important era, and even as a very experienced country, we should still be able to look back at our past and wonder what we can do to try and find peace again.
Project #2
“Comparing Wolfe to Montcalm” by Felix
Student Summary:
In my presentation I am comparing James Wolfe and Louis-Joseph de Montcalm. I started with an introduction slide to prepare the audience for the presentation. I then described their early lives like where they were born, how they grew up, their family members and how young they joined the military. Their early lives were pretty similar, so comparing them later on was fairly easy. I wrote a brief description of the seven years war, and explained how James Wolfe and Louis-Joseph de Montcalm were the generals in possibly the most important battle of the entire war (the battle of the plains of Abraham). I then described James Wolfe’s tactics in the battle on the plains of Abraham. I described how he started and carried through with the attack on Quebec City, and then had his troops scale the cliffs in order to flank and draw out Montcalm’s troops. I then added a slide about Montcalm, and described the battle of carillon (which was one of louis-joseph de montcalm’s famous battles during the war). Later in the slide I described how he reacted to the attack on Quebec city, and made a final mistake when facing James Wolfe on the plains of Abraham. I then made a slide comparing James Wolfe and Louis-joseph de Montcalm, and added similarities and differences. The final slide was filled with sources, and had 6 free-to-use images in the presentation that were downloaded from either wikimedia commons, or snappygoat.com. I then added where I got all my information from at the bottom of the slide. In the presentation I also added two questions to make the reader think. The presentation is 11 slides long, because I wasn’t supposed to make it too lengthy as the judges only have a few minutes to review it. Finally the font I used varied to accommodate how much writing there was on each slide.
Project #3
“What are the Significant Events and People in Early and Western Black Canadian history” by Hontan
Student Summary:
My project is about the significant events and people in early and western Canadian Black History. I was inspired to study this topic because of the anti-black discrimination that has been going on which has been brought to light by the killing of George Floyd and the word wide protests which resulted from that. My project shows that Black Canadians have been in Canada since non-Indigenous peoples started to settle. They came as enslaved peoples, and as free peoples. When they wanted to go west like other settlers, some were able to settle like John Ware, and others in Amber Valley, Alberta. At the same time, other would-be Black settlers were stopped because of racism that became federal law. Black women were also shut out of organizations run by white middle class women. They then made organizations through their churches and communities, that let them fight for their own advancement!
Project #4
“How did the Second Industrial Age Change Canadian Society?” By Jack
Student Summary:
My Heritage Fair project is called, “How Did the Second Industrial Age Change Canadian Society,” and as the title suggests, it tries to detail the changes to Canadian society caused by the Second Industrial Age. Although the Second Industrial Age lasted in Canada from the 1860s, to the 1950s, this project focuses on events transpiring from 1867, to 1905. The project begins by presenting an overview of the Second Industrial Age, and then it discusses the branch plants created as a result of John A. Macdonald’s National Policy. It then addresses urbanization, another event partially encouraged by the National Policy. After this, the project focuses on child labour, and the working conditions faced by those working in this era. The project then goes on to detail various labour movements, including the Knights of Labour, and the Nine Hour Movement. Finally, the project talks about the labour laws, created as a result of the many labour movements taking place in this era, and then it concludes by comparing the Second Industrial Age to the modern era.
Project #5
“Who were the Acadians and How did they Shape Canada and North America? by Michael
Student Summary:
The Acadians lived in Acadia, which is now known as Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island, and Southeastern Quebec. The Acadians were French settlers that settled in Acadia and over time formed a new identity as Acadians. It was first settled in 1605, then 2 years later it was abandoned and it wasn’t formally settled again until 1632. The land was transferred back and forth between the French and the English until the Expulsion in 1755. Before the Expulsion, in 1750, there were about 13,000 Acadians.
The Acadians mostly settled along the Bay of Fundy’s title flats for sustainability and good farming. This made them have good relations with the Mi’kmaq Aboriginals. Another reason they had good relations with the Mi’kmaq was because of their interconnected family network with a lot of intermarriages.
The Expulsion happened in 1755 when Governor Charles Lawrence asked the Acadians to sign an Oath of Allegiance. When they refused he ordered the Expulsion because of one of two things; he wanted the land or he saw them as a threat. In the Expulsion they either were shipped to one of the Thirteen Colonies or they escaped to somewhere else. Some that were shipped to the Thirteen Colonies migrated down to Louisiana and formed the Cajun Culture.
In 1764, the expulsion was deemed inhumane and the Acadians were allowed back but their lands were owned by the British so they had to find new land to settle, like in St. Mary’s Bay. The Acadians couldn’t own land until the 1800’s. They contributed a lot to our culture and they still kept their identity from 1605 to now. Some ways that they contributed Canadian culture was with beautiful music, folklore, and art particularly in quilt making.
Project #6
‘ “What Shaped Canadien Culture” by Yigit
Student Summary:
My project tells the story of how settlers who came from France to a new land in 1608 changed over time to become a type of distinct people called “Canadiens”. My project tells the story of how the Canadiens overcame all obstacles which came in their way and created a new culture and a new dialect while never actually letting go of their French culture, it tells the story of how the women living in New France were much more independent than the women living in France or the British Colonies and how they could operate their own businesses. It tells how the farmers in New France, called Habitants, had their own area to farm which was the size of a football field, but couldn’t provide their large families, which meant that they had to do various things like fishing, hunting, harvesting timber, and trapping animals, and even though there weren’t enough priests in New France, and the majority of Canadiens were only able to attend church services a few times each year, the Catholic church held a very important role on all Canadiens. As the priests served as local leaders and set up important institutions, like schools and hospitals, that the Canadiens needed, and the nuns ran the hospitals. My slides also talk about how the Fur Trade affected the Canadiens lives. About how a lot of Canadiens became “coureurs de bois” to trade goods like cloth, reading glasses, wire, and guns for better hunting with the First Nations for furs, and about how a lot of Canadiens became “voyageurs” to transport those furs. My project shows how French Canadians became what they are today and how important French culture is to Canadians.
Project #7
“The Fight for Women’s Rights in Canada” by Zipporah
Student Summary:
Today in Canada women can do anything! But in the late 1800s women were not treated fairly. It was not considered appropriate for women to follow how they would like to act. Women couldn’t be out to travel on their own, participate in some sport activities and they had to wear long skirts or dresses. This project gets into things concerning how women pushed against male dominance. It looks at organizations like the YWCA and the Toronto Women’s Literary Club and the suffrage movement. It also talks about who were allowed to be involved in these organizations: mostly middle class white women. It shows how participating in sports helped to change things. It also surprisingly shows how Prime Minister John A. Macdonald favoured the vote for women, although they didn’t get it. It concludes that their efforts made a difference!
Project #8
“Is it a Myth? The Stories of Ogopogo and the Sasquatch” by Anerie
Student Summary:
Imagine going for a forest hike in the sts’ailes community on Canada’s West Coast. You hear something behind you. It looks like a big hairy creature. Could it be the Sasquatch? Later that day you are going for a ferry ride on Lake Okanagan in British Columbia. You see a big wave coming your way. Everyone is yelling that it’s a sea monster, or did you just witness the presence of Ogopogo.
Many Canadians know about mythical creatures like Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster, but they don’t know about Canada’s own First Nations’ myths. Mythology is an important part of culture and history, so to better understand Canadian heritage, I decided to do my project on Canadian mythological creatures and learn the story of Ogopogo and Sasquatch as well as different Indigenous group’s unique perspectives on them.
My project explores the legends of the Ogopogo and Sasquatch and an analytical comparison between them and their better known counterparts Bigfoot and the Loch Ness Monster. I hope you enjoy learning about Canadian mythological creatures. Thank you.
Project #9
“The Impacts of Canadian Rebellions and Political Ideologies” by Ian
Student Summary:
Louis Riel
It is obvious that the indiginous lands had been taken advantage of by the federal government. What
is also clear is that Louis Riel fought against the federal government so that the Métis could have equal
rights. But what is not clear is if Riel’s method were justifiable. Perhaps he had gotten to an extreme level
of violence that was unnecessary. This would explain why Riel went to an asylum. As for the truth, it is
difficult to know if his methods were morally wrong. Unless more information has been shown, only
opinions can be made on this topic.
Louis-Joseph Papineau
Although Papineau sought for a change in the British government, many historians do not agree he
did this for the French citizens. Instead, they believe that Papineau sent those ninety-two resolutions just
for the sake of his own political growth.
In history, rebels will try to justify their actions. The reason as to why they do this is because if they
overthrow those who are superior to them, they will enforce the idea to younger generations that they did
these acts for the greater good of humanity but in reality they are falsifying history so as to not have a
younger generation rebel against them. Papineau may have taken this cycle into consideration, as for the
case of reality is unknown.
The Educational System and William Lyon Mackenzie
Those who desired for the religious schools to change would perhaps believe that these laws were
authoritarian. Those who wanted religious schools to be abolished would not have seen this as an
authoritarian law rather a way for humans to evolve in what they thought was the correct direction for
humanity to go. This often occurs in history and in politics. For example, the Family Compact thought it
was for the greater good of the nation to be loyalists of Great Britain. As for the rebels, they believed it
was completely unfair to them. They both kept their tensions leveled at a constant rate. They did this by
blindly believing their own ideology rather than paying attention to what others have to say. If we did not
listen to other opinions, there would be no debates for that is the complete foundation of it. As for
William Lyon Mackenzie, it may be that he kept himself angry and falsely justified his acts to others just
like how I discussed this with Papineau.
Project #10
“Africville” par Imane et Alexia
Résumé:
Cette année, pendant notre cours d’histoire, notre enseignant nous a proposé d’examiner le biais implicite et les voix manquantes lorsqu’on nous présente l’histoire du Canada. Nous avons étudié quelques thèmes importants liés au racisme de nos jours. Nous avons ensuite été invitées à mener une enquête afin d’explorer un événement, une personne ou une place significative dans l’histoire du Canada, dans le but de mieux comprendre les enjeux du racisme moderne.
Parmi, plusieurs sujets, nous avons décidé d’étudier Africville parce que:
– Il y avait un lien avec le biais implicite au Canada
– Les événements se déroulaient entre les années 1800 et 1910 (attente du curriculum)
– Le sujet portait sur le racisme envers les Noirs (ce qui coïncidait avec le mois de l’Histoire des Noirs)
– Nous pouvons faire un grand lien avec Africville et le présent.
– C’est une preuve que le racisme a existé au Canada et qu’il existe encore
– L’histoire d’Africville n’est pas très connue et demeure souvent négligée
Dans le slide qui suit, nous avons expliqué le début d’Africville et l’arrivée de la communauté noire dans la région. Nous avons ensuite relaté leur vie quotidienne et les difficultés qu’ils ont rencontrées. Puis, nous avons raconté comment elle a été dépossédée de ses biens et chassée de ses maisons