Project Guidelines and Content Requirements

Guidelines

  • The fair is open to students from grades 4 to 10 in the English and French Ottawa-Carleton public and catholic school boards, private schools, Pikwakanagan Education Services and home-schooled children.
  • The Ottawa Regional Heritage Fair is coordinated with the schools in the Ottawa-Carleton Region. Students who are interested in participating must coordinate their participation through their teacher/school.
  • Students have a choice of preparing an individual project or a small group project with a maximum of 2 students per group project.
  • The project can be presented in English, in French or in a bilingual format.
  • Teachers in an immersion classroom will need to indicate the level of language proficiency on the submission form.
  • We are capping the initial registration at 6 projects per school and will consider additional spots on a case-by-case request. We want to encourage school representation from across the Ottawa region.
  • The deadline to register is March 31, 2023

Content Requirements

  • The project must explore an aspect of Canadian history and heritage – Canadian personalities, legends, milestones or achievements. Possible subjects include: military history, Indigenous history and culture, regional history, genealogy, a person in Canadian history, Canada’s historic places and monuments, multicultural diversity, Ontario’s history, women’s history, biographies, social justice, and Ottawa built heritage. See Project Selection and Topics.
  • September 30, 2021, marked the first National Day for Truth and Reconciliation – a day to honour the lost children and Survivors of residential schools, their families and communities. We encourage students to explore the rich and diverse cultures, voices, experiences and stories of the First Nations, Inuit, and Métis peoples and to present their research on the day of the Fair.
  • The project must reflect the use of primary and secondary sources and oral histories. Projects must include a list of these sources. 
  • The fair offers students the opportunity to share unique stories in Canadian history. Projects can include interviews, interesting and historical photographs or archival documents, dressing-up in costumes, historical re-enactments, historical background music, and much more. See Project Formats and Copyright for information about image and music copyright.

·       Heritage Fair projects should begin with a research question to which the student tries to find an answer. Historical Significance – What and who should be remembered?

– Evidence and Interpretation of Evidence – Does your evidence support your conclusions?

– Causes and Consequences – Why did historical events happen the way they did and what are the consequences?

– Continuity and Change – How are lives and conditions alike over time and how have they changed?

– Perspectives – What does the past look like when viewed through the lens of time?

– Ethical Judgement – Is what happened right or fair?



Project formats – please refer to Project Formats document

Various formats will be accepted: free standing project with a display board or digital project such as a video, slide presentation or PDF presentation.

Judging

  • The Judging Rubric will be forwarded to all educators to help guide students as they prepare their projects. This document will also be available on the Fair’s website.
  • Student projects will be judged on the day of the Fair (April 26, 2023)
  • All projects will be adjudicated by a committee of volunteer judges. This group includes English and French educators, as well as heritage and museum professionals.
  • The Committee of volunteer judges will review the projects on the day of the fair and there will be one-on-one interviews with the students. See Judging Rubric and share with your students.