Lieutenant-governor returns to school - Apr. 23, 2010
John Gardner/Courier
Kyra Kelson of St. George Elementary School discusses her project entitled "At Day’s End —
Passamaquoddy Life" with Lt.-Gov. Graydon Nicholas. Nicholas is New Brunswick's first aboriginal to hold the office of lieutenant governor. Kelson earned the New Brunswick Aboriginal Award/Secretariat Award in Celebration of First Nations Cultures.
BY JOHN GARDNER
john@stcroixcourier.ca
ST. STEPHEN – The lieutenant-governor has a goal, and he was working on that goal on Wednesday when he visited St. Stephen.
Lt.-Gov. Graydon Nicholas wants to visit every school in the province during his tenure as the vice regal representative.
“I am a very strong proponent of education right from the primary levels, right through the last level of education you would have had. When you get that diploma or degree don't let that stop you.”
During a visit to the School District 10 Heritage Fair at Kirk-McColl United Church hall, Nicholas took the time to speak to each student, and talk about the projects the students submitted.
Lt.-Gov. Nicholas was educated on the history of Charlotte County as seen through the eyes of the young people.
“This is quite an experience for me today to see the ideas that young people have, and what kind of motivates them.”
While Nicholas wants to visit the schools, part of that is based on invitations.
“We have to be invited to come, even though we can try and encourage.”
Nicholas was impressed with what he saw.
“A lot of it is based on family, from their family experience.”
His Excellency made mention of Maggie MacPhee who had done her heritage project on Ganong’s because her grandmother had an old box.
Another student, Ben Rubin, showed Nicholas a video he had made about his grandfather, Nate Rubin.
The Rubin family fled Russia, to settle in St. George.
“As you go through each one, each of these young people has some sort of connection with the particular project either through family or through a friend.”
Some of the students do not have a long heritage in the province. Yoon Jeong Jang and her family moved to St. Andrews from South Korea. Her topic was “The History of Education in South Korea vs Education in New Brunswick.”
He was surprised at how much cross-cultural exchange there was.
Nicholas waxed nostalgic as he talked about Christopher Colbourne and Cameron Cooke’s project on The Bricklin Car.
“I grew up in the ‘70s and ‘80s when the Bricklin was the hope for New Brunswick.”
Nicholas was very impressed by all the hard work the students had done in preparing for the competition.
As honourary patron for heritage fairs in New Brunswick (as announced Monday), Nicholas will be the presiding dignitary at all 15 regional heritage fairs taking place this April and May.
“I want the young people to be confident of who they are.”
Heritage Fair results:
1: Overall winner: Jonathan Harrison (SJDA, “Home Children.”)
2. Council of Archives New Brunswick Award: Christopher Colbourne and Cameron Cooke (FHS “The Bricklin Car.”)
3. The New Brunswick Labour History Award: Maggie McPhee (SJDA, “Ganong’s.”)
4. The New Brunswick Historic Places Award: Allie Frost (SGES, “Elmcroft.”)
5. The New Brunswick St. Croix 2004 Award: Ben Rubin (SGES “Interview With My Grandfather About the Russian Revolution.”)
6. The New Brunswick Museum Award of Merit: Justine Seeyle (SGES , “Project-Military Training at Lake Utopia.”)
7. Nancy’s Award for Women’s History: Allyson Cooke (SSMS, “Sable Island.”)
8. The New Brunswick Capital Award: Yoon Jeong Jang (SJDA, “The History of Education in South Korea vs Education in New Brunswick.”)
9. The New Brunswick Aboriginal Award — Secretariat Award in Celebration of First Nations Cultures: Kyra Kelson (SGES “At Day’s End
Advertisements
