Provincial Heritage Fair celebrates student achievement

Press Release

May 26, 2026

Students from across the province were recently honoured at the 2026 Provincial Heritage Fair for their exceptional research, creativity, and engagement with Prince Edward Island’s history.

The Provincial Heritage Fair showcases student projects exploring diverse topics in local, national, and global history, encouraging young Islanders to develop critical thinking, research skills, and a deeper appreciation for the stories that have shaped our communities.

This year, 216 students in Grades 5 through 10, representing 25 schools and one homeschool organization, participated in the Provincial Heritage Fair. Together, they presented 176 heritage‑themed projects exploring a wide range of topics related to Prince Edward Island and Canadian history.

The Provincial Heritage Fair builds on strong participation at the school level, where more than 1,500 students across PEI took part in heritage fairs during the 2025–2026 school year. Students selected to advance to the provincial level demonstrated a high standard of research, critical thinking, and creativity.

“When young people explore our shared culture and heritage, they gain more than knowledge—they build a sense of identity, pride, and connection to their communities. The Provincial Heritage Fair encourages students to ask questions, tell stories, and discover how the past continues to shape our lives today.”

– Minister of Fisheries, Rural Development and Tourism, Ernie Hudson

This year’s award recipients demonstrated exceptional effort and excellence in historical inquiry. Winners include:

• Award of Excellence (Department of Education and Early Years)
  • Ben Docherty, “Air Canada Flight 143: The Gimli Glider”, Belfast Consolidated School
  • Ruby Keller, “Les Droits des femmes au Canada”, Colonel Gray Senior High School
• Indigenous Relations Secretariat Award
  • Lyla Mitchell and Mariah Bernard, “Women’s Dancing”, John J. Sark Memorial School
• PEI Regiment Museum Award
  • Elisabeth TerBorg, “From Occupation to Opportunity: My Family’s Journey From Western Netherlands to Canada”, Queen Charlotte Intermediate School
  • Lauren Kenny, “Codebreakers”, Grace Christian School
• PEI Museum and Heritage Foundation Award
  • Autumn Long, “Digging Into History: An Archaeological Exploration”, Mount Stewart Consolidated School
• Archaeology Award (Department of Fisheries, Rural Development and Tourism)
  • Ava Bernard, “Pre-Historic PEI”, Summerside Intermediate School
• Parks Canada Award
  • Aspen MacFadzen-Reid, “Dominion of Canada”, Homeschool Group

Lastly, four student projects have been selected to represent Prince Edward Island at Canada’s History National Showcase. The Heritage Fair National Showcase celebrates outstanding student work in the Heritage Fair program, aimed at fostering a deep appreciation for Canadian history and heritage among young learners. National Showcase participants will have a chance to win a $500 RESP, and travel and accommodations for two to attend a gathering with other National Showcase winners.  The four student projects advancing to the National Showcase are:

• Ben Docherty, “Air Canada Flight 143: The Gimli Glider”, Belfast Consolidated School
• Ruby Keller, “Les Droits Des Femmes au Canada”, Colonel Gray Senior High School
• Autumn Long, “Digging Into History: An Archaeological Exploration”, Mount Stewart Consolidated School
• Darwin Ziolaberry, “Eleanor Harvey and L’Escrime, École François-Buote

“I offer sincere congratulations to everyone who represented their schools and communities at this year’s Heritage Fair,” said Minister of Education and Early Years Robin Croucher. “The quality of the projects, the attention to detail, and the overall effort put in by the participants, and especially the award winners, deserves the highest recognition.”

The province thanks teachers, families, and community partners for their continued support in making the program a success.

To view the full list of winners, click here.

To view photos from the 2026 PEI Provincial Heritage Fair, click here.

Media contact:

April Gallant
Department of Fisheries, Rural Development and Tourism
aldgallant@gov.pe.ca

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