For weeks, Ross Road elementary student Laura Holt has been hard at work on a school history project about Rice Lake in the Lower Seymour Conservation Reserve.
Through her research she discovered all sorts of historical information about the popular recreational area.
Laura's project displays the history of the small lake located on the edge of Lynn Headwaters Regional Park, which was the site of turn-of-the century logging operations and later supplied drinking water to North Vancouver residents.
The Grade 6 student's project was one of a select few chosen for the Sea-to-Sky Regional Heritage Fair.
Through her research, Holt learned that an ancestor's birth certificate lists Rice Lake, B.C., as his place of birth.
The heritage fair will take place next Friday, May 11, and will be different than in years past.
"This year we really wanted to focus on providing students with more of an educational experience," said the museum's education programmer, Kelsey Beaudry. "We are also running workshops out of the Community History Centre as well."
The North Vancouver Museum and Archives has been involved with the event since it began 11 years ago.
The big changes this year include a two-part fair concept and a change in venue. This year the fair will be held at the Lynn Valley library and plaza.
"We feel that this year is really going to enhance the quality of the student experience," said Beaudry. "The topics range quite a bit, actually, and that allows the students to pursue something that they are passionate about."
District Heritage Fair committee member Anne Lawson said the move to the Lynn Valley Village complex will utilize community space effectively.
"All the projects will be on display in the library, which is a really nice venue," she said. "It made more sense to put them in the library where more
people will be able to come and see these beautiful projects."
This year the heritage fair will actually be two mini fairs combined into one fair. The first fair is only for the students. According to Beaudry, they will be enrolled in four historical workshops, which will educate the students about Canada's heritage and introduce them to local research resources.
"Instead of just coming and presenting their projects and going home afterwards . . . we really want to get as much out of the fair opportunity as we can," said Beaudry. "So basically we want to create a day of school for them. It's kind of like a heritage fair and afield trip combined in one."
One of the workshops that the students will attend focuses on First Nations. During the workshop, students will make a First Nations medicine bag.
The students will also have a chance to view other student projects and vote on their favourites. A panel of judges will also rate the projects, with the winners going on to the provincial Heritage Fair.
The students' projects will be on display to the public from 6 to 8 p.m. on May 11. There will also be live entertainment and music at the plaza.
Beaudry encourages residents to come out and learn more about their community and country.
"The creativity and the passion that these students have for their topic is incredible and it's delightful to listen, too," said Beaudry. "It's inspiring." For more information visit
www.northvannuseum.ca.
