Island heritage celebrated through awards, exhibits

February 12, 2016
Education, Early Learning and Culture

Heritage Week, which takes place from February 15 to 19, is a great opportunity for Islanders to learn more about their local communities, says Education, Early Learning and Culture Minister Doug Currie.“People from all walks of life and from every community contribute to our vibrant cultural heritage and enrich our province and its way of life,” said Minister Currie. “We are so proud of our Island culture and it’s important to recognize the Islanders who ensure our history is preserved for future generations.”

The week’s activities include the presentation of the Prince Edward Island Museum and Heritage Foundation awards. The awards recognize the many Islanders who dedicate their time and efforts to preserving and promoting our history across the province. Lieutenant Governor Frank Lewis will present the awards on February 16th at Eptek Art and Culture Centre in Summerside.

The awards recognize Island architecture, heritage activities, and writing, along with recognizing volunteers. Last year’s award winners included Lennie and Karen Gallant for Searching for Abegweit, Catherine Hennessey for Prince Edward Island Pottery, Deirdre Kessler for Born! A Foal, Five Kittens and Confederation, Wyatt Heritage Properties and more.

In honour of Heritage Week, members of the Archives Council of Prince Edward Island are putting together exhibits based on this year’s theme “Distinctive Destinations.” As a member of the Archives Council, the Public Archives and Records Office has created Charlottetown Harbour Through the Years, a photographic exhibit featuring images of the Charlottetown Harbour, an important site of commercial, political, and social activity since the city was named the capital. The exhibit will be available at the Public Archives in Charlottetown, online at www.gov.pe.ca/archives/onlineexhibits and at Public Library Service sites across the province, via Screenscape.

“Heritage Week 2016 is a chance to highlight images from the Public Archives collection and to encourage Islanders to get out and explore the many distinctive destinations in their community,” says Provincial Archivist Jill MacMicken Wilson.

The Public Archives and Records Office in Charlottetown makes records available for public research, including historical records of the Government of Prince Edward Island, as well as private sector records of historical value. Visit www.gov.pe.ca/archives for a list of winter hours, along with a collection of online records.

For more information on the Museum and Heritage Foundation and the seven museum sites, including event listings, visit www.peimuseum.com or call 902-368-6600.

For more information on the Archives Council of PEI events contact Simon Lloyd at slloyd@upei.ca or 902-566-0536.

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Media Contact: Katie MacDonald

NT4