Today is National Heritage Day, and in Newfoundland
and Labrador, activities are focused on this year�s theme: Heritage and
the Environment - Saving Places Built to Last.
The Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Tourism,
Culture and Recreation, took the opportunity to note the Heritage
Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador (HFNL) will be celebrating its
25th anniversary this year, and commended the organization
for its efforts over the years to protect this province�s built
heritage, as well as its more recent work to preserve and promote the
intangible elements of our culture and heritage.
"It is essential that we recognize the important work
of those who are committed to safeguarding our unique architectural
heritage, along with the customs and traditions which help define us
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians," said Minister Jackman. "For 25 years,
the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador has raised
awareness, fostered pride, and galvanized community support for heritage
initiatives throughout the province."
The Heritage Foundation marked the occasion at an
event held at the Basilica Episcopal Library in St. John�s, where the
winners of the 2009 Heritage Day Poster Contest were announced.
George Chalker, Executive Director of HFNL, said 430
students from 34 schools submitted artwork for consideration in the
Foundation�s annual poster contest this year. The winning submission is
featured on HFNL's Heritage Day Poster, which promotes Heritage Day in
Newfoundland and Labrador.
"Once again, the judges had a very difficult time
choosing the overall winner this year because of the quality of the
submissions," said Mr. Chalker. "The teachers and students who
participated have done an outstanding job of expressing their pride in
the historic places found in Newfoundland and Labrador."
Melissa Taylor, a Grade 6 student at Templeton Academy
in Meadows, was named the overall winner for her poster featuring the
Blanchard Fishing Premises in McIvers. She was in St. John�s this
morning, where she was presented with her original painting,
professionally framed.
The winning submissions at each of the other grade
levels were:
First Place, Senior High School � Jim O�Keefe
of Placentia, Grade 12 (Laval High School);
First Place, Junior High School � Hannah
Rumbolt of St. Anthony, Grade 8 (Harriot Curtis Collegiate);
and,
First Place, Primary - Luc Strickland of Port
Aux Basques, Grade 2 (St. James Elementary)
Poster contest judges were: Lesley-Ann Browne,
Communications Officer, Newfoundland and Labrador Teachers� Association;
Margaret Donavan, Tourism Industry Coordinator, City of St. John's;
Janet McDonald, Communications Officer, Newfoundland and Labrador Arts
Councill; Debbie O'Rielly, Acting Registrar, HFNL; and, Hilary Grant,
Coordinator, Doors Open Newfoundland.
Photos will be posted on the HFNL website at:
www.heritagefoundation.ca.
The Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland and Labrador
is a non-profit Crown corporation which was established in 1984 to
stimulate an understanding of, and an appreciation for, the
architectural heritage of the province. The Heritage Canada Foundation
promotes the third Monday in February each year as Heritage Day.
In 2008-09, the Department of Tourism, Culture and
Recreation provided $550,000 to the Heritage Foundation of Newfoundland
and Labrador; $200,000 for operations, $200,000 in restoration grants,
$75,000 for fisheries heritage preservation and $75,000 for the
province�s Intangible Cultural Heritage (ICH) initiative.
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