The Heritage Fair awards program provides students at all Regional Heritage Fairs the opportunity to receive the same awards regardless of where they live in Saskatchewan.
At each Regional Heritage Fair, the following awards will be presented:
Topical Awards:
- Arts & Leisure Award
- Citizenship & Governance Award
- Genealogy Award
- Indigenous Cultural Heritage Award [formerly known as the First Nations & Métis Heritage Award]
- Military Heritage Award
- Multicultural Heritage Award
- Natural Heritage Award
- Science & Technology Award
- Society & Justice Award
- Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Sport Heritage Award
Methodology Awards:
- Archives Award
- Innovation Award
- Digital Media Award
- Historical Thinking Award
The four Methodology Awards above are also awarded at the Provincial Heritage Fair. The criteria for these awards are identical at both the Regional and Provincial levels.
More information about the criteria for all awards can be found below.
Topical Awards:
For these awards, winners need to demonstrate the following:
- Solid research skills and efforts
- Knowledge of the history surrounding their chosen topic
- Creativity
- Good communication skills
- Storytelling ability
- Critical thinking
Arts & Leisure Award
The Arts & Leisure Award is for an excellent project that explores an aspect of arts and/or leisure in Canada and how this topic has affected the student’s life and contributed to the Canadian identity. (Sports are also eligible for this category, especially non-Saskatchewan topics.) For sport-related topics, see the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Sport Heritage Award below.
“Arts” – includes (but not exclusive to) visual art, drama, theatre, music, dance, literature, film, entertainment, cultural icons, biographies of artists & performers
“Leisure” – includes (but not exclusive to) games, types of play, recreational pursuits, locations of recreational pursuits, festivals, folklore, food, related biographies; can also include sports (see Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Award below)
Citizenship & Governance Award
The Citizenship & Governance Award is for an excellent project that explores an aspect of citizenship and/or governance in Canada and how this topic has affected the student’s life and the lives of Canadians in general.
“Citizenship” – includes (but not exclusive to) topics pertaining to Canadian history, values, symbols, culture, world affairs (such as politics, wars, and peacekeeping), significant events, related biographies
“Governance” – includes (but not exclusive to) topics pertaining to Canadian government, colonial governments, indigenous governments & leaders, treaties, the Royal Family, laws, lawmakers, democracy, biographies of politicians/lawmakers & royalty
Indigenous Cultural Heritage Award
The Indigenous Cultural Heritage Award, formerly known as the First Nations & Métis Heritage Award, is for an excellent project that explores how the First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis peoples have shaped and continue to shape Saskatchewan and Canada.
- This award may be given to a project that explores any topic related to First Nations, Inuit, and/or Métis culture, history, biographies of individuals, etc.
Genealogy Award
The Genealogy Award is for an excellent project that explores an aspect of the student’s family or community history and how this topic has affected their life and sense of personal heritage and identity. Sponsored by the Saskatchewan Genealogical Society in 2019
“Family or community” – includes (but not exclusive to) a student’s own family, family friends, local community, neighbourhood, farm, family business, church
- Research in this category may be more confined to personal sources.
- While there is a separate Multicultural Heritage Award, the Genealogy Award may also include a project about a student’s personal ethnic or religious community.
- In the case of partner projects, a project is still eligible for this award even if only one of the students demonstrates a family connection to their topic.
Military Heritage Award
The Military Heritage Award is for an excellent project that explores an aspect of Canada’s military heritage and how that topic has affected Canada’s cultural identity as well as the student’s life personally.
“Military” – includes (but not exclusive to) the Canadian Armed Forces, historical armed forces, peacekeeping, police services, the RCMP, military history, wars, battles, related biographies
Multicultural Heritage Award
The Multicultural Heritage Award is for an excellent project that explores the cultural diversity of Saskatchewan and Canada.
- This award can be for a project pertaining to any ethnic or religious group (Including First Nations, Inuit, & Métis) or for any topic pertaining to said group. A winning project could also be about a number of different groups or about issues pertaining to multiculturalism.
Natural Heritage Award
The Natural Heritage Award is for an excellent project that explores the historical and current relationship of people to the land in Saskatchewan and Canada.
“Natural” – includes (but not exclusive to) landscapes, animals, plants, minerals, hunting & fishing, environmental issues, paleontology, astronomy, conservation, natural products, climate, exploration
Science & Technology Award
The Science & Technology Award is for an excellent project that explores a topic of science and/or technology in Saskatchewan and/or Canada and how it has affected the student’s life.
“Science” – includes (but not exclusive to) biology, archaeology, agriculture, chemistry, physics, astronomy, paleontology, space exploration, medicine, psychology, computing
“Technology” – includes (but not exclusive to) engineering, industry, agriculture, medical innovations, sociological innovations, computers, robotics, inventions
Society & Justice Award
The Society & Justice Award is for an excellent project that explores an aspect of society and/or justice in Canada and how this topic has affected the student’s life and/or the lives of Canadians in general.
“Society” – includes (but not exclusive to) topics pertaining to education, lifestyles, social movements, religious movements, commerce, healthcare
“Justice” – includes (but not exclusive to) topics pertaining to past and ongoing issues of justice, such as women’s rights, LGBTQ+ rights, animal rights, workers’ rights, minority rights, indigenous rights, healthcare rights
Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame Sport Heritage Award
Sponsored by the Saskatchewan Sports Hall of Fame, this award is for an excellent project that explores an aspect of sport in Canada (if possible with a connection to Saskatchewan) and how this topic has affected the student’s life and contributed to the provincial and Canadian identity.
“Sports” – includes (but not exclusive to) modern sports, historical sports, biographies of athletes/coaches & sports leagues/organizations, a specific event in history, etc.
Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation Saskatchewan Heritage Award
Sponsored by the Saskatchewan Heritage Foundation, this award is given to an excellent project that heightens the understanding and appreciation of Saskatchewan’s diverse heritage.
- Any topic relating to Saskatchewan is eligible
Methodology Awards:
For these awards, a particular focus is to be placed on the methodology the student uses to present their topic. Research, knowledge, creativity, communication, storytelling, and critical thinking remain important elements in the winning projects.
Archives Award
The Archives Award is for a project that made the best and most innovative use of archival sources in their research and presentation. Archival sources, or primary sources, demonstrate a first-hand account of a time period, place or event. Examples of such sources are: letters and diaries; government, church, and business records; oral histories; photographs, motion pictures, and videos; maps and land records; and blueprints.
- Main focus for this award is on the student’s research skills.
- This award is traditionally judged and determined by archivists from the Saskatchewan Archives Board and/or the Saskatchewan Council of Archives and Archivists.
Digital Media Award
The Digital Media Award is for a project that used a creative and innovative approach with respect to digital technology in order to present their topic.
- Main focus for this award is on the student’s creativity and communication skills.
“Digital technology” – includes (but not exclusive to) slide shows, QR codes, interview clips, videos, recordings, websites, blogs, games
Innovation Award
The Innovation Award is for a project that either explored an innovative perspective on a heritage topic or used creative methods to present their topic.
- Main focus for this award is on the student’s creativity and critical thinking skills.
- Examples of creative approaches include art projects, homemade props, songs, poems, plays, etc.
Historical Thinking Award
The Historical Thinking Award for a project that most illustrated the six characteristics of historical thinking: establishing historical significance, using primary sources, identifying continuity and change, analyzing cause and consequence, taking historical perspectives, and understanding the ethical dimension of historical interpretations.
- Main focus for this award is on the student’s critical thinking and research skills.
In addition to the above awards provided by Heritage Saskatchewan, each Regional Heritage Fair may also have local awards – these vary between each region. For more information about these local awards check out the Regional Fairs section of the website.
