OHFA - AFPO

The Heritage Fairs Program is an educational initiative that provides an opportunity for students to explore any aspect of Canadian heritage in a dynamic learning environment. Students are encouraged to use the medium of their choice to tell stories about Canadian heroes and legends, Canadian milestones and achievements and personal stories of Canadian interest and then present the results of their research at a public exhibition.

The Fairs Program is divided into three components. School or Community Fairs take place between February and March; Regional and Provincial Fairs are scheduled during April and May.

The Fairs Program began with a pilot Fair in Winnipeg in 1993. Five Fairs were held in 1995: Brandon, MB; Kamloops, BC; Kingston, ON; Moncton, NB; and Sherbrooke, QC. By 2000 the Fairs Program grew to include students in remote, rural and urban communities from every Canadian province and territory.

The goals of the Heritage Fairs program are:

- To heighten awareness of our heritage;

- To promote the variety and uniqueness of our heritage;

- To create an exciting learning environment for students;

-To encourage individuals and communities to celebrate their part in Canada�s history and learn more about their collective identity and citizenship

Music, dance, drama, visual arts and computer techniques are combined with written and oral language as the students share their research projects with their peers and the public. Heritage Fairs give students a meaningful reason to practice their literacy and research skills. All students can succeed and improve their skill levels. Awards raise self-esteem in students with limited language skills or special needs by recognizing enthusiasm and dedication to history.

This is not a new program in Ontario. The first Fair, one of six across Canada, was held in Kingston in 1995. By 1999, there were six fairs in Ontario and the CRB Foundation became a founding partner in the Historica Foundation of Canada. Since 1999, Ontario has grown to 21 Regional sites and now involves 100,000 Ontario students and 3,000 community volunteers. In 2007, the OHFA was formed to ensure sustainability and growth of this unique opportunity for interaction between the educational and heritage sectors of Ontario.

Parents, grandparents and community members all become involved as students seek out primary and secondary research and artifacts, props and costumes to complement their presentations. Visits to museums, historic sites, libraries and archives become family affairs. School Fairs and Regional Fairs are open to family, friends and the community. Seniors, educators and business people take an active role in organizing the Fairs, presenting heritage workshops, adjudicating student projects, and sponsoring the public celebration of history and heritage.

An Executive Director and Secretary-Treasurer manage the Provincial Association. A volunteer Executive and Board governs the OHFA. Volunteer site coordinators manage the 21 current Regional Fair associations. 3,000+ volunteers serve on organizing committees and work at the 21 Regional Fairs across Ontario and the annual Provincial Fair.

The OHFA advances education by promoting awareness and understanding of Canadian and Ontario history and heritage through the facilitation and management of a provincial Heritage Fairs program.

Each Regional Fair Site in Ontario automatically becomes a member of the Ontario Heritage Fairs Association (OHFA). The sites meet once a year at a general meeting held in the Toronto region to discuss current issues and make policy decisions.

The purpose of the Ontario Heritage Fairs Association is the establishment and operation of an historical association to provide:

- consultative and training services for Ontario Regional Fair site coordinators;

- an information network to provide educational resources and materials for Ontario Regional Heritage Fair sites and participating teachers, volunteers, associated educational organizations and institutions;

- funds to assist Ontario Regional Historica Fair sites to deliver the OHFA program;

- human resources to plan, support and help Ontario Regional Heritage Fair sites deliver the OHFA program and to expand the program to include all regions of Ontario;

- an annual Ontario Provincial Heritage Fair to bring together student representatives from each of the Ontario Regional Heritage Fairs for a history camp and public showcase of their research projects;

- a cooperative network with other local, provincial, national organizations and institutions and agencies in furthering public awareness and understanding of Canadian and Ontario history and heritage.

An Executive Director and Secretary-Treasurer manage the day-to-day operation of the association. A volunteer Executive and Board members govern the Provincial Association.

The Ontario Fairs program received a generous grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation (2003 � 2007) and was able to hire three part-time coordinators to manage the program. A second grant to the OHFA will enable the association to once again hire coordinators in Ontario in 2008 and 2009.

The coordinators assist Regional Fair organizers; facilitate the growth of new sites; provide workshops at conferences and universities; work with a local volunteer committee to organize the annual Provincial Fair; and keep sites current on new Heritage initiatives, programs and resources.

The OHFA was incorporated and charitable status achieved to sustain the Ontario Fairs program.

A grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation will provided core funding for two years to enable the association to hire of a business and strategic planner to help us continue to sustain and grow in the future.

Currently Canada's History provides financial support through funds that have been donated toward the program at the national level. A small annual grant is also received from the Ontario Government.

The purpose of the annual Ontario Provincial Historica Fair is to bring together 100 students from grade 4 to grade 10 representing the 21 Regional Fairs held in April and May each year. They participate in an interactive history camp that includes a one day public showcase to promote awareness of Ontario and Canadian history and heritage.

The Provincial Fair is not a competition. Instead, it is a celebration of Ontario and Canadian heritage. At the showcase, students share the many fascinating stories of their families, communities, province and country with their peers, special guests and the public.

2009 marks the sixth anniversary of the annual Ontario Provincial Fair. The first fair was held in Kingston in 2004 followed by Provincial Fairs in Hamilton in 2005, St. Catharines in 2006 and Ottawa in 2007, 2008 & 2009. In 2014 and 2014 Provincial Fairs were held in Toronto at the University of Toronto's New College Residence.

Details to follow...

Students complete a research project in either English or French using primary and secondary sources for sharing with their classmates and peers at their school and then at a Regional Fair. Each Regional Fair chooses students and projects to represent their region at the Provincial Fair. A base number of three student places is allotted to each Regional Fair and extra places are allotted specifically for the inclusion of First Nations, French first language and non-traditional students.

The Historica Foundation of Canada provided funding for the first three Provincial Fairs through a generous grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation. In 2007 Historica provided transition funding for the fourth annual Provincial Fair with the help of the Community Foundation of Ottawa, the City of Ottawa, Library and Archives Canada and donations from local museums and businesses. In 2008 and 2009, as a newly incorporated charitable organization, the Ontario Heritage Fairs Association provided core funding thanks to financial support from the Ontario Trillium Foundation.

Details to follow...