Making history
Chelton student receives national honour for video on Callbeck
A young student is in the spotlight with her video that sheds light on P.E.I. political pioneer Catherine Callbeck. Ardyn Hardy, 11, has been named one of P.E.I.’s two honourees in the national Young Citizens program sponsored by Canada’s History Society, in conjunction with the 20th anniversary of the Confederation Bridge.
Her video traces the life of Callbeck, who was the 28th premier of P.E.I. from 1993-1996, the second woman premier in Canadian history and the first one to win a general provincial election. The first was Rita Johnston of British Columbia who became premier after winning the party leadership, but lost the subsequent election. Callbeck was also a senator from 1997 to 2014. “Callbeck was the driving force behind the changes in the Constitution of Canada, which made it possible to build Confederation Bridge,” said Ardyn.
Young Citizens, which is supported by Great-West Life and the federal department of Canadian Heritage, named two students from each province and territory to participate in a national forum in Ottawa that was held from Oct. 29-Nov. 1. Ardyn was one of 26 young people who participated in the forum. Max MacIsaac, of Charlottetown, was the other Island student.
“The video was part of a school project from the Heritage Fair,” she said, during an interview with the Journal Pioneer.
The annual Heritage Fairs are aimed at increasing awareness and developing interest in history.
Young Citizens program participants are chosen from about 200 entrants from all over Canada who made videos about their Heritage Fair projects. Hardy’s video, which runs just short of four minutes, highlights the historical sites where Callbeck made her mark on the Island, including Confederation Bridge.
Andrew Hardy said he was taken aback at first when he heard his daughter would receive national honours for her history video.
“I couldn’t believe she had won it just because of her age. It was such a great surprise, and we were very excited for her,” he said.
“We toured the Parliament buildings and Peace Tower, as well as visited the National War Memorial,” said Ardyn, while explaining the highlights of her first visit to Ottawa.
To watch Ardyn’s history video on Callbeck, visit http://kids.canadashistory.ca/Kids/YoungCitizens/Profiles/2017/ArdynH
To watch Max’s video about the influential Warburton family, visit: http://kids.canadashistory.ca/kids/YoungCitizens/Profiles/2017/MaxM.