Among the best

Culture Summerside project makes nationwide shortlist

The 2019 shortlist for the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming has been announced, and Culture Summerside is on the list for its project, 1919: P.E.I. Soldiers Return from The Great War.

Twenty-five projects from across Canada are in the final judging with Culture Summerside’s project being the only one from the Maritimes. This is the second time Culture Summerside has made the shortlist. It was nominated in 2015 for marking the 150th anniversary of the Summerside Journal Pioneer Newspaper.

The Governor General’s History Award brings attention to exceptional work in the field of Canadian community programming. The award will honour two recipients, one French and one English, for innovation in community programming. Organizations receive a cash prize of $2,500 and a trip for two to Ottawa to receive their award.

“It is an honour to make the shortlist when one reads the calibre of the projects in the running,” says Jean MacKay, project co-ordinator of 1919: P.E.I. Soldiers Return from The Great War. “In a sense, this is an award.”

1919: P.E.I. Soldiers Return from The Great War examined the environment of 1919 Prince Edward Island and what was awaiting the returning soldiers and nursing sisters. Nearly every small community on P.E.I. had a welcome home party. MacKay says the booklet is unique in that it documents community rather than war.

The project was made up of lectures, a writing workshop, a public music and drama event, radio vignette and the compiling of a booklet, “From War to Peace”. A number of community volunteers researched Island papers for the material, and community writers created the works of fiction. The booklet is considered the legacy piece of the project. A large number of “From War to Peace” have been given out in the community and will soon be found in Island schools.

However, MacKay would like to remind people that there are still copies available, free

of charge, by dropping by the MacNaught History Centre and Archives, 75 Spring St.

Submitted Jean MacKay is the project co-ordinator of 1919: P.E.I. Soldiers Return from The Great War. It has made the 2019 shortlist for the Governor General’s History Award for Excellence in Community Programming.