Rylee Winnipeg, Manitoba

Fair address: Red River Heritage Fair

Project: Titanic: The Canadian Connection

My project focuses on three families that travelled on the Titanic and talks about their experiences. Each one of these families are from a different class so people are able to see the whole story. These families all have some connection to Canada in one way or another.

What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?

The most interesting thing that I have learned about my topic was that there is a local connection to my city. When I began working on my topic I was aware there was a Canadian connection, however, I did not realise there was a local connection as well. In fact, I attend school right down the street from the house of one of the families from the ship! It is an honour to be able to say my city has a connection to such a famous part of history.

What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?

An important lesson that I have learned that I would like to share is study and research a historical topic you are interested in because you will be so surprised about the facts and connections to Canada. It is amazing to see the role history plays on our lives and I think Canadians need to be aware of history because it is a history we all share. Another lesson I would like to share is if you are studying history work hard to find the information. It may not come up right away but it is definitely worth it once you have found it.

How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?

I would compare my life today to the lives of those I studied as similar despite the difference in generations. As I was studying I kept on finding similarities on a human level. Some of these people looking to have a break from daily life and others were trying to work their hardest to get what they wanted. I found I was able to relate to their experiences and emotions.