Samuel Prince Rupert, British Columbia
Fair address: Northwest Regional Heritage Fair
Project: Barkerville Stands the Test of Time
My project is about how the gold rush city of Barkerville is still going strong after 153 years. It is still bringing in people from all around but for a different reason. Instead of looking to strike gold they are coming to learn all about the gold rush and the people who lived through it.
What was the most interesting thing you learned about your topic?
Barkerville as part of the gold rush helped to create the forming of our province British Columbia. I find that very cool! All the people that came from around the world looking for gold sparked the need for some organization. The British Colony was created which eventually led to the forming of the province in 1871.
What important lessons have you learned that you want to share with other Canadians?
That it is really important to preserve our history. If people did not care so much we would lose a lot of the buildings and important stories and pictures. I learned also about not giving up when you have a dream.
How would you compare your life today to the lives of those studied in your project?
I think it is way better in our time. Modern technology makes it easier to do many things. I think it would have been pretty cool though to have had the excitement of striking it rich by digging up a big load of gold myself!