Submitted by:
Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada |

Jacquie Mydynski-Arp, vice principal of Swan Valley Regional Secondary School from Swan River, Manitoba has been awarded the 2015 SEVEC History Award.

Presented by the Society for Educational Visits and Exchanges in Canada (SEVEC), this award celebrates Canadian achievements in the field of history and heritage.

This award is presented at the Governor General’s History Awards administered by Canada’s History Society.

SVRSS participated in a SEVEC exchange with College Trinité from St-Bruno, Québec. While Mrs. Mydynski-Arp and her students were hosting, her committee of parents, students and volunteers created an itinerary rich in Canadian history and heritage. The youth began with an Amazing Race across the town of Swan River. SEVEC youth participants were welcomed into the homes of their twins for a traditional Canadian Thanksgiving experience. Students also had the opportunity of touring an active logging operation witnessing firsthand the logging equipment used for the harvest of boreal and aspen trees. Representatives from the Sapotaweyak Cree Nation and the Manitoba Metis Federation hosted a traditional aboriginal lunch for the 80 students and chaperones at the Elbert Chartrand Friendship Centre which was followed by native art demonstrations and traditional dancing and storytelling.

According to Mrs. Mydynski-Arp, “the activities that we chose to incorporate into our itinerary represented our community and what the people of the Swan River Valley deem important to them. Our intent was for students to develop cultural awareness and cultural appreciation of the Swan Valley’s uniqueness and character. We also wanted to break down social barriers and show our guest that life in small town Manitoba is real cool. We wanted our guests from St. Bruno, Quebec to feel the warmth and welcome from “Friendly Manitoba.””

Fellow group organizer Julie Martella and the guests from St-Bruno Québec had a great experience on the exchange as well noting Swan River’s remote location had no shortage of activities rich in heritage and culture. “Although Swan River is an isolated community of Manitoba, Jacquie was able to demonstrate the relevance of history in the evolution and growth of their tight community. Jacquie was an excellent and very welcoming host. She made us feel at home even though we were far away from our families.”

The 2015 Governor General’s History Awards will be presented at a ceremony at Rideau Hall in Ottawa on October 16, 2015. Both Jacquie Mydynski-Arp and Swan Valley Regional Secondary School will receive $1000 from SEVEC as part of the Award.

“The SEVEC History Award is designed to encourage group organizers to incorporate creative and innovative history and heritage programming into their interprovincial exchanges,” said Deborah Morrison, executive director of SEVEC. “Not only do we want to recognize a successful exchange, but we also hope that sharing these activity plans with other teachers and group organizers, will inspire more young Canadians to gain a greater interest and appreciation of our country’s storied past.”