Heritage Fair 2026

New Brunswick's Heritage Fair Program is part of a national education project developed to increase awareness and interest in Canadian history.

Heritage fairs take place in schools with grades five to nine where students present their research projects and the best heritage research projects presented will be recognized. Small grants are provided to schools to cover related costs such as educational supplies, student prizes, and travel to regional heritage fair sites. A provincial showcase is held each year at Government House in Fredericton.

Heritage fairs are an opportunity to include your entire school in an educational, dynamic and exciting event. By participating in the program, teachers from all departments encourage their students to learn more about their community while developing and expressing their creative talents.

• All projects must have a New Brunswick or Canadian heritage theme and entail some research conducted by the participants. Project can be specific to one time-period or display a thematic development or progression.
• Students may prepare projects as individuals or in groups.
• Students provide written research that was undertaken in developing their projects.
• Students present their displays at scheduled times during the school or regional fair.
• Students are strongly encouraged to use digital technologies (interactive presentation, video, etc.) to present their project.
• Heritage fair projects may include models, caricatures, posters, objects, maps, demonstrations, crafts, artistic displays, short stories and heritage journal writing, poetry or theatrical scripts, debates and public speaking, dramatic productions, music, dance, computer presentations, video “heritage minutes” production, video “documentary or journalist” production, oral interviews, photography exhibits, etc.

1. A school coordinator and teachers advise and support students to help them select a research subject. 
2. Students conduct research to define their topic, find sources of information (including books, newspaper/magazine articles, oral history interviews, maps, videos, field observations, etc.) and summarize their findings in a visual and oral presentation.
3. Students present their project in front of the class, or an audience, and are evaluated by a teacher or a jury. The best projects will have the opportunity to participate in regional heritage fairs.
4. Regional coordinators plan and prepare the regional heritage fairs where students of the district present their project to a jury. 
5. The jury will award regional and provincial awards to the best projects. The best project of the regional fair will be selected to participate in the provincial showcase.
6. Provincial award winners are invited to present their projects to the program's honorary patron, the Lieutenant Governor, during the provincial showcase and to take part in a medal ceremony.

Projects can be started anytime during the months leading up to your school fair which can be held between mid-February and mid-April.

Each regional heritage fair will give awards supported by stakeholders, beyond these awards, the administration of the fair is free to provide other school district prizes.