Winners of the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge Honoured in Canada's National Capital Region
GATINEAU, February 6, 2003 -- Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Jean Augustine and President of the Canadian Teachers' Federation (CTF) Doug Willard today presented the annual Mathieu Da Costa Challenge Awards to nine Canadian students in a special ceremony at the Canadian Museum of Civilization."I am proud of the exceptional works the students have created for the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge," said Secretary of State Jean Augustine. "Through their creativity, they help us understand our history and the people who have helped shape Canada as a nation."
The Mathieu Da Costa Challenge was launched by the Government of Canada in February 1996, and is currently administered by the CTF. The Challenge is held annually and invites students from ages 9 to 18, from across the country, to submit an essay, a short story, a poem or a piece of artwork, celebrating the contributions of Aboriginal peoples and Canadians of diverse racial and ethnic origins to Canada's development.
The Mathieu Da Costa Challenge is part of Black History Month, which is celebrated every year in February. Black History Week was held in the early 1970s and expanded to Black History Month in 1976. Its official recognition by the Government of Canada came in 1995, when Parliament unanimously approved a motion introduced by the Honourable Jean Augustine, Canada's first Black woman to become a Member of Parliament.
Mathieu Da Costa is the first recorded person of African descent in Canada. Hired as an interpreter at the start of the 17th century for Samuel de Champlain's expedition to Port Royal, he helped bridge the cultural and linguistic gap between the early French explorers and the Mi'kmaq people.
"For participating students, the Mathieu Da Costa Challenge opens the doors to their creativity and imagination in the celebration of our multicultural reality in Canada," says Mr. Willard. "Teachers and students have commented on how this program has been a wonderful catalyst for broadening their knowledge of Canadian history. It also fosters pride in the contributions to our shared ethno-cultural heritage, promotes a sense of belonging, and an appreciation of identity and citizenship."
Winners of the Seventh Annual Mathieu Da Costa Challenge Awards are:
Best essay in English:
Alana Poon, from Winnipeg, Manitoba (age 9 to 11 category)
Hannah Crump, from Toronto, Ontario (age 12 to 14 category)
Chloe Hamilton, from Elmira, Ontario (age 15 to 18 category)
Best essay in French:
Gérard De Francesco, from Kanata, Ontario (age 9 to 11 category)
Danny St-Jacques, from Ottawa, Ontario (age 12 to 14 category)
Sarah Beaupré, from Ottawa, Ontario (age 15 to 18 category)
Best artistic representation:
Kara Chan, from Abbotsford, British Columbia (age 9 to 11 category)
Kristin Blackmore, from Fredericton, New Brunswick (age 12 to 14 category)
Kylene Cachelin, from Kamloops, British Columbia (age 15 to 18 category)
Information:
Naline Rampersad
Press Secretary
Office of Secretary of State
(Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
(819) 997-9900
Damian Solomon
Canadian Teachers' Federation
(613) 232-1505
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