People from across Yorkton and area had an opportunity to learn more about the Canadian honours system when It's An Honour! stopped in Yorkton. The travelling exhibit was at Sacred Heart High School last week, welcoming school tour groups from around the city as well as interested citizens.
François Grenier has been with the tour as it travels from coast to coast on the two year project. He says that the goal is more than just education, but to inspire the people who learn as well, showing the different areas where honours can be given and how Canadians of all backgrounds can be recognized for what they do. The tour also touches on how people get nominated, and how anyone can nominate a deserving person for an honour in Canada.
"We are trying to educate people about the honours, we are trying to inspire people and we're trying to install pride for the upcoming 150th anniversary of Canada."
Installed in a semi trailer, the travelling exhibit is designed to engage audiences by showing the full variety of honours available to Canadian citizens.
Grenier says that through the tour one can see that people gravitate towards different subjects, whether it be sports, science, the arts, or family and community. Given the wide spectrum of awards on offer, the exhibit engages different people in different ways.
The exhibit is also built around modern technology, with many different displays and touch-screen interfaces presenting varied information. All of the medals themselves were also brought on tour, and can be seen and held close up.
"This exhibit is a great blend of history and technology at the same time. We all know how kids get a big kick out of technology, and here they are served... Everybody finds something in this exhibit."
The tour has been going since July of 2013, and has already travelled through the North as well as the west coast before making its way through the prairies.
"We have a big country so we've got a lot to cover. We've done about 50 towns," Grenier says.
While the truck was in town for two days, Grenier notes that it's always possible to learn more about the Governor General's office at www.gg.ca.
