The African Nova Scotian History Challenges are back for 2022-2023!
We’re happy to share that we are once again offering an online entry form for improved accessibility. Along with mailing your submission(s) in or dropping them off at our office, you can also submit virtual entries by a shared link or file upload. A virtual entry can be a picture, an audio clip, a video, or a document. This added online component will hopefully ensure Nova Scotia’s diverse communities and the rich history of African Nova Scotians will be explored by students across the province.
Check out this year’s brochure for all the details on the six Challenges. And be sure to read our rules and regulations before submitting your entries. We’ve also included a simple judging rubric to help you and your students better understand what our judges are looking for when going through the entries for each Challenge.
We will be accepting entries until February 22, 2023.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to contact historychallenges@dbdli.ca. We can’t wait to see what your students create to celebrate African Nova Scotian history and heritage!
The top school awards are traditionally presented by the Lieutenant Governor of Nova Scotia. Pictured above (left to right) are DBDLI board member and chair Randy Headley, the Honourable Arthur LeBlanc, community advocate and Preston MLA Angela Simmonds, Her Honour Rosemary Patricia (Patsy) LeBlanc, and board member Gilbert Daye.
The DBDLI Awards for Excellence in African Nova Scotian History are presented to students whose submissions to the Challenges best exemplify the contributions African Nova Scotians have made to the history, heritage, and culture of our province and our country. Bursaries totaling $3,000, gifts, and prizes will be presented to the recipients at an awards ceremony in the Spring.
Winning Entries
We are pleased to announce the winners of the 2022-2023 African Nova Scotian History Challenges! Our judges were incredibly impressed with this year’s submissions, and the high level of talent and creativity made the final decisions all the more difficult. Congratulations to all and thank you for taking part! We can’t wait to see what you do next year!
Challenge 1: Breaking News!
Top Prize
Rockingham Elementary
Stephen Walsh, Jack Woodhead, Shruti Waghmode, Shanvi Dontamsetty, Yunho Park, June Ahn
Pine Ridge Middle School
Gabe Friesen Jack MacDougall
Halifax West High School
Adora de la Chevotiere, Lyndel Kelsie, Emmanuel Tabiri, Kenton Strachen, and Hunter Burns.
Honourable Mentions
Bell Park Academic Centre
3 1/2 classes from Bell Park Academy
Pine Ridge Middle School
Colton Pynch
Challenge 2: African Nova Scotian Communities
Top Prize
Spring Street Academy
Nylah-Rae Allen, William Brown, Exton Casey, Esme Chipman, Connor Creighton, Emery Deegan, Jessy Deegan, Olivier Duclos, Everly Graham, Chloe King, Ronan Lair, Allie MacLeod, Penelope MacNeil, Jesse Martin, Kingston Mayhew, Roslyn McCarthy, Halle Noiles, Cade Porter, Baylen Smith, Jedrek Sumbu Martell, Alessandro Sumbu, Parker Thomas
Whitney Pier Memorial Junior High
Jacob Keeping and Shaun Charles
Central Kings Rural High School
Riley Baker, Shawn Crocker, Sam Butler, and Ethan Woodworth
Honourable Mentions
John MacNeil Elementary
Yasmeen Bateson, Mariah Auld, Navya Kumar, Zaid Ali, Junaed Khondoker, Ahmad Zeeshan, Umair Kaisar, Lalitha Karanam, Nuha Shaik, Travell Dauphinee, Marley Rodgers, Cava Cole, Johanna Mark.
École Burton Ettinger Elementary
Amy North’s Grade 3/4 Class
St. Andrew Junior School
Lia Wasserman and Ella Sullivan
St. Andrew Junior School
Lara Bowie and Layla Austen
Challenge 3: Notable Nova Scotians: Past and Present
Top Prize
Rockingham Elementary
Tobenna Ezurike, Ali Khatoun, Nathan Lysinge, Nate McCarthy and Kristian Strachan.
Ridgecliff Middle School
Omotola Ayoola
Halifax West High School
Trisha Magbanua
Honourable Mentions
Shipyard Elementary School
Gina Murphy’s Grade 2 Class
Kingswood Elementary
Kelly Cyr’s Class
Evangeline Middle School
Dontrel Currie
Yarmouth Consolidated Memorial High School
SiHui Sun
Challenge 4: And the Award Goes To…
Top Prize
Elizabeth Sutherland
Izzy Sewart
Bluenose Academy
Morgan Nodding
Baddeck Academy
Barbie Lousie Yomira Tria
Honourable Mentions
Leslie Thomas Junior High
Chaz Fraser
Challenge 5: A Day in the Life
Top Prize
Rocky Lake Elementary
Carlie Dickson and Amelia Sullivan
Fairview Junior High
Mariam Mahdi
Pugwash District High School
Emily Long
Honourable Mentions
Millwood Elementary
Aiden Pratt
Champlain Elementary
Noah Hiscock
Rocky Lake Elementary
Neha Charles
Bluenose Academy
Yazi Alia
Leslie Thomas Junior High
Phoebe Wong
Halifax West High School
Tessa Cornect-Hersey
Challenge 6: Express Yourself!
Top Prize
John MacNeil Elementary
Megan Douglas Class
Middleton Regional High School
Vanessa Meisner and Megan Fox
Ridgecliff Middle School
Julia Morales
Halifax West High School
Maia Motapanyane
Honourable Mentions
St. Joseph’s-Alexander McKay Elementary
Molly Heighton, Lina Monaghan, Joy Monaghan and Harley Spencer-Lowe
John MacNeil Elementary
Matthew Montgomery’s Class
Hawthorn Elementary
Evelyn Snow, Nova Bray, Madeleine Tretiak
John Martin Junior High
Katrina Kerr
Charles P Allen High School
Jayreece Whiley
Halifax West High School
Jayah Sapp