The articulate 10-year-old from Massey Drive was selected from 179 youth based on a video presentation of her project for the Western Newfoundland Regional Heritage Fair.
Spencer’s project was about the Presentation Sisters of Newfoundland and Labrador and their contribution to the province. She became interested in the topic because her aunt, Sister Kieran Seaward, is a Presentation Sister.
“It’s very special because I think many people do not know who they were,” Spencer said. “ ... how they helped the poor and needy.”
From the western regional fair, three students were selected to enter the national Young Canadians contest, hosted by Canada’s History Society.
Spencer is the only one who made the Top 30 from this region.
“It’s a really, really great honour,” she said. “It’s nice (that people) took the time to vote for me.”
Each of the almost 200 students from across the country won the Panasonic handy camera they used to make a video of their project and upload to the Young Canadians website.
The soon-to-be Grade 5 student at Immaculate Heart of Mary School said making the video was a fun, new experience for her and her dad to work on.
A panel of judges will choose six of the remaining 30 to travel to Ottawa in December and show their film at the National History Forum.
Two other youth from the province were in the Top 30, one from Happy Valley—Goose Bay and one from St. John’s.
mphilpott@thewesternstar.com
Twitter: WS_Meaghan
