Janet Ruest

Chemainus Secondary School, Chemainus (British Columbia)

Using the 150th anniversary of Canadian Confederation as a backdrop, Janet Ruest encouraged her students to go beyond the textbook to research diverse and lesser-known stories that were meaningful to them. To begin their Canada 150 — My Story project, students used the Historical Thinking Concepts to develop inquiry questions. After consulting primary and secondary sources, students conducted one interview with someone connected to their topic. The project culminated with a public exhibition, where students shared their research in a format of their choice, from scrapbooks to digital presentations. Canada 150 — My Story allowed students to synthesize their knowledge in a challenging, creative, and rewarding project, while also contributing their own stories to the broader narrative of Canada’s history. During her career Ms. Ruest has shown dedication to her profession and an ongoing desire to improve — the end result has been increased student engagement and success for her learners.