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UCDSB Students Breathe Life into History with We Were Here Project

On May 27, 12 schools from across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) gathered at the North Grenville Municipal Centre for a showcase event, highlighting their participation in the ‘We Were Here’ initiative, in collaboration with The Hill 70 Memorial Project. – UCDSB Submitted Photo
 
Kemptville – On May 27, 12 schools from across the Upper Canada District School Board (UCDSB) gathered at the North Grenville Municipal Centre for a showcase event, highlighting their participation in the ‘We Were Here’ initiative, in collaboration with The Hill 70 Memorial Project.
 
At the showcase, The Hill 70 Memorial Project announced its donation of $21,000 towards sending a group of 21 UCDSB students and educators to France next school year. During the trip, they will further their research and share their findings with a broader audience, continuing their mission to honour and remember the brave soldiers who gave their lives over a century ago.
‘We Were Here’ aims to bring history to life by commemorating Canadian soldiers from the First World War.
 
In the Spring of 2022, approximately 120 soldiers were discovered in Loos-en-Gohelle, France, while construction crews were digging a foundation for a new hospital. In the fall of 2022, the UCDSB, in partnership with Big Ideas Group Consulting, Hill 70 Memorial Project, and many others, began The Hill 70 Project: Lost. Found. Always Remembered.
Since then, students across the district have been meticulously reviewing service records and attestation forms, uncovering key details about the lives of these soldiers, while also coming up with innovative ways to remember the fallen soldiers. Some of UCDSB school’s projects include:
Cameron Jones, UCDSB Principal of Real-World Learning and Student Success, praised the students for their dedication and the depth of their research. During the showcase event, he emphasized the importance of storytelling in making history relevant and meaningful for today’s youth.
 
“Today, there is power in storytelling. This project connects students with the lives of soldiers from over 100 years ago, making their stories come alive. By learning history through the eyes of those who lived it, our students help keep their memories and sacrifices relevant.”

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