[BCMA] Teachers hunt for motherlode of learning at Pathways to Gold symposium in Barkerville

Fri Sep 25 15:47:01 PDT 2009

-------- Original Message --------
Subject: 	Teachers hunt for motherlode of learning at Pathways to Gold 
symposium in Barkerville
Date: 	Wed, 23 Sep 2009 13:14:12 -0700
From: 	James Douglas <JDouglas at barkerville.ca>

Please forgive any cross-posting....

NPTG logo 5a-4.tif

*Teachers hunt for motherlode of learning at **/Pathways to Gold/** 
symposium in Barkerville*

* *

*September 22, 2009*

* *

*FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE*

(BARKERVILLE) Nearly two dozen school teachers are hoping to find a 
motherlode of learning when they prospect for fresh perspectives and new 
resources on B.C. history here next week.

The 20-plus teachers will descend on Barkerville Historic Town for the 
/Pathways to Gold: Heritage Resources for B.C. Educators Symposium/, 
Sept. 24-26. The symposium will bring together teachers, academics, 
heritage facility operators, aboriginal tourism experts and Heritage 
Branch officials to devise a strategy to capitalize on B.C.'s living 
history.

"It is a wonderful opportunity for us to have so many committed 
educators coming to an event like this at Barkerville, a heritage site 
dedicated to showcasing B.C.'s living history," said Judy Campbell, 
Barkerville's Chief Executive Officer.

"It also seems fitting that 'New Pathways to Gold' are bringing them here."

Teacher's representing school districts from Prince George to Hope will 
attend the symposium organized by the New Pathways to Gold Society 
(NPTGS). The Society is a community-based organization dedicated to 
heritage tourism and First Nations reconciliation in the 
Hope-Barkerville corridor and neighboring regions.

"We know the challenges teachers face in finding the resources they need 
to teach a more inclusive story of our history," said NPTGS co-chair 
Chris O'Connor.

"We hope this will act as a catalyst to create new resources to bolster 
the curriculum -- particularly around First Nations history."

/Pathways to Gold /features seminars and presentations to show educators 
a range of resources and activities they can access. Dr. Dan Marshall of 
the University of Victoria will give the keynote address, which will 
center on the documentary /Canyon War: The Untold Story/, produced by 
Wunderman Film of Hope, B.C.

Educators will also get perspectives on First Nations tourism and 
culture from Cheryl Chapman, Training and Development Coordinator for 
the Aboriginal Tourism Association of B.C. Chapman (who is also an NPTGS 
director) brings over 25 years of experience working with Aboriginal and 
non-Aboriginal people, First Nation communities, businesses and all 
levels of government.

"Using education as a medium for reconciliation is a perfect way to 
promote understanding and respect for the rich history of our province," 
said Byron Spinks, NPTGS co-chair and former chief of the Lytton First 
Nation.

Judith Cook and Richard Linzey of the B.C. Heritage Branch will detail 
available teaching resources (including field trips, lesson plans and 
online resources). They'll also show how B.C.'s heritage can be used to 
deliver the learning outcomes required by the Social Studies' curriculum 
and provide insights on increasing educational use of provincial 
historic sites.

Also presenting at the symposium is Robin Sharpe, Barkerville's Manager 
of Visitor Programs and Marketing. Sharpe will discuss Barkerville's 
school visits program and outreach initiatives taken by the world-famous 
gold rush heritage site.

The teachers will roll up their sleeves during the Saturday session to 
be held at Cottonwood House (an historic site approximately 40 
kilometres from Barkerville). They'll work with NPTGS staff and a 
professional facilitator to develop a concrete action plan for educators 
to harness existing heritage education resources and develop new ones.

Theatre Royal will provide the teachers with some entertainment on 
Friday evening in Wells when playwright Matthew Quick presents his 
high-energy one-man show, 'Tis a Grand Adventure. 

*- 30 -*

*For further information, please contact:*

* *

*Don Hauka,*

*Communications Consultant,*

*New Pathways to Gold Society*

*604-524-1884 *

*ddclauka at shaw.ca***

* *

*Or:*

*James Douglas,*

*Marketing and Communications *

*Barkerville Historic Town *

*250-994-3302 ext. 41 *

*888-994-3332 toll free *

*james.douglas at barkerville.ca*

Cutline for attached photo Barkerville.jpg

Barkerville Historic Town plays host to the /Pathways to Gold: Heritage 
Resources for B.C. Educators Symposium/, Sept. 24-26. (Photo by Thomas 
Drasdauskis)

- 30 - 

*About Barkerville Historic Town*

BARKERVILLE HISTORIC TOWN is the largest historic site in Western North 
America (www.barkerville.ca <http://www.barkerville.ca/>).  Barkerville 
is provincially, nationally and internationally recognized for its 
historic significance associated with its place in western Canada's gold 
rush era and the role the gold rush played in BC joining Canada.  
Barkerville is widely known as a "must see" for travelers in western 
Canada.  The historic town is also a significant contributor to the 
Cariboo regional economy and is widely regarded as a unique component of 
the regional identity.

The Barkerville Heritage Trust, as Barkerville's operating and managing 
partner, works in conjunction with the Province of British Columbia, the 
owner and statutory guardian of Barkerville's heritage resources,  to 
ensure that Barkerville is efficiently managed, entertaining and 
educational to visitors, and financially stable as the premier heritage 
resource and tourism attraction for the Cariboo.  The ultimate aim is to 
maintain and enhance Barkerville's position as a nationally significant 
heritage resource and tourism attraction for BC and Canada.

Barkerville is situated 80 km east of Quesnel, British Columbia in the 
foothills of the Cariboo Mountains, close to Troll Mountain Ski Resort 
and Bowron Lake Provincial Park.  The nearby community of Wells (8 km 
from Barkerville) is the service and housing centre for the area 
(www.wellsbc.com <http://www.wellsbc.com/>) and is itself a dynamic 
cultural community, home of Island Mountain Arts, the acclaimed Toni 
Onley Artists' Project, the International Celtic Harp School 
(www.imarts.com <http://www.imarts.com/>), the dynamic indie music 
festival ArtsWells (www.artswells.com <http://www.artswells.com/>), and 
the Sunset Theatre (www.sunset-theatre.com 
<http://www.sunset-theatre.com/>).  Wells is also situated close to a 
wide variety of winter and summer outdoor activities.