Student’s interpretation of Canada snags provincial award

Canada Day Poster Challenge finalist wins trip to nation’s capital

When Stephanie Hunt designed a poster illustrating her interpretation of Canada, she drew upon the knowledge she gained in the classroom and travelling across the country.

While Hunt may not have seen a Canadian goose flying next to a salmon or a hockey player skating next to a wheat field, her vision of the country turned out to be award-winning.

The Grade 7 student from John Henderson Junior High recently won first place in the province for her collage in this year’s Canada Day Poster Challenge.

“I tried to make it all blend together,” said the shy 13-year-old, referring to the cultural, historical and geographical elements in her drawing.

Hunt said she has been to the East and West coasts of Canada with her family on their road trips.

“I didn’t really picture it before. I just started in the corners and worked my way around it,” she said.

Hunt’s poster was chosen from more than 1,450 entries from across Manitoba from youth between the ages of five and 18. This year’s theme was My Canada Today.

Hunt was honoured May 7 at a reception hosted by the Celebrate Canada Committee at the Peguis Pavilion in Kildonan Park.

After receiving a trophy, a framed copy of her drawing and other gifts, Hunt gave a speech about her artwork.

Hunt will now fly to Ottawa, where she will join the other provincial and territorial finalists for a three-day tour.They will also travel to Quebec City to take part in the city’s 400th anniversary celebrations.

Hunt will find out later this month if her poster will become the official national poster for Celebrate Canada, a series of events across the country.

The 13 finalists’ posters will also be part of a special exhibit from June to September at the Canadian Children’s Museum in the Canadian Museum of Civilization in Gatineau, Que.

“I high-fived some people when I found out,” Hunt said. “I think it will be cool to meet other winners.”

Tamara Young, Hunt’s art teacher, said that while she helped her student brainstorm for the poster, Hunt had lots of great ideas to begin with.

“She just jam-packed everything into it,” Young said.

“She’s always drawing. She’ll always bring out her sketch book and show me what she’s been working on.”

Susan Reynolds, Hunt’s social studies and language arts teacher, says her student is a humble and talented person.

“I think she’s a perfectionist and she’s too hard on herself,” Reynolds said. “She’s just so advanced in her understanding of where things should go in a space.”