Christy Harrick, Teacher at Esterhazy High School, has been selected to participate in the 15th Juno Beach Centre Summer Institute and Battlefield Tour in partnership with EF Educational Tours from July 29- August 5, 2024. She will be a part of a group of over 20 Canadian educators who are travelling through Belgium and Northern France for professional development training on the battlefields of the First and Second World Wars.
Since 2005, the Juno Beach Centre has provided over 350 Canadian educators an exciting professional development opportunity to discover the Canadian First and Second World War historic sites in Belgium and France.
Participants will visit the Canadian battlefields at Ypres, Vimy Ridge, Dieppe, the D-Day landing beaches, and the Falaise Gap, as well as additional stops at memorials, museums, cemeteries across Belgium and France.
Participants will also gain a better understanding of Canadian sacrifices through visits to the Abbaye d’Ardenne, and Canadian cemeteries at Bény-sur-Mer, Bretteville-sur-Laize and Dieppe.
Harrick explained that this first-hand experience in Belgium and France will translate to being able to teach an effective lesson to the students that she works with.
“Every summer, I try to expand my knowledge that I can share with the students I teach to make it more relevant and inspiring. Last year, I went to Vancouver and attended the Korean War Veterans Teachers Institute; it was phenomenal as well.”
History is a passion for Christy and she has been able to share this with her students in Social Studies 7 and Social Studies 8 this year, as well as Indigenous Studies 10.
She said, “One of the areas that is important to be focussed on is Indigenous veterans who served in war and represented Canada. When they returned, they did not receive the same benefits as non-Indigenous soldiers”.
Harrick is a member of Social Studies Saskatchewan and on the Board of Directors as well as the representative for Canadian Geographic Education based out of Ottawa.
She was able to access information about the 15th Juno Beach Centre Summer Institute and Battlefield Tour by reading posts from these organizations.
“I encourage educators to sign up and become a member of Social Studies Saskatchewan as well as Canadian Geographic Education”, said Christy Harrick. She added, “They have a lot of tools that teachers can access and professional development opportunities that they can apply to attend”.
Christy mentioned how she is counting down the days to the trip and is looking forward to the educational experience.