The 16-year-old Grade 10 student wrote and sang a song, and created a video, for the Canada 150 and Me competition. She is currently in Montreal for the forum on culture until April 14.
“My mother noticed it when she was online and I thought it would be interesting to enter,” she said. “I like to sing and dance and play the piano, so I thought why not mash them all together, and by doing that I get to do another thing I love – travel.”
Her video, called ‘Shining a Light on Canadian Culture’ was filmed in her Truro neighbourhood and at the lighthouse in Masstown. In it she tried to highlight the importance of preserving culture.
Submissions could be video, visual art, written text, images or graphic stories. They were judged on originality, Canadian content, structure and communication. There were 1,100 entries from youth between ages 14 and 19.
Because her entry was in the culture category Zoe is in Montreal with 149 other young people. Other forums are being held in Vancouver (environment), Halifax (immigration and diversity) and Winnipeg (human rights). All youth stay with local host families during events.
“I’m pretty excited,” said Zoe. “This will be my first trip to Montreal and my first plane trip by myself, and there are a lot of fun and educational activities we’ll get to take part in. The forum will be the main focus but I’m into dancing so I’m really interested in the visit to the Cirque du soleil training centre.”
The teens will also visit the Museum of Ingenuity, volunteer at a breakfast club and listen to speakers, including a Bedouin women’s rights advocate.
