Iqaluit youth represents territory
Chloe Nevin competed in Canadian Geographic Challenge
Stewart Burnett
Northern News Services
Monday, June 13, 2016
IQALUIT
A fan of social studies, Grade 7 student Chloe Nevin got the chance to show her chops representing Nunavut in the subject at the Canadian Geographic Challenge in Ottawa from June 4 to 5.
Grade 7 student Chloe Nevin represented Nunavut on the national stage at the National Geography competition in Ottawa from June 4 to 5. - Stewart Burnett/NNSL photo |
She puts her interest in geography and history simply.
"I like old stuff," she said. "I like learning about things around the world."
Nevin had to complete and pass two tests to get acceptance into the competition, which featured the top geography students in Grades 4 to 6 and 7 to 10 from across Canada.
Ecole Trois-Soleils principal Guy Belanger said the admission process is not easy.
"It's a series of questions on geography, and it can be related to cultural geography, physical geography, human geography," said Belanger.
Questions could range from the capital of Denmark to describing the scientific name of a certain landscape.
"It's really hard," said Belanger.
Before the competition, Nevin admitted to being nervous.
"I'm just very nervous about it," she said. "Excited that I'm going down south, but nervous."
Belanger was proud of her, too, for choosing to speak in French for the competition.
"I think she's feeling nervous because it's going to be a really high-skill competition," he said. "These kids, the majority of them are in schools with special programs, kids who are really, really good at school. She's aware of that. She's going to do her best. I think the most important thing is she will represent Nunavut proudly."
Outside of geography, Nevin, who has lived in Iqaluit since she was two, enjoys speedskating and drawing.
The Canadian Geographic Challenge began in September with more than 600 schools and 20,000 students. After each school champion completed the provincial/territorial level in February, the top 20 students were chosen for the national finals.
In Ottawa, the students had two days of questions and answers. Competitors faced off June 5 awt the Canadian War Museum.
Nevin didn't end up in the finals but teacher Yoan Barriault said he was very proud of her.
