A District-administered provincial program hosted the inaugural Deaf and Hard of Hearing Proud Showcase this month with 80 students from across BC.
The event, for Kindergarten to Grade 12s, began with a series of contests. It featured De’VIA (Deaf Image Art), ASL poetry, and a spotlight communication competition. This year’s theme was “What Makes you Proud to be Deaf or Hard of Hearing?”
Burnaby Board of Education Chair, Jen Mezei, opened the virtual gathering:
Deaf culture is unique and part of a rich history with a beautiful language that enriches our school district.”
These are the winners from Burnaby Schools:
Category: ASL Poetry Grades K-5
- Zoe Kalenuik, BC Provincial School for the Deaf (BCSD) Elementary, 1st place
- Everly Hohnadel, BCSD Elementary, 3rd place
Category: ASL Poetry Grades 6-12
- Teanna Kay, BCSD Secondary, 1st place
- Natasha Germaine, BCSD Secondary, 2nd place
- Angus LeMaitre, BCSD Secondary, 3rd place
Category: De’VIA Grades 6-12
- Baowen Yan, Burnaby Central Secondary, 1st place
Category: Spotlight Grades 6-12
- Izabella Kamaeva, Burnaby Mountain Secondary, 3rd place
A list of all winners from throughout BC and more information, including links to the full showcase and gallery, can be found here.
On the second day of the event – known as Friendship Day – the students were treated to a special guest presenter. Justin Perez, a Deaf performer, who shared his flair for visual vernacular.
Congratulations to all the students who participated in the competitions and the DHHproud event, which was put on by the BC Provincial Outreach Program, Deaf and Hard of Hearing.
Read the story in the Burnaby Now.
Posted April 2022