Take Down, Free Time, & Remembering PEI

Today was a gorgeous day in Charlottetown. The sky was clear blue and the temperatures soared to almost 20°C. Then after a three hour viewing for the community and school groups, the finalists took down their displays in rapid time. We didn't take more than an hour to remove all the posters and collapse all the back boards. During lunch Sonia showed us her pin collection. At 1PM we gathered to take the Team BC group composite in front of Main Building at UPEI.

Sonia's pin collection

Team BC Finalists (High Resolution)

Team BC Finalists & Delegates (High Resolution)

With the weather being so beautiful, we elected to take the public transit to downtown. They really have pulled out all the stops for us here in the small town. Our bus fare was only $1 (normally $2) if we show our CWSF name tags. One driver was so accommodating, that he pulled into a strip mall to drop another regional group off at the East Side Mario's. You'd never find that in the metropolis of Vancouver. Our group broke up and  spent about an hour and half downtown. We walked into souvenir shops and other venues to get a good flavour of the warm hospitality of the people of Charlottetown.

Yes...they had a pink bus!

City Hall

We returned back to UPEI around 5:30PM and had a Mexican supper in the dining hall. Following that, the evening's festivities was themed as "Remembering PEI". It included eating lobster, mussels, and oysters at one venue, listening to the band 10 Strings And A Goat Skin at another, then watching some maritime tap dancers at still another.  All in all, it brought a wonderful close to a brilliant week in this warm and pleasant community of 38,000. 

Learning how to eat lobster

Shivan doesn't care for the taste of lobster. Don't blame him...they used to feed this stuff to inmates and the disadvantaged.

The lobster woman said "A 100 years ago, the poor kids used to come to school with a lobster sandwich, the wealthy ones came with peanut butter and jelly." Oh how things have turned.

Wyatt enjoying his lobster...I don't think I've seen him smile so brightly all week.

Still hesitant on the flavours. That's OK, his neighbour ate his leftovers.

The lobster woman showing us how to de-vein a lobster

There are just shells left. The mussels got scooped up really quickly

Nadia and Pinchy

Tomorrow we fly out at 6:45PM. That means we head for the airport just after 5PM. Nadia plans to hit the local farm market across the street in the morning. We'll leave the day open tomorrow and see what unfolds.  

Westjet flight 497 arrives in YVR at 11:30 PM. See you then. 

The Awards Ceremony & Banquet

Today is when South Fraser's finalists find out the results of the judging at the 2012 Canada Wide Science Fair. They've been filled with anxiety since they awoke this morning. While Nadia and I had yet another delegates meeting, the finalists went and stood by their projects for more public viewing. It wasn't very busy and that didn't alleviate their anxiety.

They returned to their rooms at 12:30 to get ready for the 2PM departure to the Charlottetown Confederation Centre of the Arts where the awards ceremony and banquet was held. When they emerged out of their rooms at 1:45, we almost didn't recognize our finalists. They looked amazing all dressed to the nines. There wasn't a finer looking bunch at the whole fair.

We arrived at the Centre and enjoyed the beautiful sunshine and 18°C temperatures for a few moments before we entered into the theatre. While in the courtyard waiting, we took some fun  candid pictures of the group.

Charlottetown Confederation Centre of the Arts

The South Fraser Finalists

Some candid and fun shots

Shelby said that "Scientists don't think...they DO". I guess these guys are making up for that.

I asked if she could raise her right eyebrow...she can't

Apparently, this is a cosine wave....apparently

Who are these two characters?

The Delta Finalists

The Surrey Finalists

The ceremony started on time at 3PM. Our finalists were anxious about the awards. About half way into the ceremony, they announced Nick's name for a bronze medal in the senior category. We cheered and hollered as he smiled from ear to ear running down to the stage to receive his medal. We all hoped and prayed that another would come, but we only received one medal for the 2012 CWSF. While everyone was excited for Nick, we were a bit disappointed that we didn't receive more awards this year. I have to comment that their resilience is amazing...already they are planning for next year's projects in hopes of securing a medal at the 2013 CWSF in Lethbridge, Alberta next May.

The screen's caption

Congratulations Nick!

What's bronze made of?

After a lengthy wait in the courtyard following the ceremony, we were invited in to sit at our tables for dinner. The buffet style feast included a variety of salads, vegetables, roast pork, turkey and all the fixings.

Patiently waiting to be called to the buffet

When the banquet concluded, we coached back to UPEI for a dance at the Student Union Building. This is where the finalists were able to let off some steam after a very packed and exciting week of judging and activities. The girls danced the night away...until curfew at 11PM. The boys stayed back at the residences and likely continued with networking and dominating the virtual world. 

The Australian's and their choreographed performance

The girls watching the Australian's

Look at all that pent up energy!

Miranda (Sonia's roomate) Shelby, Sonia, Soohyun

Sonia, Emma (Sonia's other roomate), Devika, Soohyun

Miranda, and Shelby

Devika and Nadine having a blast!

Tomorrow it's an 8:15 breakfast, three hours of school tours and public exhibition, then take down. Nadia and I...another delegates' meeting.