INNISFAIL – Sometimes history teaches lessons beyond the classroom.
For students at Innisfail Middle School (IMS), that learning has come in the form of the unforgettable life and story of one heroic young Jewish girl named Anne Frank.
For the first time in an Alberta school, the Anne Frank exhibit from the Netherlands is on display at IMS from May 2 to 31.
Innisfail students, teachers, local groups, organizations, members of the community and visitors from across Alberta, have viewed the exhibit over the past several weeks and during an open house at the school on May 24.
A total of 20 students from grades 5 through 10 were chosen to be tour guides and ambassadors for the Anne Frank exhibit. They were trained by a representative from the Anne Frank House in Amsterdam at the end of April and were educated on the details surrounding the events of the Second World War, the Holocaust and Anne Frank’s story.
Three of those tour guides are Grade 8 students Kallie Fay, Swaleh Zaidi and Olivia Bergeron.
"I felt pretty special and grateful that I could be a part of this experience," said Fay, noting the story of Anne Frank was especially meaningful for one reason. “Anne was the same age as us when she had to go into hiding and when all this was happening.
“It shocks me that her life was normal and then all of a sudden things changed,” she added.
Zaidi pointed out Anne Frank’s unique view on events of the Second World War, as described in her diary.
"She did it from a 13-year-old's perspective. It’s the kind of world view that some people (today) might have had," he said. "It's interesting to read what she thought about."
He said they’ve enjoyed teaching their peers about Anne Frank and sharing their knowledge about the tragic events of the Holocaust and the Second World War.
"(Students) are learning a lot about who Anne Frank was, about World War II and what troubles people had to go through to stay away from the Nazis," explained Zaidi.
Bergeron noted the impact the exhibit had on students and the Innisfail community, and the important place Anne Frank’s diary has in history.
"(If she didn’t write it) we wouldn't have her story to learn from and to teach younger generations," said Bergeron. "I think it's a really important story for young people to realize.”
Fay, Zaidi and Bergeron said they appreciate the once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to participate in this unique experience and help bring a piece of world history to Innisfail.
"We are the first school in Alberta to do this. We're very proud to represent our school and Innisfail," Bergeron concluded.
