Skip to content

Burnaby student takes on the nation

When it comes to seeing the world, Jerry Sun wants to be more than a witness. That’s why the Grade 10 student from Burnaby Mountain Secondary is so interested in geography.
Jerry Sun
Exploring the world: Jerry Sun, a Burnaby Mountain Secondary student, is off to Ottawa for the Canadian Geographic Challenge.

When it comes to seeing the world, Jerry Sun wants to be more than a witness.

That’s why the Grade 10 student from Burnaby Mountain Secondary is so interested in geography. Sun likes to travel and enjoys being able to apply what he’s learned in school to landscapes in the real world.

“It’s impressive to not only be able to witness the Earth’s wonders but also understand what is going on behind the scenes,” Sun said in a news release.

That interest in what goes on behind the scenes of the world has led Sun to earn a spot in the national finals of the Canadian Geographic Challenge, which kicks off this weekend. Sun is the returning provincial champion for B.C.

The challenge, which is in its 23rd year, is one of Canada’s biggest student competitions. This year, more than 650 schools and more than 22,000 students participated. Students went through classroom testing, and then each school champion faced off at the provincial/territorial level. Now, the top 20 students from across the country are about to descend on Ottawa for the final showdown, which includes two days of written testing and field work.

Five finalists will then take part in a geography trivia challenge to determine the winner.