Mayor Rod Gilroy, Deputy Mayor Fred Gould and District 6 Coun. Scott Lockhart were joined by representatives from the Cumberland Acadian Society and the Minudie Heritage Association in recognizing August as Acadian Heritage Month and Aug. 15 as National Acadian Day.
Cumberland Acadian Society vice-president Tammy Smith was joined by member Morris Haugg, while Sharon Gould represented the MInudie Heritage Association for the proclamation signing and flag-raising ceremony at the Upper Nappan Service Centre.
“Across generations, Acadians have preserved their language, traditions, music, stories and identity. Today, Acadian culture remains a vibrant and essential part of Nova Scotia and of Canada,” Mayor Gilroy said. “Aug. 15 gives us an opportunity not only to celebrate Acadian culture, but also to better understand the place we call home.
“The Acadian presence is written into our landscape. It is found in the historic sites around Fort Lawrence and Beaubassin, in our marshlands and communities, and in the stories passed from one generation to the next. That history belongs in our understanding of Cumberland County.”
Nova Scotia is celebrating its third annual Acadian Heritage Month throughout August, honouring more than four centuries of French language, culture and traditions in the province.
This year’s theme, Building Connections, Celebrating our Voices, expresses a commitment to collaboration and inclusion, and aims to engage Acadians, francophones, francophiles and allies.
Acadians have marked Aug. 15 as their national day since 1881, when the first National Acadian Convention in Memramcook, N.B, chose the date. Canada formally recognized National Acadian Day in 2003 and Nova Scotia followed with provincial recognition in 2004.
The period has particular significance in Nova Scotia because Acadian history in the province goes back more than 400 years. Acadian communities helped shape the province, endured the Grand Dérangement (Acadian Deportation) beginning in 1755, and subsequently rebuilt communities while maintaining a distinctive language, culture and identity. The day therefore combines celebration with remembrance and recognition of that resilience.
Communities celebrate with Acadian flags, music, food, cultural events, family gatherings and tintamarres—lively processions in which participants make noise to demonstrate the vitality and presence of the Acadian people.
To mark the occasion, the Cumberland Acadian Society is hosting a picnic at Beaubassin on Saturday, Aug. 15, from 11 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. that will include a Tintamarre, skits and a walking tour of the national historic site.
The society is also planning an Acadian talent show on Saturday, Oct. 24, at the Susan Taylor Theatre at Amherst Regional High School.
The Minudie Heritage Association is celebrating the occasion with an event on Sunday, Aug. 16, from 12 to 3 p.m. in Minudie (Rain location is St. Denis Church). There’ll be a barbecue, vendors, a quilt show and Tinatmarre.