Grand-Pré, September 10, 2008 -- When the Société Promotion Grand-Pré was created in 1997, Barbara LeBlanc and the other members of the founding committee wanted a board of directors that would be representative of the various Acadian regions and include different areas of expertise. Mr Gaston Chagnon was an obvious choice. He was an experienced businessman and had been involved in the Acadian community since the 1960s. He would certainly be able to give all kinds of practical knowledge to a non-profit group that was already dreaming of building a modern Visitors’ Centre.

For ten years, this courteous and friendly man, born in Quebec, has been serving on the board of directors of the Société Promotion Grand-Pré – the organization that collaborates with Parks Canada to ensure the development and integrity of Grand-Pré National Historic Site. One just has to listen to Gaston Chagnon to realize how attached he is to Grand-Pré, “the site of a human tragedy that is part of the history of Canada.”

A man of action, Mr Chagnon has contributed to Grand-Pré in many ways. Thanks to his generosity, Grand-Pré National Historic Site has been able to acquire a number of artistic works. He and the Tauck Foundation contributed equally towards the large mural by Wayne Boucher that hangs in the entrance hall of the Visitors’ Centre. The four bronze statues, commemorating the deported families, were created with donations from the Province of Nova Scotia, Parks Canada, the Tauck Foundation, Gaston Chagnon, and other private donors. The statues by Quebec sculptors André Fournelle and Jules Lasalle were unveiled in 2006. They depict the uprooting of the families in Grand-Pré as they made their way to the transport ships in 1755.

When he was asked what other projects at Grand-Pré he was particularly interested in, Mr Chagnon said that he would like to see the old Saint-Charles-des-Mines cemetery marked off with a low stone wall and a plaque erected with the names of the people who were buried at Grand-Pré. He also hopes to see the creation of a charitable foundation that would enable people to make donations that would ensure the long-term development of Grand-Pré National Historic Site. “The future of the historic site also depends on young people,” he said. “So I was very happy to be able to support the initiative of the Société Promotion Grand-Pré to bring the 1,500 young Acadian athletes to Grand-Pré.” It was a wonderful visit that will be a lasting memory not only for the young people, but also the many volunteers who helped organize the event.

At the annual general meeting of the Société Promotion Grand-Pré, Stan Surette thanked Gaston Chagnon publicly for his commitment and his generosity.

PHOTO: Stan Surette, President of the Société Promotion Grand-Pré, thanked Gaston Chagnon publicly for his continuing participation and contributions.

For further information, contact:

Sally Ross

Marketing and Media Relations

Société Promotion Grand-Pré

medias@grand-pre.com

The Société Promotion Grand-Pré is a non-profit organization representing the Acadian community that collaborates with Parks Canada to ensure the development and integrity of Grand-Pré National Historic Site.