Friday, July 23

Social Evening organized by the Ami(e)s de Grand-Pré

On Friday evening, the Ami(e)s de Grand-Pré organize a social evening at the Grand-Pré National Historic Site from 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm. The Ami(e)s de Grand-Pré present the Acadian artist Nadine Belliveau and the group Chantensemble with Paul Saulnier on the piano. Come to the opening of Nadine Belliveau's exhibit of 12 paintings Tu es pierre : fondations d'une identité (You Are Stone - Foundations of an Identity)

Wine and Cheese.

Talks

Theme: Land to Remember, Land to Settle

Master of Ceremonies: Jean Gaudet

(1) PHILIPPE BASQUE       10:00 - 11:00 am  (talk in French)

Monseigneur Auguste Allard, toujours pour l’église-souvenir

From his parish in Bathurst, Monsignor Allard (1884-1970) took an active part in projects related to the Memorial Church in Grand-Pré. Philippe Basque will talk about the dedication of this priest from East Bathurst to the Acadian cause and to Grand-Pré National Historic Site.

Philippe Basque has occupied the position of historian at the Village Historique Acadien in Caraquet since 2008. He ensures that this historic site is an accurate representation of Acadian life from 1770 to 1949. He is responsible for training the guides and ensuring the quality of the interpretative activities. He is also the editor of the journal Revue d’histoire de la Société Nicolas-Denys.

(2) MAURICE BASQUE        11 h 00 - 12 h 00  (talk in French)

La Péninsule acadienne : histoire d’un peuplement pluriel

In the late 18th century, the Acadian Peninsula became a new home for Acadian, British, French, and Loyalist settlers. Maurice Basque will examine the geopolitical and socioeconomic backdrop of this diverse population. He will show how the area known as Lower Gloucester gradually became the very heart of 20th century Acadian identity.  

Before becoming the first director of the new Institut d’études acadiennes, the prominent historian Maurice Basque served as director of Acadian studies at the Université de Moncton for ten years. He has published numerous articles and books, including Histoire d’Otho Robichaud et de sa famille, notables acadiens de Port-Royal et de Néguac and Entre Baie et Péninsule : histoire de Néguac. He is the author of two chapters in the collective work The ‘Conquest’ of Acadia, 1710: Imperial, Colonial, and Aboriginal Constructions. He is a regular commentator on Radio-Canada.

~ LUNCH served on the premises, prepared by the Ami(e)s de Grand-Pré ($5.00) ~

(3) NADINE BELLIVEAU        12:45 - 1:00 (en français); 1:00 - 1:15 (en anglais)

Mon jardin –  piste de création / My Garden – a Creative Path

Professional artist Nadine Belliveau will give a short presentation in French and in English on the process that led her to create her painting called “My Garden.”

A graduate of NSCAD, Nadine Belliveau taught in the Education Department at Université Sainte-Anne from 1980 to 2008 and has been exposing her paintings since 1974. Her gallery is located in Belliveau’s Cove. She is the artist in residence at Grand-Pré National Historic Site this summer. Her exhibit Tu es pierre : fondations d’une identité (You are stone, foundations of an identity) will be on display at Grand-Pré from July 23 to September 5.

(4) JULIAN GWYN           1:30 - 2:30 pm (talk in English)

The Land and Sea for the Acadians and the New England Planters: Similarities and Differences

Julian Gwyn will offer a comparative study showing how two very different societies and cultures behaved successively while using the same soil and surrounding seas.

Professor emeritus at the University of Ottawa, Julian Gwyn taught British colonial history and early American history. He has published numerous books, including Excessive Expectations: Maritime Commerce and the Economic Development of Nova Scotia, 1740-1870. To mark the 250th anniversary of the massive arrival of the New England Planters, he has just published four booklets on the townships of Newport, Falmouth, Horton and Cornwallis, commissioned by the Kings Hants Heritage Connection.

(5) PAUL DELANEY     2:30 - 3:30 pm (talk in English)

Winslow’s List Explained

Paul Delaney will examine Lieutenant Colonel John Winslow’s famous list of the Acadians living in the Grand-Pré area in 1755. He will discuss the nature and purpose of the list, the methodology he used to decipher it, and the new insights the study has yielded.

Professor of English at the Université de Moncton, Paul Delaney has been conducting research on the deportations of the Acadians for many years. His publications include: “The Pembroke Passenger List Reconstructed,” “The Acadians Deported from Chignectou to ‘les Carolines’ in 1755: Their Origins, Identities and Subsequent Movements,” and “The Chronology of the Deportations and Migrations of the Acadians, 1755-1816.” He is a member of the Acadian Odyssey Commission which established the project for the international commemoration of the Grand Dérangement.

6) Guided visit by Lary Brown: Trees of the Acadian Forest at Grand-Pré 4:15 pm

A graduate in forestry specializing in natural resource management, Lary Brown worked as a naturalist, interpreter and interpretation planner at Fundy, Kouchibouguac and Gros Morne National Parks. Since the 1990s, he has worked at Parks Canada as Natural and Cultural Heritage Resource manager for the Atlantic Region.

Wednesday, July 28

OFFICIAL ROYAL PROCLAMATION DAY commemorating the Deportation

Commemoration of The Grand Dérangement (The Acadian Deportation) - An invitation to participate

On the 28th of July, Canada recognizes annually the Deportation of the Acadians. This is the date in 1755 on which Governor Lawrence signed the Order to deport the population of over 12,000 men, women and children. Many events and ceremonies are held throughout the Maritimes to commemorate the events of 1755, to honour the survival of the Acadian People, and to work towards renewing relationships with the First Nations.

12 noon – Laying of the Wreaths of Remembrance

Wreath laying ceremony at the Deportation Cross (Horton’s Landing) by the Société Nationale de l'Acadie, the Fédération acadienne de la Nouvelle-Écosse, the Ami(e)s de Grand-Pré, the United Church of Canada, the Société Promotion Grand-Pré, representatives of the Planters and other groups to honour the memory of all the Acadians who were deported and to honour the Acadian People of today.

3:00 p.m.  – “Marie Mi’kmaq, unknown mother of the Acadians” – a talk by Paul Tufts, president of the AAM Souriquois. Paul Tufts will talk about the sources of mystery and controversy regarding the Acadian-Mi’kmaq Métis people, the mitochondrial DNA project, and the so-called “Portuguese markers.”

17h55 (5:55p.m.) – Commemorative Service at the Covenanter Church

Bells ring at 17:55 to mark two minutes of silence which are followed by a sweet grass Blessing and First Nation Prayer. An intercultural service of commemoration is then held inside the Covenanter Church.

7 pm – Walk of Solidarity

People are invited to participate in the walk of solidarity (1.5 km) from the Covenanter Church to Grand-Pré National Historic Site.

The walk is followed by a reception organized by the Ami(e)s de Grand-Pré in the Visitor Centre.

Acadian National Day

Friday, August 13

On the Friday preceding this national Holiday, approximately 100 children come again this year to Grand-Pré National Historic Site of Canada from the Summer Camps program offered in the Halifax-Dartmouth Metropolitan Area by the Conseil scolaire acadien provincial.

Sunday, August 15

Activities

11:00 a.m. Mass under the Willow Trees - In the event a priest is not available, we will have a "White Mass" according to Acadian tradition.

11:55 p.m. Raising of the Acadian flag with the Ave Maris Stella

12:00 p.m. Family picnic, cake, lemonade

3:00 p.m.  – “Marie Mi’kmaq, unknown mother of the Acadians” – a talk by Paul Tufts, president of the AAM Souriquois. Paul Tufts will talk about the sources of mystery and controversy regarding the Acadian-Mi’kmaq Métis people, the mitochondrial DNA project, and the so-called “Portuguese markers.”

Happy Acadian National Day!