Acadian Day activities in West Pubnico

Several sites in West Pubnico will play host to events, including the Village historique, the Musee acadien, Saint Peter’s church the Centre de Pombcoup.

The day will begin at the Acadian Village, where, starting at 10 a.m., there will be a variety of activities for children, including games, crafts and music. There will be cake and juice.

The Acadian museum is the next setting, where, beginning at 1:30 p.m., it will be an afternoon of musical entertainment featuring Simon LeBlanc and the Dixacadie dancers.

Visitors are invited to walk through the traditional Acadian garden, view an exposition of works by carver Richard d’Entremont and enjoy refreshments.

At 7 p.m. Archbishop Anthony Mancini will celebrate mass commemorating the Assumption of Mary.

This will be followed by what is billed as an “Acadian evening” at the Centre de Pombcoup, with entertainment and refreshments.

Acadians have recognized Aug. 15 as their national holiday for over 125 years, the date having been chosen as such in 1881.

Official government recognition of the date and its significance for Acadians has come in recent years.

The federal government declared Aug. 15 National Acadian Day in 2003, while Nova Scotia the following year passed a bill making the date Provincial Acadian Day.

Acadian Day that year – 2004 – coincided with the conclusion of the World Acadian Congress.

The congress – a celebration of Acadian culture and history – was held in various parts of Nova Scotia, including Yarmouth County and Clare, over a 16-day span that ended Aug. 15.

The 2004 congress was the third to be held, following the 1999 congress in Louisiana and the first one in 1994 in Moncton.

New Brunswick’s Acadian Peninsula will play host to the next World Acadian Congress in 2009.