'I'm glad to be Acadian': New Brunswickers get loud for National Acadian Day
For a 91-year-old woman in Grand-Digue, celebrating with the community she served all her life is a tradition
Celebrations in communities large and small are marking National Acadian Day on Aug.15, and the coastal community of Grand-Digue started the day with a parade.
It was a sea of blue, white, red and yellow as residents of all ages poured in from the main road for a tintamarreas they banged drums, blew noise makersand shook cans.
Near the end of the parade was one woman whose bright red hat,long blue skirt and pinnedyellow flower could not be missed.
Hlne Fougre,of Shediac Bridge, is famous in her community. Many people point to the91 year oldas the proudest Acadian they know.
"I'm glad to be Acadian," she said. "My parents were Acadian and we follow them."
For years, Fougre and her brother, Ron, owned and ran the community'sconvenience store.
The store, now called Depanneur Evangelineafter an Acadian literary figure, was a staple for locals, sellingeverything from homemade Acadian dishes to farming goods.
"I've been working hard ... all my life at the store.I could handle a hundred-pound bag of feed, you know," she said, laughing.
Today,she's still singing the Acadian national anthem, Ave Maris Stella, in the local choirand serving cake to the same peopleshe has served all her life.
"I will be coming every year until I get to 200," she said.
Adlard Poirier was emceeof the village's events for the day. He's part of Grand-Digue's historical society and a proud, 10th-generation Poirier from the area.
"It's kind of special to live in Acadian communities," he said. "We're proud to be Acadian 365 days a year, but today it's kind of our celebration, it's like Christmas."
To him, the tintamarre is a big part ofmaking that pride heard.
"We've been having a tintamarre for the last 15, 20 years," Poiriersaid. "The more we make noise, the merrier people are."
Stphanie LeBlancand her family areamong the families that brought the next generationto the event this year.
She said one of their favourite parts about the day is eating traditional food likepoutine rpe, a popular potatoand meat dish.
But she is reminded every year that none of the special events she enjoys with her children would be possible without her Acadian ancestors.
"We're here today because of them," LeBlanc said. "It's good to celebrate them."
Red, white, blue and yellow across the province
One of the biggest celebrations in the province happens each year in Caraquet. The12-day festival wraps up Thursday evening with New Brunswick'slargest tintamarreparade and musical performances lasting into the night.
Moncton's Acadie Rock Festival also has a lot to offer. It's set tospreadAcadian prideuntil August 18.
Thursday's Acadian Day concert is happening at the Aberdeen Cultural Centre. Anticipated performances on Friday willalso featurea number of guests who will honour the work ofCayouche, a well-knownAcadian singer who died earlier this year.
MusiquARTinDieppe presents itsAcadian Day concerton Thursday.
A list of events acrossthe province can be found on Tourism New Brunswick's website.
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