Cultural strengths become economic force
Acadians have always been renowned for their beautiful culture.
“Our music, our dancing, our theatrical performances, our foods and our language. We’ve always had this cultural force that we’re very proud to celebrate. But over the past number of years, we’ve been able to transform this cultural strength into a powerful economic force,” said Pierre Gallant, new spokesperson for the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of P.E.I. Speaking to the approximately 350 people gathered in Abram-Village for National Acadian Day and the 150th anniversary of Canada on the evening of Aug. 15, Gallant noted that: “We’ve understood that we could create jobs and tourist attractions based on what we know best: our everyday life. We are now one of the big reasons why a major number of tourists from other provinces and countries come to visit Prince Edward Island.” He added that Acadians also contribute to the Island economy and way of life in many other ways.
“Yes, we started with fishing and farming many years ago, but over the past number of years, we’ve also established all kinds of companies and businesses that offer a huge variety of products and services. We literally contribute millions of dollars to the economy of P.E.I. and Canada.
“We Acadians are now spread out over every corner of our country, in all kinds of jobs.” He said it is amazing when one considers that not so long ago Acadians used to be ashamed to admit they were French or Acadian. “Today, we proudly proclaim that we are francophone and bilingual Acadians who just on the same level as everyone else,” concluded Gallant, to thunderous applause from the crowd. The National Acadian Day celebration, celebrated with a tintamarre or noise parade, music and food, was organized jointly by the Evangeline School-Community Council, the Acadian Musical Village, the Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce and the Wellington Rural Action Centre. Participating in the raising of the Acadian flag in Abram-Village, on Aug. 15 on the occasion of National Acadian Day, were, from left, Egmont MP Robert Morrissey; the provincial Minister of Workforce and Advanced Learning, Sonny Gallant; Pierre Gallant, Acadian and Francophone Chamber of Commerce of P.E.I; and the traditional characters of Gabriel and Evangeline, played by Dennis and Odette Gallant of Mont-Carmel.