International gathering of the Arsenaults on P.E.I.

The Arsenaults, one of the most prolific Acadian families on Prince Edward Island, will hold an international family reunion on Aug. 17-18 in the Evangeline Region during the World Acadian Congress.

A committee has been at work since 2016 preparing a program of activities designed for all ages.

It is now official that the ancestor of this prolific family, Pierre Arsenault and his two wives, Marguerite Dugas and Marie Guérin, will be present to meet their numerous descendants, whether they spell their name Arsenault, Arseneault, Arseneau or Arceneaux.

Among the activities, there will be a friendly golf tournament with members of the large Haché/Gallant family, a car rally, a mass, a meetand-greet evening, games for the young and not-so young, an open mic concert, a performance by the famous pole climbers, a genealogy research room, a variety of booths, and a scrapbooking workshop. The closing concert will feature Arsenault musicians, singers and dancers from the Evangeline Region, the World Capital of the Arsenaults.

During the weekend, eight presentations will be given in French and English dealing with different aspects of the history and genealogy of the Arsenaults. The speakers come from Louisiana, New England, Québec, New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island.

All Islanders connected in one way or another to the Arsenaults are welcome to attend this gathering. It promises to be a wonderful opportunity to learn about the family history and to meet close and distant cousins from nearby and far away.

The program and registration form are available in both French and English on line at https://www.cma2019.ca/fr/programmation/familles/147arsenault. More information is also available on Facebook: Arsenault Reunion 2019.