Archivist funding sought for West Pubnico
Acadian historical society looking to Municipality of Argyle for funding for position
An Acadian historical group in southwestern Nova Scotia is looking to hire a part-time archivist and is seeking a municipal unit’s financial support to make it happen.
La société historique acadienne de Pubnico-Ouest is asking the Municipality of Argyle for an annual financial contribution for an archivist to work in its research centre, part of the Musée des Acadiens des Pubnicos in West Pubnico.
The proposal is that the person would work three days a week, with the position costing a little over $18,000 annually, according to the historical society’s request, which was presented to the Municipality of Argyle at its May 8 council meeting.
Council will consider the group’s request, said Argyle Warden Richard Donaldson. Yarmouth County dancer Madison Boudreau is excited to be selected for a Nova Scotia team that will compete on a national stage for highland dancing in Calgary.
Named after the late Father Clarence d’Entremont – a well-known historian from West Pubnico – the archives at the Musée des Acadiens des Pubnicos opened in 1998, making this a milestone year for the facility.
“We will be celebrating our 20th anniversary this coming July,” said Paul d’Entremont, the historical society’s president. “The schedule promises well-known speakers, genealogists and historians who will be presenting at the Musée
A Yarmouth dancer is excited to be heading to Calgary to compete at a national highland dance competition as part of Team Nova Scotia.
Madison Boudreau – the daughter of Deborah and Scotty Boudreau – was selected to represent the province at the upcoming ScotDance Canada Championship Series being held in Calgary June 30 to July 4 after competing at the Nova Scotia Closed Highland Dancing Championship and Provincial Selection Meet in Pictou earlier this month.
Held at the deCoste Performing Arts Centre in early May, there were 87 dancers competing for a spot on the team. Boudreau competed in her respective age group – Premier 18 & Under 21 – and claimed the second runner-up title, granting her a spot on the team.
Asked about that day’s competition, Boudreau says, “I was a little nervous. I’ve been working very, very hard for this. I was really excited when the results happened. I can’t wait to represent Nova Scotia des Acadiens des Pubnicos and other locations to be determined. Local genealogists will be available to assist in the gathering of information on genealogy. Tours of the research centre will be available.”
The facility contains a wealth of historical and genealogical material and the centre is well used by people doing research for various reasons, whether they’re exploring their family tree or working on an academic project, Argyle council was told. at Canadians.”
The dancers competing for a spot on the Nova Scotia team have to be premiere dancers, which is the top level for highland dancing, says Boudreau who has plenty of experience when it comes to highland dancing. She’s been dancing for 16 years and used to train with the MacKenzie School of Dance.
This year has been more challenging for her when it comes to her dancing, as she’s been balancing dance with her university studies. Often times she was conducting her lessons with her new Halifax dance teacher Carolyn Spears online through Skype.
“It was definitely really hard with the university workload,” she says. “Sometimes it was hard to fit a class in, but I tried to keep practising as much as I could because I knew the outcome I wanted. I did anything to make it possible.”
Dance has already given Boudreau many unique opportunities. Last year she was first runner-up in the qualifying competition and was
West Pubnico’s Acadian historical society officially began in 1973. The society purchased a local house in 1977 to serve as a museum preserving and showcasing the area’s Acadian heritage and culture.
The museum opened in 1979 and, about a decade-and-a-half later, in the mid-1990s, the museum opened an annex, which features, among other things, a major display of cameras and other photography-related items.
“It’s been a part of my life for so long, I couldn’t imagine my life without it. It teaches you a lot of self-confidence and a lot of creativity and a lot of life lessons that you wouldn’t think of.” — Madison Boudreau says about highland dancing
part of the Nova Scotia team at the national competition in Charlottetown. She’s also performed with dancers at the Royal Nova Scotia International Tattoo.
Boudreau would encourage anyone thinking about dance to give it a try.
“It’s been a part of my life for so long, I couldn’t imagine my life without it. It teaches you a lot of self-confidence and a lot of creativity and a lot of life lessons that you wouldn’t think of,” she says. “One for me would be to never give up and to keep working towards the goals you set for yourself. I was in one of the toughest groups in competition and I didn’t always get the results I wanted but I kept pushing through. It took a lot of hard work to get to where I wanted to be.”
She says she can’t wait for her trip to Calgary.
“At Canadian championships I’ll be competing against the top dancers from around the country in my age group,” she says. “I’m very excited.”