Festival acadien de Wedgeport features talks, lob-ball tournament

Donnie Jacquard and Daniel Jacquard, two great story tellers and historical researchers, are featured again this year at the 36th annual Festival acadien de Wedgeport in Yarmouth County.

Donnie Jacquard will give a talk on the over 200 letters the Second World War Wedgeport soldier, J. Harold LeBlanc (19222009), wrote to his mother, Clara. She kept the letters that are still in the family.

The letters cover the years 1942-46 including the time LeBlanc was engaged in the battle fields of Europe. The audience will learn what a Canadian soldier, who’s letters were heavily censored by the army command, writes home about. The talk will be held in the Wedgeport museum Monday, July 30, at 2 p.m. Daniel Jacquard will give a talk on Pease Island on July 31. in English and that evening at 7 pm in French. Admittance is free.

Daniel Jacquard’s talk will be on the lighthouse keepers of Pease Island part of the Tusket Islands archipelago. The talk will cover the lighthouse construction in 1879 and some of the many men and women who spent most of their working lives with their families isolated on this very small island. Mr. Jacquard will also speak on the first lighthouse in the world and the demise of these structures in recent years. The talk will be held in the Wedgeport museum Tuesday, July 31, at 2 p.m. in English and that evening at 7 p. m. in French. Admittance is free.

The 12th annual Wedgeport Acadian Families Lob- Ball Tournament sponsored by Del Agency and Assumption Life will be held from Thursday, Aug. 2 to Sunday, Aug. 5, at the Wedgeport school. Concerts are also planned and will be announced in August. Monetary support from Canadian Heritage and the Municipality of Argyle has been received to aid with the festival events. Donnie Jacquard will give a talk about Second World War letters written by a Wedgeport soldier.