A visit to Canada’s birthplace
Controversy provides tourism boost to Port Royal Habitation
The middle-aged costumed interpreter, dressed as a typical Acadian working man or farmer from the early 17th century, had just given us a detailed explanation of how recent controversy had affected visitation at the Port-Royal National Historic Site.
“All the controversy surrounding this story has resulted in a great deal of free publicity for our little historic site. Especially with regard to visitors from Quebec and Ontario, who had no idea that this place even existed. Many of them have actually changed their vacation plans to come and visit us.”
The controversy he was referring to was a 10-part documentary series, produced by the CBC, and shown on national television in the spring of last year.
“Canada: The Story of Us” was produced to coincide with Canada’s 150th birthday celebrations in 2017.
The idea was to tell the story of Canada’s history, from the arrival of the first European explorers, up to and including the 20th century.
In the words of a CBC press release from early last year: “‘Canada: The Story of Us,’ is an epic adventure history series!” That may have been the intent, of both the CBC and the production company that developed the idea, however, there was controversy right from the start.
The opening scenes showed Quebec City has the location of the first European settlement in Canada and that that historic event took place in 1608. Wrong.
As a former high school history teacher, I knew that Samuel de Champlain had helped set up the first European settlement three years earlier — in Nova Scotia.
In the summer of 1605, Champlain and his shipmates established a permanent encampment at Port Royal, not too far from the present-day town of Annapolis Royal. To prove that they were serious, they even built a substantial wooden fort, which they called the Habitation.
Needless to say, within a few days of that opening show, you know what hit the fan.
Nova Scotia Premier Stephen McNeil along with Mayor Bill MacDonald of Annapolis Royal, both demanded an apology for this misrepresentation of the historical facts. Not only that, but several high-ranking politicians in the province of Quebec, from both the Liberal Party and the Bloc Quebecois, also demanded an apology, saying that this mistake was a deliberate insult to the early francophone explorers, especially Samuel de Champlain.
It was not long before the CBC issued an apology.
A statement released on April 17, 2017, said: “CBC apologizes to those who felt misrepresented by ‘Canada: The Story of Us’.” However, the CBC went on to say that none of the episodes would be updated or corrected. Be that as it may, but the episode did result in a significant increase in visitors to Port Royal and other parts of francophone Nova Scotia.
Long before this historical
fiasco, Mike MacIsaac, his son Steve, Robin Taylor and myself had planned a one-week motorcycle tour of the Annapolis Valley, including a visit to Port Royal and its famous Habitation. We were not disappointed. The Habitation consists of six connected sections that include living quarters, a kitchen and dining area, sleeping quarters, storage rooms and a small chapel.
These wooden structures, with very steep roofs and large stone chimneys, were built around a central courtyard. Windows and doors face the inner courtyard, while the outside of the Habitation has only tiny windows and one door.
Two small fortified areas on the front of the structure, made it possible for guards or lookouts to keep watch, and if need be, return enemy fire.
To someone familiar with the size and scope of our own Fortress Louisbourg, which covers many acres, the Habitation at Port Royal is rather small. However, when you consider that it was built in 1605, more than 100 years before construction even started at Louisbourg (1720), it was quite an achievement.
And, in spite of what the CBC said, less than one year ago, this Habitation marks the spot where Canada really began. Rannie Gillis is a retired teacher and guidance counsellor who lives in North Sydney. An avid writer, photographer and motojournalist, he is the author of several books and has written travel stories for various Canadian and American magazines. He specializes in the Celtic World. He can be reached at ranniegillis@ns.sympatico.ca.