Argyle approves funding for CMA 2024
Municipality of Argyle committing up to $250,000 for Acadian congress; Clare has committed same amount
The Municipality of Argyle has officially expressed its financial commitment for bringing the Congrès mondial acadien (World Acadian Congress) of 2024 to southwestern Nova Scotia.
At its regular council meeting of Jan. 8, the municipality passed a motion committing up to $250,000 for the 2024 congress, which – if this region’s bid is successful – would be jointly hosted by the municipalities of Clare and Argyle.
Last month Clare municipal council approved a $250,000 commitment to bring the 2024 Acadian congress to the Clare-Argyle region.
Hosting the congress would bring a lot of people to the region and have a significant positive impact, proponents say.
“The economic spinoff potential is off the charts,” said Alain Muise, the Municipality of Argyle’s chief administrative officer, in a report to Argyle municipal council. “The influx of people in our communities would be like nothing else in this region.”
Muise, who also is a member of the CMA 2024 bid committee, said support from other levels of government would be important as well.
“Conversations with the provincial and federal governments have been positive and, clearly, their support of such a large event is critical,” Muise said in his report to Argyle council.
Referring to what is being asked of the Municipality of Argyle, he wrote, “we have the luxury of time to plan for this event. We also have partners that we have not yet approached for funds officially.”
The congress has been held every five years since 1994. It has only been held in Nova Scotia once. That was in 2004, when the province as a whole served as the congress host. This year’s congress will be co-hosted by Prince Edward Island and southeast New Brunswick.
So far, all of the CMAs but one have been held in Canada, the exception being 1999, when the congress took place in Louisiana.
The CMA is an international gathering that celebrates Acadian culture. Its mission is to strengthen ties among Acadian communities around the world. The event also is a chance for host municipalities to showcase their part of the world through activities such as family reunions, conferences and concerts.
Said Alain Muise in his report to Argyle council, referring to the effort to bring the 2024 congress to southwestern Nova Scotia, “community support for the project is well documented, and the social media site has many followers and is a strong indication of community interest and passion.”
The CMA, he said, “is an event like no other.”