It has been called the Olympics of culture in French communities.
The fourth World Acadian Congress (Congrès mondial acadien), which runs from Aug. 7 to 23 in the Acadian Peninsula of northeast New Brunswick, is a gathering of Acadian people from around the world that’s held every five years.
An estimated 40,000 Acadians, the descendants of French colonists who settled in Atlantic Canada beginning in the early 1600s, are attending the two-and-a-half week event to renew their bonds while they commemorate their history and celebrate their culture.
Hundreds of planned activities include family reunions, concerts, village festivals, tours, workshops, exhibits, and conferences.
James Moore, federal Minister of Canadian Heritage and Official Languages, spoke at the opening ceremony in Shippagan last Friday.
The following day in Caraquet, Secretary General of la Francophonie Abdou Diouf unveiled a street named in his own honour.
