Nova Scotia is celebrating just its third official Acadian Heritage month throughout August.
According to the Directory of Federal Heritage, Aug. 15 was first chosen as National Acadian Day back in 1881. The province of Nova Scotia made the month official with a declaration in 2023, and first celebrated in 2024.
In a press release from the provincial government, they say the month is to honour more than four centuries of French language, culture and traditions in the province.
“Acadians are woven into the story of this province – in our homes, our communities and our daily lives,” said Colton LeBlanc, Minister of Acadian Affairs and Francophonie. ”This month is a chance to celebrate the meaningful accomplishments and recognize the lasting impact Acadians continue to have across Nova Scotia. Our government is proud to have launched Acadian Heritage Month. It’s one way of demonstrating the province’s commitment to recognizing the rich contributions of our Acadian communities.”
This year’s theme is “Building Connections, Celebrating our voices”, and aims to engage Acadians, francophones, francophiles and allies.
Events will be taking place across the province all months. Community members can expect workshops, concerts, culinary experiences, community gatherings and more.
The Festival Acadien de Clare claims to be the oldest Acadian festival in the world, and regularly brings thousands of people for two weeks of fun. They end their festivities on Aug. 15 with a Tintamarre, a traditional parade celebration making as much noise as possible.
A list of events across the province are available online.
