Category Archives: Acadian culture

Un Canadien Errant

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One of the oldest and most popular “folk” songs about French Canadians was actually written in 1842 by Antoine Gérin-Lajoie.


The song relates the story of a soldier who was banished to New England after the Papineau rebellion on Quebec

Recorded at the Fete Nationale de l’Acadie in Port LaJoye August 2008.

The stage was rained out. Fans and artists sat in the artist’s tent and swapped songs.

Artists: Stephen Pate (vocal and guitar), Remi Arsenault (guitar), Robert Arsenault (guitar), Roy Johnston (fiddle), Melissa Gallant (fiddle), Phillipe LeBlanc (flute), and Corine Cormier (recorder)

Copyright 2008 Seafilms/AGI used with permission.

Acadian Christmas in Halifax Nova Scotia

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Il es ne or He (Christ) is Born is an Acadian song remembered from long ago brings back memories

"Il est ne" sung by Kate and Anna McGarrigle

By Terry Wamback, Nova Scotia – Once upon there were three lovely little girls, named Alexis, Terry and Donna. They grew up in a normal family environment with parents who loved to sing. Their parents, John and Vera Pottie, taught Alexis, Terry and Donna many songs just by living at their home. There were war songs, Irish songs, Christmas songs, a few bawdy tunes, to name just a few.

John especially loved to sing songs from the “Pinafore”; an operetta in which he performed during his high school years, and at Christmas, the French carol, “Il est ne”.

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Learn Cajun French free

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Allons! is a free internet site that can teach you enough Cajun French to attend a music festival, order a meal or spend some time in Cajun country

Allons! an introduction to Cajun French (photo: Allons!)

If you like Cajun music but are intimidated by the Cajun French language, try this free site that teaches introductory French conversation in a music festival context.

Allons! teaches the basics of introducing yourself to someone in Cajun country Louisiana, USA.

The free online course will help you to say hello to the musicians, order a meal or ask someone to danse. Oops, my spelling has shifted into Cajun after only a few lessons.

“Allons danser avec moi”

The site is easy to use and is focused on getting you into a conversation with those friendly folks in near a Cajun bayou.   Continue reading →

Ground breaking for Rustico French school

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New French school in historic Rustico ends years of debate

Robert Ghiz, Premier of Prince Edward Island, broke ground in Rustico Monday on the new French school, L’Ecole St Augustin, ending more than a decade of effort by local parents to educate their children in a French language school of their own.

The 23,000 square foot school is being built on land adjacent to the Farmers Bank, Doucet House and St. Augustine Church in one of PEI’s oldest Acadian communities.   Continue reading →

9 AM update on Earl – still headed for Maritimes and PEI on Saturday

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Latest prediction repeats 5 AM warning of hurricane force winds on trajectory for Moncton at 3 PM

(image StormPulse)

With Hurricane Earl bearing down on the Maritimes and PEI, many residents are getting ready. Surprisingly, the Digby Wharf Rats cycle festival with 80,000 in attendance many in tents is going forward.

On PEI, the Évangéline Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival will be held in a tent as well. Abrams Village, PEI is directly in the predicted path of Hurricane Earl.

Let’s hope the festival organizers keep their eye on the weather and use a judicious amount of common sense.

La reconstitution historique à Grand-Pré s’approche

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La reconstitution du 5 septembre sera une expérience unique pour tous

Rassemblement des Acadiens dans l’ancienne église de Grand-Pré en 1755

La Société Promotion Grand-Pré – Le dimanche 5 septembre, la Société Promotion Grand-Pré et les Amis de Grand-Pré espèrent accueillir 418 figurants pour la reconstitution historique du rassemblement des Acadiens dans l’ancienne église de Grand-Pré en 1755. Plus de 200 personnes se sont inscrites déjà, y compris un autocar de participants de Caraquet et un autre autocar de l’Isle-Madame au Cap-Breton.

La reconstitution se déroulera dans une atmosphère plus conviviale qu’en 1755, dans la mesure où les 300 soldats de la Nouvelle-Angleterre ne seront pas présents. Il y a 255 ans, seuls les hommes et les garçons de plus de 10 ans ont été convoqués à l’église par le lieutenant-colonel John Winslow. Mais les organisateurs de la reconstitution veulent que tout le monde puisse participer à cette leçon d’histoire vivante qui a un but scientifique. En profitant de la présence de 418 personnes, représentant le nombre d’Acadiens qui se trouvaient dans l’église Saint-Charles-des-Mines le 5 septembre 1755, les archéologues et les historiens pourront mesurer la grandeur possible de l’ancienne église. La reconstitution sera documentée par le photographe François Gaudet, à l’aide d’une grue de plus de 100 pieds de hauteur.  Continue reading →

Re-enactment at Grand-Pré September 5th

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Commemoration of deportation of Acadians gets historic re-enactment

La Déportation - de Renée Forestall

By Georges Arsenault – On September 5, the Société Promotion Grand-Pré and the Friends of Grand-Pré hope to welcome at least  418 participants for the historical re-enactment of the assembling of the Acadians in the old church on September 5, 1755.

Over 200 people have registered already, including a bus load of people from Caraquet, New Brunswick, and another bus load from Isle Madame, Cape Breton.

The re-enactment will take place in a friendlier atmosphere that in 1755, since the 300 soldiers from New England will not be present. Continue reading →

Lennie Gallant to perform at Rendezvous Rustico

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PEI’s pre-eminent singer songwriter will repeat his annual concert during 3 day Acadian festival in Rustico July 23-25, 2010

Lennie Gallant at Rendezous Rustico 2004

Lennie Gallant will perform again at Rendezvous Rustico this summer on PEI. It’s one of the annual appearances of PEI’s top singer songwriter.

The festival opens Friday evening with a BBQ and children’s activities followed by an Acadian concert at 8 pm featuring talented performers from across PEI.

Saturday, July 24, at 8 pm local artists will be performing in the Song Writers Circle at Harmony House Theatre in Hunter River. This event, hosted by John Connolly, will feature Mario Robichaud, Jeannita Bernard, and Nick and Chris Gauthier. Following the concert there will be a homecoming dance at the Cymbria Lion’s club with music by Stagefrite.

The Sunday evening concert will be at 8 pm in St. Augustin’s Church. Tourists and Islanders have been marking it on their summer calendars for years. The concert is just one of many events over the weekend that highlight Acadian culture in the Rustico area. Rustico is Lennie Gallant’s home so his friends and family love to hear him perform on the home turf.

Tickets sold out last year. You can purchase them by calling 902-963-3252 at $20 adult / $15 students (under 16). Visa/Master card accepted.

Video follows the story break of Lennie Gallant singing Before We Sell This Car from last years Rendezvous Rustico

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Jolie Blon with Dewey Balfa

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Cajun music and its connection with the Maritimes is explored in 1983 documentary

Dewey Balfa and Nathan Abshire

Dewey Balfa explains the origins of Cajun music to school children in this clip. The Acadians, exiled from the Maritimes, settled in Louisiana taking their culture with them. Jolie Blon is the most popular Cajun song. It is often referred to as the Cajun National Anthem.

Video follows the story break.  Continue reading →

PEI 3rd of 10 Extraordinary Islands Frommers

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Prince Edward Island: Beyond Green Gables Canada

Prince Edward Island (Canada) Photo by Tourism PEI/John Sylvester

By Frommers.com What is it about islands that makes them so intriguing?

Whether it’s a tropical speck in the midst of a vast ocean, or a tree-shrouded hummock in the river of a great city, it’s still somehow set apart, unique, proud, lonely, even mysterious. The waters around it ineffably define it, in a way that no plot of mainland can be defined.

And because effort is required to get there — whether it’s simply driving across a bridge or chartering a private plane — once you’ve reached its shores, you know you’re somewhere different. Our new book 500 Extraordinary Islands began to take shape as a sort of life list — how many islands have you been to, and which have you always dreamed of seeing?

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Angèle Arsenault honored with Lifetime Achievement

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Acadian artist wins Music PEI award

Angele Arsenault at Music PEI Awards

Angele Arsenault at Music PEI Awards photo La Voix Acadienne

It’s a perfect Angèle Arsenault smile, beaming broadly her joie de vivre as she receives the Music PEI “Lifetime Achievement” award.

M. Arsenault is one of PEI’s most successful artists. Singer, songwriter, musician – she has done it all. After leaving the Maritimes, she had a huge success in Quebec with 20 record albums, TV appearances and awards. Her love for music and her audience is infectious.

I asked her once what was the secret of her success. She said she studied Bette Midler who poured joy into her music and performance. Midler, she said, held nothing back and she made her a model. For the audience, every performance from PEI’s Acadian charmer is a moment of joy. Angèle has an infectious spirit lifts the audience.
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