News

Launch of Programming for Activities to be Held on Prince Edward Island during the Congrès mondial acadien 2019

May 22, 2019, Borden-Carleton, P.E.I. – The programming for the activities taking place on Prince Edward Island this August was launched on Tuesday evening by the Congrès mondial acadien 2019 during a festive event held at the gateway to Prince Edward Island and a news conference inside the Confederation Bridge.

The first part of the CMA 2019 is happening on Prince Edward Island from August 10 to the morning of August 15. As was announced previously, the opening day festivities will get under way at 6 a.m. with a breakfast in Borden-Carleton, during which there will be entertainment, followed by a community fair in Mont-Carmel at 10 a.m. Things then move to Abram-Village for a craft market and a Folk Festival featuring L’enchantement des abeilles, Marcella Richard, Menoncle Jason, Carnaval en Promenade, the Backyard Devils, and Ryan Doucette. To close out the day, there will be a major event on the site of the Agricultural Exhibition and Acadian Festival in Abram-Village, showcasing Barachois, The East Pointers, Arthur Comeau, La Famille Savoy, Lennie Gallant, Acadidanse, Vishtèn, Les Hay Babies, Suroît, and Cajun Country Revival.

The day will also feature a very unique activity: At one minute past midnight, there will be a Race under the Star on the Confederation Bridge linking New Brunswick and Prince Edward Island. The race, presented by Confederation Bridge, will offer participants two possible routes: one, 13 km long, starts in New Brunswick and ends in Prince Edward Island; the other, 5 km long, will start on the bridge. After the race, there will be a gathering with musical entertainment by Danny Party.

Another major CMA 2019 event on the Island will be the commemoration of the adoption of the Acadian flag and national anthem, on August 14, in Miscouche. To kick off the day, Georges Arsenault will give a talk on the 1884 National Convention in Miscouche. Around noon, the main site, located in the Miscouche churchyard, will open. There will be exhibits, an ARTisan Market, and lots of hands-on workshops with different themes.  Next, it’s music in the Miscouche church with Ronald Bourgeois, Meaghan Blanchard, Jacques Arsenault and the Mont-Carmel choir, a traditional jam, and an evening variety show with the Acadidanse dance troupe and Les Païens, with host Ryan Doucette. Last of all, the highlight of the evening: two sound and light shows on the facade of the Miscouche church, with a square dance in-between.

The chair of the CMA 2019, Claudette Thériault, notes the importance of hosting such a large Acadian event on Prince Edward Island, “The Island’s going to vibrate with Acadian pride in August! People are already getting excited, and they’re eager to welcome Acadians from around the world to their communities.”

This feeling is shared by Prince Edward Island Premier, Dennis King: “Prince Edward Island looks forward to hosting the Congrès mondial acadien. Working with the Acadian and Francophone community, Islanders will come together to welcome the world to our province to create memories for years to come. We can't wait to celebrate Acadie with you all.”

Other events and activities

But that's not all! In addition to these major events, the Island will come alive with activities of all types. First, there will be jam-packed community days in the municipalities of Tignish, Wellington, Souris, Charlottetown, North Rustico, and Summerside from August 11 to 13. Full programming: www.cma2019.ca/en/program/host-municipalities). The Island will also be hosting large family reunions, including those of the Arsenault, Guidry-Petitpas, Cheverie, Haché-Gallant, and Girouard families, to name just a few. Programming and registration here: www.cma2019.ca/en/families. 

Some large gatherings will also take place on the Island. The Women’s Summit, under the theme “L’Acadie (RE)pensée: le féminisme et l’égalité des genres en Acadie” [Acadie revisited: feminism and gender equality in Acadie], will be held at the Mill River Resort on August 11 and 12. The youth event, Paré pour, from August 14 to 17, will get under way in Abram-Village and Miscouche and will wind down in Southeastern New Brunswick. Last of all, the Economic Forum, on August 21 and 22, will offer an aerospace and defense themed visit to Summerside.

About
The 6th Congrès mondial acadien will take place from August 10 to 24, 2019, on Prince Edward Island and in Southeastern New Brunswick. The mission of the Congrès mondial acadien is to bring together Acadians and all those who are passionate about Acadian culture. For more information about programming and events, visit www.cma2019.ca.

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For information or interviews:
Marc Poirier
Director of Communications and Marketing
Congrès mondial acadien 2019
506-866-0215 / This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.