Continued from "History" page...

The other major event was a Grand Pageant. A diocese committee encouraged all the Acadian regions under the Yarmouth Diocese to organize their bicentennial celebrations in collaboration with the Société nationale des Acadiens and the Société l’Assomption. It was suggested that a couple representing the two famed Acadians, Évangéline and Gabriel, be chosen rather than a festival queen.

The first Évangéline and Gabriel chosen at a dance held earlier in the summer in Saulnierville were Dora Doucet and Edouard J. Belliveau.

A committee of the Yarmouth Diocese asked each parish to create an Acadian costume. For the women, they suggested that a costume would represent certain regions in France. For the men, they would have a traditional costume that was neat in appearance. This initiative has given us the Acadian costume worn since by both men and women. The other 51 Acadians Festivals that have followed have continued the tradition of choosing a couple, Évangéline and Gabriel, and of wearing a traditional Acadian costume.

During the summer, other activities were organized throughout the region, including a grand parade on July 3rd. The parade had 35 floats and 400 decorated automobiles. It began in Meteghan and ended in Weymouth.

This first celebration in 1955 awakened a sense of pride among the Acadians and the Clare Chamber of Commerce showed an interest in continuing the celebration on a yearly basis. So, in 1956, the first official "Festival acadien de Clare" was organized. The committee for the first festival consisted of Julius Comeau, president, Gérard d’Entremont, vice-president and Albert Melanson, secretary.

Back