Reflecting on 250th Anniversary of Acadian Resettlement in Nova Scotia

Today is the annual Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval, which gives Nova Scotians and Canadians an opportunity to reflect on the Expulsion of the Acadians, and how the tragic events of 1755 shaped the Acadian and francophone communities of today.

This year is the 250th anniversary of the British Order in Council that approved the recommendation to allow Acadians to resettle in Nova Scotia, if they took the oath of allegiance.

"The pride of Nova Scotia's Acadian and francophone communities is strengthened by the desperate circumstances our ancestors faced during the Grand Dérangement," said Acadian Affairs Minister Michel Samson. "Acadians lost everything when they were deported, and they endured extreme hardship and despair, yet many of them acted on their strong desire to return home.

"Although their return to Nova Scotia was a difficult and controversial time in history, we can acknowledge that it was the beginning of what we know today as our vibrant Acadian and francophone communities."

About 11,500 Acadians were deported by the British from 1755-64 as part of a military campaign against New France. Most were deported to the Thirteen Colonies on the east coast of present-day United States. Many returned to Nova Scotia, while others went to Quebec and other provinces, France, Louisiana and elsewhere.

"The annual commemoration of the Deportation of the Acadians is not held to live in the past, but rather to understand that this tragic event has shaped the character and vision of our people scattered and still vibrant," said Cyrille LeBlanc, chair of Nelson Surette Appreciation Committee. "A great painter, Nelson Surette (1920-2004), spent his life capturing Acadians in his works. The Art Gallery of Nova Scotia western branch in Yarmouth is presenting several of his captivating paintings until May 2015. We invite people to visit the exhibition entitled Le Retour."

Photos of the Order in Council of 1764 from microfiche records at the Nova Scotia Archives are available at www.flickr.com/photos/novascotiamuseum/sets/72157645992483114/ .

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