Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse Welcomed into the Nova Scotia Museum
TOURISM/CULTURE--Le Village Historique Acadien de la la Nouvelle-Écosse Welcomed into the Nova Scotia Museum
Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse is the newest member of the Nova Scotia Museum family.
Neil LeBlanc, Minister responsible for Acadian Affairs, representing Rodney MacDonald, Minister of Tourism and Culture, signed a proclamation today, May 31, making the move official.
"Today we take another step in a journey that began in 1989, when members of La Societé Historique Acadienne de Pubnico-Ouest started to talk about creating Le Village," said Mr. LeBlanc at the ceremony in West Pubnico. "It is a testimony to the perseverance of the people of Pubnico that we celebrate this site as part of the Nova Scotia Museum."
Over the past decade, the community has contributed a significant portion of the time and money needed to establish Le Village. With help from the provincial and federal governments, Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse opened to the public in 1999. It has received $125,000 in provincial funding for its 2003 operating year.
The province sees the inclusion of Le Village in the museum system as a crucial part of preserving the Acadian legacy for future generations. About 10,000 people travel to Le Village each season, which also provides economic benefits in the community.
"Le Village Historique Acadien de la Nouvelle-Écosse shows great promise as a cultural tourism attraction and a museum that will provide Nova Scotians and other visitors with a dynamic experience of the rich history of the Acadians," said Mr. LeBlanc.
Le Village will be an important heritage attraction in the upcoming celebrations of the 350th year of Acadian settlement in Pubnico this year, during the Congrès Mondial Acadien in 2004 and other upcoming Acadian celebrations.
The Nova Scotia government's 2003-04 budget included $750,000 to promote Acadian celebrations between 2003 and 2005 and to help generate economic opportunities for Acadian communities and all of the province.
The Nova Scotia Museum system now has 27 sites across the province.