Acadian and Francophone Community Members Honoured at Official Ceremony

NOTE: A list of the Ordre de la Pléiade recipients follows this release.

Eleven members of the Acadian and francophone community joined the Ordre de la Pléiade during a ceremony at Province House today, May 22.

The Ordre de la Pléiade is an international honour bestowed by the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie. The Nova Scotia section of the Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie, which is overseen by the Speaker's Office and includes all elected members, submitted nominations to the Bureau de l'Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophonie in February.

"The Ordre de la Pléiade medal recipients have shown tremendous dedication and commitment to preserving the French-language and Acadian culture and heritage across the province," said MLA Mat Whynott, on behalf of Acadian Affairs Minister David Wilson.

"I congratulate this year's recipients for their amazing contributions to the growth and influence of the Acadian and Francophone community and wish them great success as they continue to work within a thriving Acadie in Nova Scotia."

The 11 Nova Scotians were recognized for contributions to the Acadian and francophone community in education, business, craft, heritage promotion, community development, women's rights, municipal politics, writings, community radio, and preservation of the French language and culture. The recipients were appointed Grade de Chevalier (Knight), one of the five classes in the Ordre de la Pléiade. The Grade de Chevalier (Knight) is awarded to people from the political, social, scientific or literary worlds for service to the Francophonie, who distinguished themselves by carrying out the ideals of the Assemblée de la Francophonie.

"The remarkable contributions of these individuals to the French language and culture in our Acadian and francophone communities deserve to be recognized," said Michel Samson, president of the Nova Scotia section.

The Assemblée parlementaire de la Francophone brings together sections in four regions: Africa, America, Asia-Pacific and Europe. Its mandate is to promote democracy, the rule of law, human rights, and allow for the prospering of the French language and cultural diversity around the world.

The following is a list of recipients of the Ordre de la Pléiade:

• Maurice J. Belliveau, La Butte, Digby Co.
• Peter Joseph Boudreau, Wedgeport-le-Bas, Yarmouth Co.
• Aline Comeau, Saulnierville, Digby Co.
• Paul Comeau (posthumous recognition), Grosses-Coques, Digby Co.
• Pauline Annette d'Entremont, Pubnico-Ouest, Yarmouth Co.
• Yvette d'Entremont, Lower Sackville
• Louis E. Deveau, Dartmouth
• Évelyne LeBlanc, Chéticamp, Inverness Co.
• Angus LeFort, Chéticamp, Inverness Co.
• Steve Sampson, L'Ardoise, Richmond Co.
• Magdalen Samson, Petit-de-Grat, Richmond Co.