In West Chezzetcook, Nova Scotia, Rébécca-Sarah Potvin highlighted that National Acadian Day goes beyond mere celebrations; it is fundamentally about safeguarding cultural heritage. Serving as the executive director of the historical site L’Acadie de Chezzetcook, Potvin emphasized the importance of expanding the scope of their 30th-anniversary festivities to delve deeper into the community’s rich history and heritage.
The commemoration of this significant milestone attracted a large gathering, featuring music, a barbecue, and showcases of Acadian customs such as butter churning and clam shelling. Notable figures like Canada’s Minister of Canadian Identity and Culture, Marc Miller, Central Nova MP Sean Fraser, and Coun. David Hendsbee were present at the event.
Cameron DeBaie, chair of L’Acadie Chezzetcook, stressed that the 30th anniversary signifies a crucial advancement in the preservation and revitalization of Acadian culture and the French language within the Chezzetcook area. Reflecting on his family’s linguistic history, DeBaie shared how previous generations shied away from speaking French in public, underlining the significance of the current generation’s deep-rooted connection to their heritage.
Shirley Doucette Lowe, a longstanding member of the community and volunteer at the Acadian House Museum, recollected the establishment of L’Acadie Chezzetcook in 1996 and her continued involvement in its conservation efforts. She echoed DeBaie’s sentiments, emphasizing the renewed enthusiasm among the younger members of the community to embrace and preserve their cultural and linguistic legacy.
Doucette Lowe highlighted the pivotal role played by École des Beaux-Marais in Porters Lake, now overseen by Conseil scolaire acadien provincial, in nurturing the French language among students. Additionally, the recent initiative to reintroduce French summer camps in the community, as advocated by Potvin, aims to provide a platform for francophone youth to immerse themselves in the language and culture during the summer break.
The resurgence of the French camp, previously a cherished tradition, has garnered enthusiasm among the younger generation, symbolized by Willow DeBaie, DeBaie’s nine-year-old niece, who expressed her eagerness to participate in the camp in the future and pass on her multilingual skills to future generations.
While the National Acadian Day festivities are a one-day affair, Potvin emphasized the year-round opportunities for Nova Scotians to delve deeper into the rich Acadian history of West Chezzetcook and the broader province.
By Kheira Morellon/Radio-Canada
[Source](https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/nova-scotia/west-chezzetcook-acadian-9.7308770)