About Us

The World Acadian Congress is a major celebration of Acadian culture and history held every five years since 1994. Its mission is to bring together the Acadian diaspora from around the globe through a series of family reunions, conferences and events that occur over a two to three-week period.

The first Congress was held in Moncton, New Brunswick in 1994 and in various southeastern New Brunswick communities (Bouctouche, Shédiac, Saint-Joseph, Richibouctou, Cap-Pelé, Dieppe, Saint-Antoine, Rogersville, Saint-Louis-de-Kent and Saint-Thomas). The second Congress moved south to Lafayette, Louisiana in 1999. In 2004, the third Congress was held jointly by several Nova Scotia communities to celebrate the 400th anniversary of the founding of their homeland, Acadia. The fourth Congress was presented across the Acadian Peninsula in northeastern New Brunswick, from August 7 to 23, 2009.

The Acadian population of northwestern New Brunswick, northern Maine and the Témiscouata region of Québec stands out among the multitude French-Canadian and French-American communities. In this area originally settled by Acadians and French-Canadians, the question of identity is always evolving, adapting to the changing ties between Acadia, Québec and North America. One truth remains, however: the people of the region are blood brothers and sisters, naturally sharing their daily lives in “Acadia of the Lands and Forests”. They have become one vast and unique family, marked by the forces of nature, the vicissitudes of history and the singular resilience of those for whom the future holds no bounds, both literally and figuratively. Acadia of the Lands and Forests is the best-kept secret in North America!
It is in this unique context that the people of these communities are getting involved to prepare this international event. The CMA will enable us to not only demonstrate our deep attachment to our rich and enduring heritage, but also our true openness toward the world and its diversity.

The organizing committee of the 2014 World Acadian Congress is composed of seventeen board members, including the president, five representatives from each sub-region of Acadia of the Lands and Forests and a youth representative. Each sub-region also has a regional committee of approximately twenty volunteers representing each of the local municipalities and communities.

Here is the list of the board members for the 2014 World Acadian Congress.

Chairman: Émilien Nadeau

Northwestern New Brunswick:

Normand Thériault, Co-Chair
Mona Beaulieu
Alain Martel
Claude Michaud

Paul-Émile Soucy

Témiscouata, Québec

Serge Fortin, Co-Chair
Marielle Landry
Dominique Landry
Carole Longchamp
Guilmont Pelletier

Aroostook, Maine USA

Jason Parent, Co-Chair
Denise Duppéré-Côté
Don Levesque
Lise Pelletier
Anne L. Roy

CMA 2014 Vision Statement

An Acadian diaspora proud of its heritage that highlights its vitality and diversity and which, looking forward, is ready to enter the third millennium in a spirit that is both international and united.