ACADIAN-CAJUN Genealogy: Acadian History: Acadian Canadians

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Canadian Acadians

Many Acadians migrated to French Canada before and after the Exile. Some returned to the original land of Acadia, though they were not able to obtain their good farmlands. Acadian descendants, though scattered across Canada, are found in greatest numbers in the province of New Brunswick.

1786 +

Many Acadians settled down in French Canada, just west of Acadia (now Nova Scotia), and were assimilated into the French-Canadian culture. When the war ended in 1763, some tried to return to their homeland, only to find that it had been given to someone else. Those Acadians who moved to larger towns, like Quebec and Montreal, merged into their surrounding culture. Some Acadia communities remained in New Brunswick and still exhibit the Acadian culture today.
Areas settled by Acadians in those early days, that still bear links to the Acadian culture, can be found in Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Prince Edward Island.

THE RETURN by Nelson Surette

Nova Scotia

There are several 'pockets' of Acadian descendants found in Nova Scotia today. In some cases, you may find Acadian names but not the culture. This occurs in urban areas (ie. Halifax), in the former Beaubassin area (Minudie, Maccan, Nappan), and the communities of Pomquet, Tracadie, and Havre-Boucher. They can be found at:
There are several areas that have maintained an Acadian identity. These include:

Clare (Digby County) has perhaps the largest, most "Acadian" group on the French Shore
Argyle (Yarmouth County) has a number of Acadian communities in the former Pobomcoup/Cap Sable area
Cheticamp (Inverness County) and nearby villages, first settled by the Acadian "Fourteen Elders" in 1782
Chezzecook (near Halifax) was probably first settled by Acadians who had been held at Halifax until the Treaty in 1763
Isle Madame (Richmond County) was repopulated with Acadians in the later 1700s

New Brunswick

New Brunswick was the place that a number of Acadians sought refuge before, during, and after the exile. Acadian communities developed in several areas. Some resettled in the Beaubassin area, though they have lost their Acadian culture in many ways. Along the gulf shore you will find Acadians from Shediac and Cocagne up to Caraquet and Bathurst. A few settled along the St. John River, with a number settling the Madawaska area of NB/Maine.

Prince Edward Island
The origins of Acadians on the island come from the families in the Malpeque area that avoided deportation. Acadians still can be found in the NW corner of the island. They can also be found in the Rustico area (north-central part of PEI) and the Mount Carmel area (SW).

Acadian Gatherings

In 1880, the Société Saint Jean Baptiste of Quebec invited the Acadians to their congress. Dozens of Acadians attended and decided to organize their own Acadian Convention the following year. Over the next 100 years, a number of gatherings were held. Generally, the topics were the same.
A short synopsis of the Acadian conventions, starting in 1881, can be found on the Acadian Conventions page. The gathering took on larger implications and a new name with the first Congres Mondial Acadien in New Brunswick in 1994. Acadians are gathering in Louisiana in 1999 for a second Congres Mondial Acadien. Plans will soon be finalized to hold another gathering in 2004 ... the 400th anniversary of the founding of Acadia.

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