Acadian Homecoming: The Congrès Mondial Acadien 2004

Janet Arnett is the former campus manager of adult education at Ontario’s Georgian College. She is the author of Antiques and Collectibles: Starting Small, The Grange at Knock, and 673 Ways to Save Money.

In 2004, 250 years after the expulsion and deportation of the Acadians
from Nova Scotia, their descendants returned to that province for a
celebration. It is estimated that 200,000 people attended this world
gathering, coming from Louisiana, Alberta, Quebec, other parts of Canada
and the United States, and overseas. Doucet and Gaudet capture the
energy, colour, and pride of the Congrиs, while giving a hint of the
Acadians’ history, culture, traditions, and language.

Too large for any one venue, the Congrиs was held at various locales
across Nova Scotia, including Halifax and the Grand Pré National
Historic Site. Activities spanned more than two weeks and included
approximately 100 family reunions, an academic conference, a women’s
summit, a youth assembly, concerts, art and photography exhibits.
traditional food, crafts, parades, an outdoor Mass, and much more.
Genealogy received lots of attention, as attendees attempted to
establish their interconnections. “History,” one participant is
quoted as saying, “is just a fancy word for stories, and stories are
about what happens to people.” The history of the Acadian people rests
with the families.

The framework for the book is excerpts from 30 interviews, or
conversations, with participants. The text is supported by more than 70
colour photos taken at Congrиs activities. Apart from one layout error
that resulted in a photo caption covering up part of the text, the
design is lively and imaginative, helping to convey the atmosphere of
excitement that characterized the event.

The Acadian homecoming is “all about celebrating community,” even
if that community is now scattered far from its original Grand Pré
site. The book is a great souvenir of the event and a useful addition to
the material available on the Acadian renaissance.