This international gathering of Acadians in Nova Scotia in 2004 marks the third celebration of its kind. New Brunswick and Louisiana each hosted a similar event in 1994 and 1999 respectively. These world-class meetings reunited and linked Acadians internationally, regardless of distance, time, or present-day location, a feat which will be repeated in 2004.

In 1755, a decision by British governors to remove an entire ethnic population—the French-speaking Acadians—from the colony of Nova Scotia had consequences that resonated for generations. It is believed about 11,000 Acadians were deported from what are now the Maritimes between 1755 and 1758. It's estimated another 3,000 hid in the forests of Atlantic Canada and Quebec. Others sailed south to Louisiana where, over the centuries, they lost their language and much of their culture in the huge U.S. melting pot. Today there are about 245,000 francophones, most of them Acadians, in New Brunswick, with another 34,000 Acadians in Nova Scotia and 5,500 in Prince Edward Island.

Most of the family names of the Acadian settlers are known from historical documents. Many of these names continue in today¹s Maritime Acadian communities, dramatically illustrating a people's survival. Acadian names also survive in areas such as Louisiana, New England, France, and Quebec.

The following link contains a list of families who are currently preparing a reunion for Congrès Mondial Acadien 2004: www.cma2004.com/images/familles.pdf. Note that the webpage is in PDF format and requires the free Adobe Acrobat Reader software.

For more information about Congrès Mondial Acadien 2004, visit: www.cma2004.com