The Acadians “joie de vivre” endured across four centuries.
With a history defined by tragedy, courage and perseverance, Acadians have preserved their traditions and culture for over four centuries.
Where is ‘Acadie’? As a French colony it ceased to exist in 1713, but its spirit lives on and thrives in Nova Scotia’s Acadian French population.
Acadians are descended from the French colonists, the first European settlers in Nova Scotia. Second only to the Mi’kmaq, they have the deepest roots of any founding culture in the province, and had a very close relationship with them.
The colony they built from their base in Port-Royal was repeatedly handed back and forth between England and France during war time. The Acadians were peace keepers, remaining neutral, and their numbers flourished to an estimated 13,000.
Outnumbered by Roman Catholic Acadians, the British in Nova Scotia began deporting Acadians in 1755. More than 6000 men, women and children were carried away in British vessels. They fled to PEI, Cape Breton and deep into the woods of Nova Scotia, and even still; 3000 more were deported in 1758.
After the war ended in 1763, some Acadian families slowly returned and joined their families that had escaped deportation. Their homes had been burnt and their farmlands given away, so they were forced to start over in more isolated, less hospitable areas of the province.
Some of the family names include: Family names such as d’Entremont, Amirault, Muise, LeBlanc, d’Eon, Theriault, Samson. Most Acadian communities in Nova Scotia are located close to the ocean, and although the early Acadians were farmers on the marshlands of the Bay of Fundy, their descendants today live off the sea, with lobster-fishing being the main industry.
Interesting Facts:
- The Acadian and francophone community in Nova Scotia includes 34,585 people with French as a mother tongue (3.8% of the population), according to 2011 Census Data from Statistics Canada.
- Acadians make up the majority of the population in the municipalities of Clare and Argyle.
- About 10% of the population or 94,310 Nova Scotians can speak French.
Beautiful song Mi’kmacadien by Jacque Surette: https://goo.gl/fxj1bE
Explore Acadian Culture: https://goo.gl/TxTdEx
The Acadians Timeline: https://goo.gl/Nd3FaM
This is where play lives
Wilderness and urban convenience are minutes away in Halifax. Long Lake Village borders a stunning 5000-acre provincial park only 10 minutes from downtown Halifax. Get lost in forests, trails, streams and lakes. Six schools, convenient access to shopping, entertainment, arts and athletic centres, just minutes away.
Close to it all and close-knit, this 40-acre development on Northwest Arm Drive is a flexible mix of multi-residential buildings, single-family homes, semi-detached homes and townhouses. The “Village” has a home for singles, couples, families and seniors who share a love of outdoors with the conveniences of urban living.
We think of the neighbourhood as a great place to eat, sleep, play and meet enthusiastic neighbours who share a passion for the outdoors. A street built around a park and playground, Hadley Crescent gives children easy access to fun and lets you easily watch them play.
Site Plan
The Park
Long Lake Provincial Park is 5,000 acres of lakes, forests, trails, rivers and streams that would be a jewel in the heart of any city. It is 5 times bigger than New York’s Central Park, and much more diverse. Home to abundant flora and fauna, this urban gem had little access until ADI joined Polycorp in an initiative to create a multi-use 5 km trail. Now, the beauty of the park and its abundant amenities can be easily enjoyed just steps from your home in the Village.
Best of Halifax Reader’s Choice Award Winner!
Best Place to Go Swimming | Gold in 2014 | Silver in 2015
