Towns Collaborate Ahead of 2014 World Acadian Congress

More than a dozen towns throughout Northern Maine’s St. John Valley have “tripled” in preparation for the 2014 World Acadian Congress.

Congrès Mondial Acadien

“Tripling” is what organizers of the huge cultural event call matching towns in the St. John Valley with counterparts in northwest New Brunswick, and just across the border in eastern Quebec.

The idea behind the tripling is to allow leaders in each town to meet other leaders in the Acadian region. Towns have been roughly matched according to size, geographic features (such as lakes), or cultural similarities so that they have something in common.

Nearly every town in the Valley has met at least once with their matched communities and every report has been positive.

The first meeting took place in New Brunswick, the second in northern Maine, and the third will take place in August in eastern Quebec.

The aim is to enhance commercial and trade opportunities throughout the region, and also to build friendships and create ties between the communities. It is hoped that the international border, rather than being an impediment to economic development, will instead become more of a door to local markets.

The Congrès Mondial Acadien has invested $2,000 per triplet to help cover costs of these activities.

August 24 is the final day of CMA 2014 and a full day of activities will be held in Témiscouata-sur-Lac, Quebec. The event will culminate with a "New Beginning" closing ceremony that night. This ceremony will entail the unveiling of a sculpture on the site.

The design of this new monument will symbolize the new-found links woven between municipalities of L'Acadie des terres et des forêts and will be a major legacy of the Congrès Mondial Acadien.

It is hoped that the ties between municipalities in all three regions of CMA 2014 will long outlast the festivities of the Congrès.

The following are the 14 triplets (with a few quartets included):

- Hamlin, St-André, Saint-Juste-du-Lac

- Wallagrass, Baker Brook, Saint-Eusèbe

- Van Buren, St-Léonard, Pohenégamook, Saint-Athanase

- Frenchville, Grand-Sault, Témiscouata-sur-Lac

- New Canada, Saint John Plantation, St-Hilaire, Biencourt

- St. Francis, St-François, Rivière-Bleu

- Portage Lake, Lac Baker, Packington, Saint-Jean-de-la-Lande

- Madawaska, Edmundston, Dégelis

- Drummond, Squatec, Cyr Plantation, Winterville

- Eagle Lake, Lac des Aigles, Rivière-Verte