Culture & History

Reveillon

Le repas de Noël dans la région acadienne de Tor Baie qui fut célébré après la messe de minuit, est devenu connu comme «le réveillon»! Dans cette région ce repas fut «un pâté aux lièvres». The traditional Acadian Christmas Eve, after mid-night Mass meal, was known as “un réveillon”! In the Tor Bay Acadian region, it was normally celebrated with a meal known as “un pâté aux lièvres”.

Moni Duersch Painting

This painting show Basque Captain Savalette’s company involved in the Dry Cod Fishery in the late 1500s. Background islands are now known as Sugar Islands and Entry Islands and use by Savalette to dry and cure his fish for transport back to Europe. The Mother Ship (Galleon) and Bay boat (Chalupa) are also seen in the background.

Festival Savalette–History and Events

Origins, structure and purpose of Festival Savalette Congrès Mondial Acadien/World Congress of Acadians 2004 Festival Savalette was born in the “aftermath” of the 2004 Congrès Mondial Acadien (World Congress of Acadians) historic celebrations. The latter event is held every 5 years in various regions of North America, where Acadian populations exist. It was designed to reconnect dispersed Acadian families and to discover their genealogical past and opening lines of communication among us all....

Forgotten Acadians

Tor Bay Acadians Lived in Obscurity From the time of settlement in the late 1700s and early 1800s, to the early to mid 1900s, the Tor Bay Acadians were mostly a forgotten group. With the exception of some extended families residing on Isle Madame, Tracadie, Haver Boucher, Chezzetcook and Pomquet, this isolated cluster group was relatively unknown. Though their story was much the same as that of the above named communities, it differed somewhat from that of many Acadians from other areas. Most...

History/Genealogy Presentations

Presentations on genealogy and history have been a fixture to our Festival Savalette since its inception in 2005. This was decided after the great interest shown during the World Congress of Acadians the previous year. Notable presenters of these workshops are Steven White, leading researcher, author and teacher, Université de Moncton, Eileen Avery, Santa Barbara, California, Bill Gerrior, researcher/author of " Acadian Awakenings", Sandra Perro/Petitpas, British Columbia and author of...

Tamarin-Molasses Candy

Tamarin—Information and Recipe by Geneva Fougere Tamarin was to traditional Acadian families, what chocolate bars are to us today. Since money was very limited, and used solely to purchase the staples for family meals and other necessities, treats had to be made if they were to be had and enjoyed. Toys and ice cream were made as well, so families depended greatly on the skills and recipes of parents that were handed down from previous generations. Many of the home produced treats were seasonal...

Poème–Post-Célébrations Savalette-Jude Avery (2015)

Une Réflection sur les Célébrations Savalette—par Jude Avery (2015) Le 12e Festival Savalette est terminé,Le village est encore tombé tranquille,Les visiteurs qui rendent la vie pleine de vitalité,Sont aujourd'hui retournés en ville. Ça ressemble un peu le Dérangement,Encore une fois chassés de leurs aieux,Il faut toujours aller à leurs emplois,Dans les villes-leurs nouveaux chez-eux. En réfléchissant sur notre histoire tragique,Celle-ci nous rappelle d'un autre temps,Quand nos familles...

Parc de Nos Ancêtres

This park concept is the creation of la Société des Acadiens de la Région de Tor Baie, after a community request to have a unique physical community reminder of our cultural reality and history. In an attempt to integrate history and geography, through the story of our ancestors, the idea of using rocks, for which the area is well known, emerged. It was also decided that 10 paintings revealing our history from our departure from France to settlement at Port Royal, the development of Grand Pré,...

Community Stories

Charlos Cove Picnic   Larry's River Article from the Scotia Sun John Avery – Son of Alfree and Josephine (Fougere) Avery     Thomas Gerrior  

Writings, Music, Theatre and other Art Forms

La Société des Acadiens de la Région de Tor Baie wish to encourage everyone to contribute and share all art forms in an effort to relate and share the Tor Bay region Acadian story. To date, a professionally written, acted, directed and staged theatre production entitled "le Sel et le Poivre" has been enjoyed by locals and other audiences of the Maritimes. Written and acted by actor Michael Pellerin, under the direction of Artistic Director, Emmy Alcorn and the Mulgrave Road Theatre Company,...