played an important role in the lives ofthe Acadians, both of which were key elements ofthe social fabric before and afterthe deportation, and still today.

Territorial wars between France and England led to the deportation. Sadness and misery characterized this infamous deportation known as the Great Upheaval which continued unabated over a

period of eight years from 1755 to 1763. The deportation order began with a proclamation order issued at3:00 p.m. on September 5‘“, 1755 at a Catholic church in Grand Prè, Nova Scotia. Following this mass deportation order families were separated immediately, wives from their husbands, children from their crowds, many to never see each other again. The Acadians were placed under arrest and loaded on ships with their properties and goods confiscated or burntto the ground. Historical records claim thatthe British destroyed approximately 6,000 Acadian bouses and disbursed the Acadians among 13 colonies from Massachusets to Georgia.

Approximater 11,000 Acadians were deported from the Maritimes. Although some were sent to France and England, mostly Acadians wound up scattered through the American colonies. Hundreds ofthese Acadian men, women and children perished in shipwrecks ofthe Duke William and Violetin December 1758. Wherever they went, the Acadians were often treated

like slaves, shunned, cheated and heartlessly allowed to die. Many of the ships used to transportthe deported Acadians were not seaworthy, they were crowded, and after leaving port sickness broke out amongst the passengers, illness due t0 unsanitary conditions and small pox. Malnutrition and starvation therefore became the fate of many deportees and older passengers were confined t0 the bottom ofthe boats and their air infected with disease. Approximately 3,000 Acadians were deported from the lsland to France in the late 1750s. Of these, only about 35% survived this terrible ordeal. Two-thirds ofthe deportees died either by drowning when ships that were transporting them sank or following epidemics on board the ships.

By1752the population ofthe lsland was

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more than 2,200 but by 1758, with the act

of the deportation ofthe Acadians from Nova Scotia, that numberthen doubled, increasing to approximately 4,700. But they were soon to be deported from their new home too. One mass transport from what

is now PEI was the British ship the Duke William was sailed out of Port Lajoie on October 20‘“, 1758 for France. The boat sank 40 miles off the shores of England and more than 360 Acadians drowned on December 13. Eleven ofthe 13 family household names that were recorded in the 1752 censuses disappeared and are thoughtto have been on that fatal deportation iourney. In the case of the parish of Point Prim, it's believed that only one family returned to Prince Edward lsland, the ancestor of all the Doirons here on the lsland today. Following the treaty of Paris in 1763 Acadians were given permission t0 return t0 the Maritime provinces provided they pledged allegiance to the British Crown and remained in

small isolated groups. Thus began the

long journey back to the lands where practically everything they had worked for had been destroyed. Ofthose who survived deportation, very few returned.

The story ofthe Acadian deportation is one ofthe most tragic pages of Canadian history. While the deportation from Grand Pré, Nova Scotia, in 1755 was terrible, the deportation from Prince Edward lsland was equally terrible because ofthe great number of people who died. Therefore it is only fitting that we would honour the great sacrifices ofthe early Acadians. However, as we grieve those who lost their homes, their dignity, their familles and their lives during the deportation, we also celebrate the determination of the Acadian people and the survival of our culture.

All Acadians, no matter where they live today, see the Great Upheaval or the deportation as the ultimate factor of their common identity. Triumph over tragedy personifies the Acadian historical journey and our joie de vivre, orthe joy of life,

has helped t0 sustain us for hundreds of years. The Acadians are indeed a resilient people, and while we all have a role to play in helping t0 preserve our culture and language, each of us has a role to play in ensuring that a tragedy of this magnitude will never happen again.

LA PETITE SOUVENANCE

lam very proud to support this resolution, Mr. Speaker. Some Hon. Members: Hear, hear!

Speaker: Are there any other members who would like to speak on this motion? If not, to close out debate the mover, the hon. Premier.

Premier Binns: Thank you, Monsieur le président.

l'll be very brief in that l think the support forthe Acadian community has been well expressed by members on both sides ofthe House. Certainly the Acadian Francophone community makes a great contribution

to Prince Edward lsland. l can'tthink but how much greaterthis province would

be if that contribution was recognized on

a continuous basis from the 17005 if we had not had the expulsion of the Acadian people. Because, truly, this is a great province because of the contribution that the Acadian people make, that members like the hon. Memberfrom Evangeline- Miscouche makes to his community into the province on an ongoing basis. So it’s fitting that this House continue t0 work forthe full inclusion and rights of Acadian people on Prince Edward lsland, and that we say we're sorry for the deportation which took place. We undertake to never allow that kind of situation to happen again, at least within our own powers here in this Legislature.

So lthank hon. members forthe participation and the debate, Mr. Speaker.

Speaker: Are you ready for the question? Some Hon. Members: Question.

Speaker: All those in favour of the motion say 'aye.’

Some Hon. Members: Aye. Speaker: Contrary say ’nay.’

Unanimous consent on the motion.

. . Dieppe Imaging, Dieppe, N.—B.

G l . l . Alexandra Roy

2008