Ideas for strengthening existing and identifying new Acadian-themed cultural tourism experiences across Prince Edward Island will be explored at a workshop scheduled for 7 p.m., Monday, Nov. 26 at the Farmer’s Bank in Rustico.
Under the co-ordination of l'Association touristique Évangéline, the workshop is designed to engage tourism operators and interested community stakeholders from across the province in an effort to heighten the appeal of Acadian heritage and modern Acadia for Islanders and visitors alike.
Traditionally considered the population base and the centre of Acadian cultural activities on P.E.I., it is known that the Evangeline region is only part of the Island Acadian story. As part of its mandate in association with the Acadian Tourism Commission of Atlantic Canada, l'Association touristique Évangéline is seeking to mine out those Island people, places and things including and beyond Evangeline, which could be enhanced and which could develop a higher profile as authentic Acadian attractions and experiences.
“The site of the workshop is an ideal example of what we’re interested in,” says association president Marcel Bernard. “The Farmer’s Bank has been carefully nurtured by community-based individuals as a leading authentic cultural tourism attraction.”
Bernard emphasized, however, that Acadian tourism is not all about bricks and mortar, but is rather about Acadia’s sense of place in the cultural mix on P.E.I.
“It is the Island Acadian experience we wish to elaborate on,” he said.
The workshop comes at a time when cultural experiences are strongly emphasized within the tourism strategies of the P.E.I. Department of Tourism and Culture, the Tourism Advisory Council of P.E.I., the Tourism Industry Association of P.E.I. and the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency. Admission to the session is free, however interested parties are requested to register in advance by contacting Alcide Bernard, community tourism officer, via e-mail at regionevangeline@gmail.com or by telephone at 902-854-3409.
Don, you wrote that "millions of our money" --who do you mean by "our" money? Do not the French also pay taxes, so they too can also say it is "our" money -- and we need some of it returned now for our children because our mother tongue was quashed in elementary school in favor of English, a language of which we are also very proud.