Acadian symbols

The Acadian flag

The Acadian flag was adopted during the second Acadian Convention in 1884 in Miscouche, Prince Edward Island. Nearly identical to France’s national flag, the Acadian flag is distinguishable by its gold star in the upper left hand corner. The gold star is called the Stella Maris, the star of the sea, and serves as a symbol of guidance, hope and protection for Acadians worldwide. The original flag, designed by Father Marcel-François Richard, is conserved at the Musée Acadien at the Université de Moncton, in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie

The story of Evangeline, written as a 1400-line poem titled “Evangeline: A Tale of Acadie” by Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1847, narrates the tragic events of the Acadian Deportation in Grand-Pré. Its main characters are two fictional star-crossed lovers, Evangeline Bellefontaine and her fiancé, Gabriel Lajeunesse.

A bronze statue of Evangeline, designed by Louis-Philippe and Henri Hébert, was unveiled in 1920 at what is now the Grand Pré National Historic Site of Canada. This statue symbolizes the loyalty and courage of the Acadian people.

The Deportation Cross

In 1924, the Deportation Cross was erected about one and a half kilometres away from what is now the Grand Pré National Historic Site of Canada. It was erected in memory of the Acadians who were deported during the Great Upheaval from 1755 to 1763. In 2005, the cross was moved to Horton Landing, the site where hundreds of Acadians waited to be transported to ships anchored in the Minas Basin in the fall of 1755.