Gaspé, August 23, 2009
Notes for an address at the 475th anniversary celebrations of Gaspé
Graham Fraser – Commissioner of Official Languages
Check against delivery
Bonjour. Good afternoon.
It is a real pleasure to be here with you this afternoon as part of the 475th anniversary celebrations of Gaspé. I would especially like to thank CASA for their invitation. I like anniversaries: they provide important opportunities to learn our history, reflect on the past and think about the future.
The anniversary that you are celebrating this year marks the arrival of Jacques Cartier in America and the French fact on the continent. But more particularly, this is a celebration of your community in all its glory.
This year also marks the 40th anniversary of the Official Languages Act and reminds us of the road we have travelled together to enhance the vitality of our official language minority communities and ensure that the language rights of all Canadians are respected.
Today marks my first official visit to the Gaspé Peninsula since becoming Commissioner of Official Languages in 2006.
I have been to the Gaspé several times, but always as a journalist during election campaigns, jumping on and off campaign buses. I have always wanted to come back.
As a reporter in Québec City, I was constantly intrigued by the relationship between English and French in Quebec, and I was well aware of the energy and determination of the English-speaking community in the Gaspé. I heard the stories about the founding of CASA, and the enormous amount of work that has been done in these communities over the years.
This morning I met with a number of your community leaders from the Chaleur Bay in New Richmond, and tomorrow I will be meeting with more community leaders here in Gaspé. Not only will this be an opportunity for dialogue between the French- and English-speaking members of your community, but it will also be an opportunity for me to learn more about your successes, your needs and the challenges you face together.
Today, however, we are here to celebrate. To celebrate our history, to celebrate our successes, to celebrate the road we have travelled together.
Although Jacques Cartier arrived in the Gaspé in 1534, the area’s population of European descent did not start growing until the middle of the 18th century. At the time, the population was made up of both English speakers and French speakers, not only because of Wolfe’s victory in the area, but also because of the attraction of fishing and coastal industries. Over the next 100 years, the area welcomed exiled peoples, such as the Irish victims of the Great Famine, the Acadian victims of the Great Upheaval and the Loyalists who left the United States after the American Revolution.
By 1850, half of the 20,000 residents in the region were English-speaking.
Of course, from the moment they arrived, English- and French-speaking communities lived side by side with the region’s Mi’kmaq people, who had settled here almost 200 years earlier.1 In fact, I had the opportunity to meet with members of the Mi’kmaq community this morning during my visit to the Gaspesian British Heritage Village.
In my opinion, this region is like no other in Canada as its population has been composed of three groups—English, French and Mi’kmaq—for most of its history. Indeed, your ancestors, having established themselves in such a remote location, could not have spent their days fighting each other when survival itself was such a core reality for all.
This morning, as I spoke to members of the English-speaking community in New Richmond, I noted that in the phonebook one could still find historic names such as Dow, Duthie, McLennan and Willett alongside LeBlanc, Arseneau and others. To me, this is a good indication of the resilience of Gaspesians and of the love and attachment they have for their region. English and French speakers alike are connected to this community and want nothing more than to stay within its borders and help it thrive.
Of course, I know that the reality is not always rosy and that your region sometimes has to face considerable challenges because of isolation, the exodus of young people and a lack of services in some areas due to limited resources. That being said, your perseverance is not going unnoticed, even 1,200 km away in Ottawa!
You are not afraid to take risks; you are always open to new ways of developing your economy and encouraging your young people to stay or come back to settle in your region.
The budding ecotourism industry in the Gaspé Peninsula is a source of inspiration for the rest of the country. Thanks to the presence of the English-speaking community and bilingual programs offered at the CEGEP, you have the necessary resources to provide services in both official languages to visitors to your region.
I also see world-class events here, such as the 475th anniversary celebrations, and the Festival de Musique du Bout du Monde, which brings together artists from every corner of the world, and where our official languages as well many other cultures are represented in song. I would have liked to attend this event myself, but, unfortunately, I arrived a few days too late. However, I hope to be able to attend in the future.
You have made great strides in the past years to overcome the challenges you face and allow this vibrant community to thrive. As your community continues to grow, I encourage you all to continue participating in the dialogue between the region’s English- and French-speaking populations, as well as its Mi’kmaq people.
It is obvious that your communities are very tightly knit. Every time I come here, I feel as though I am part of a large family, where each individual has his or her place and where all members of the community work together for the greater good of everyone.
Never lose this sense of attachment to—and pride in—your region. It provides us, as visitors, with such a welcome feeling. What’s more, it continues to be at the core of your success as a community while ensuring close collaboration in your efforts to overcome struggles and challenges.
Let’s take this opportunity to continue our discussion and celebration of the rich cultural history in Gaspé and the Gaspé Peninsula.
Happy 475th anniversary!
1. Gespeg Web site, http://www.gaspesie.com/gespeg/english.html
