It was at the presbytery of the Sainte-Marguerite-de-Blairfindie church, in the L’Acadie sector, that the Prix Acadie-Québec was presented to Michel Robitaille on November 13. The president of the Société nationale de l’Acadie, Martin Théberge, and the MP for Saint-Jean, Louis Lemieux, had the honor of presenting the prize.
Michel Robitaille was chosen to receive the Prix Acadie-Québec for his long-standing involvement in the Francophonie and for the efforts he has made to build links between Acadia and Quebec.
Mr. Robitaille was, among other things, the first president and CEO of the Center de la francophonie des Amériques (CFA), from 2008 to 2010. Since 2019, he has been the president of the board of directors of the CFA. He was also the general delegate of Quebec in Paris and the personal representative of the Prime Minister for La Francophonie from 2010 to 2016.
The man who has been involved in the Francophonie for around fifty years was awarded the rank of officer of the Legion of Honor in 2017. In 2023, he was awarded the Order of Francophones of America for Quebec.
The latter expressed being moved, touched and honored by this award. “I share it with the Center of the Francophonie of the Americas […] We have a lot in common, but we have our specificities and we must respect them. We have a lot to gain from fostering rapprochement,” says Mr. Robitaille.
Prix
This award aims to recognize the contribution to the development and consolidation of relations between Acadia and Quebec. The prize can be awarded to an individual or an organization.
The Prix Acadie-Québec is physically presented in the form of a unique work of art which is redesigned and renewed each time it is awarded. The prize Mr. Robitaille received is the work of the artist Lucie Bellemare entitled Wind behind.
“In the artist’s words, it is a symbol of success, dynamism and links between two nations full of vitality who fill their sails together and see what they have sown grow,” explains Martin Théberge.
Each year, two Acadie-Québec Prizes are awarded. The first targets individuals or organizations from Acadia in the Atlantic provinces, and the second, individuals or organizations from Quebec. Michel Robitaille and the artist P’tit Belliveau are the winners of the prize in 2024.
Lieu
MP Louis Lemieux was very happy that the Prix Acadie-Québec was awarded in the L’Acadie sector in Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu. In his eyes, it is an ideal place to highlight how the history of Quebec and that of Acadia are interrelated, and to highlight that they have been intertwined for a long time.
« [L’Acadie] goes beyond airs, allure and colors. It’s the origin, the roots and the heritage here,” underlines Mr. Lemieux.
Mr. Robitaille was very happy to discover the place where the prize was awarded. He underlined the relevance of the choice that was made, especially since Acadia has a past intrinsically linked to the Great Disruption that the Acadians suffered from the mid-18th century.e century.
