Gathered for the official release of the book Cap-Rouge: Former Hamlet of Chéticamp were (left to right): Napoléon Chiasson, president of La Société Saint-Pierre; Kelly Deveaux, acting superintendent for Cape Breton Highlands National Park; Ginette Chiasson, researcher and author of Cap-Rouge: Former Hamlet of Chéticamp; Blair Pardy, Cape Breton Field Unit superintendent; and Lisette Bourgeois, executive director of La Société Saint-Pierre.
-by Rosie Aucoin-Grace
Many gathered on Wednesday, November 6th, in support of a very special endeavour. It was the official release of the new publication, Cap Rouge: Ancien hameau de Chéticamp – Former Hamlet of Chéticamp. Fittingly, the launching took place at the Chéticamp Visitor Centre at Cape Breton Highlands National Park.
The book is dedicated to the memory of Les Cap-Rougiens Acadians settled at Cap-Rouge and whose lands were expropriated in 1936 to create the Cape Breton Highlands National Park. This was a project of La Société Saint-Pierre in partnership with Parks Canada. It is a story which takes us back between 1864-1936, about a vibrant Acadian community which existed in what is known today as Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It invites the readers to take a little stroll in Cap-Rouge and discover who were the residents, the little hamlets where they settled, and their way of life. The Cap-Rouge region followed the western coast of Cape Breton Island, about seven miles north of Chéticamp. It included La Bloque, Ruisseau des Maurice (Trout Brook), Rivière à Lazare (Corney Brook), and Ruisseau du Canadien.
The emcee for the event was Daniel Aucoin, along with guest speakers; Kelly Deveaux, acting superintendent for Cape Breton Highlands National Park, Blair Pardy, Cape Breton Field Unit superintendent, Napoléon Chiasson, president of La Société Saint-Pierre and Ginette Chiasson, researcher and author of Cap Rouge: Ancien hameau de Chéticamp – Former Hamlet of Chéticamp.
Kelly Deveaux, acting superintendent spoke proudly of this project. “On behalf of Parks Canada, I welcome you. We are very happy to be your hosts for this event today. First, we would like to acknowledge that the land on which we are gathered today is the un-ceded traditional territory of the Mi’kmaq of Nova Scotia.”
“When I first saw the book Cap-Rouge, I thought wow!” says Deveaux. “The cover portrait in full colour of La Rivière à Lazare with the houses, seems like a real moment captured in the past…it’s wonderful.” She continued, “For a month now, every time I look at the book, my thoughts are lost in this photo. It is as if I were a young woman walking the road, seeing the same scene, in the open air, just before me. It touched me and it was just the cover of the book!”
Deveaux added, “Reading each page, I have the sense of beauty and hardiness of the people who lived here, by the sea, at the foot of the hills and in the mountains, prior to the creation of the National Park. I already knew quite a bit about the history of Cap-Rouge, but when I read this book, I was happy to learn new things. I am very pleased that this ancient hamlet of Chéticamp is being celebrated and presented for generations, today and in the future.”
“Expropriations are a chapter of our past for both of us, the Acadians of Chéticamp and for Parks Canada. It is our story,” says Deveaux. “It is not an easy subject. For years it was a topic we did not talk about here at the park. But today, it is a story that we recognize and we commemorate with you.” She ended with, “I am very proud of this progress and it is exciting when I think about the future. Today I would like to congratulate La Société Saint-Pierre. The book Cap-Rouge is the result of great work. It’s a real treasure for the community. Thank you for another remarkable project.”
Blair Pardy, Cape Breton Field Unit superintendent, spoke of the importance of recognizing the history of the Acadians in Cape Breton Highlands National Park. He spoke of the incredible partnership between La Société Saint-Pierre and Parks Canada and that with this collaboration, great projects have come to fruition, including this publication of the Cap-Rouge story. He congratulated everyone involved.
“We are pleased to be here this afternoon to pay homage to our Acadians who were displaced from their land to allow the construction of our National Park. We want this important part of local history to be remembered for the courage and determination shown by our ancestors as they had to resettle in the village of Chéticamp,” says Napoléon Chiasson, president of La Société Saint-Pierre. “This book, Cap-Rouge: Former Hamlet of Chéticamp, is a tool that generations to come will forever have on this chapter of our history. We have been talking for several years about publishing a book with pictures of the lives of our inhabitants in and around Cap-Rouge. For La Société Saint-Pierre, this would ensure that our photos, stories, and testimonies would be preserved for generations to come. To be here this afternoon, to honour our ancestors and our Acadian families with the launch of this brand-new book is a source of great joy and a great honour for our team at Les Trois Pignons.”
Chiasson added, “Parks Canada is an important partner to La Société Saint-Pierre and the community of Chéticamp. Their continued support has allowed us to move this project forward. We appreciate the confidence given to us to achieve such undertakings. We would not have been able to publish this book if not for the financial contribution of Parks Canada. Blair Pardy, Field Unit Superintendent and his team have been gracious and accommodating as we moved this project forward. We are the envy of many when we talk about our strong partnership.”
“I would be remiss if I did not acknowledge the work and support of a few people who worked in the development of this book. Special thanks to Ginette Chiasson for the research and writing; Charlie Dan Roach, Daniel Aucoin, Donna Larade, and Gisèle Aucoin for reading the book; René Babin for the beautiful work on the design and layout; Roy Deveaux, CHNE, and Rosie Aucoin-Grace for interviews over the years on the subject; and not to mention the team at Cape Breton Highlands National Park, in particular Eric LeBel, Kelly Deveaux, Ida Deveau, and Scott Aucoin. Together we have done a beautiful project and we have every right to be proud of it!”
We then heard from the researcher and writer of this book, Ginette Chiasson, of Chéticamp, who has deep attachments to Cap-Rouge. As she spoke with much emotion, “This project is quite dear to my heart as I have ancestors who lived at Cap-Rouge on both sides of my family. I discovered the paternal side of these relations during the writing of the book. How amazing! It has been an exciting project for me. I am happy and proud that this story will live on for generations to come.” Chiasson captured the audience when she read a few selections from the book which included, “Other sources of Income” and “The Illicit Economy.” There was much laughter but at the same time, much learning.
The afternoon ended with refreshments and some delectable delights, while people gathered to share stories, especially the ones who were present and had once lived at Cap-Rouge, or have ancestral roots in that area. Some chose to browse in Le Nique (Nature Bookstore – Les Amis du Plain Air).
The book Cap-Rouge: Ancien hameau de Chéticamp – Former Hamlet of Chéticamp is a reader friendly, bilingual publication, filled with many old photographs of this once inhabited beautiful section of Cape Breton Highlands National Park. It consists of many facts and testimonies of the people of Cap-Rouge and their way of life. For those of you interested, copies can be purchased at Les Trois Pignons (902-224-2642) or via email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..
As I was leaving the Visitor Centre, I noticed the Acadian and Canadian flags intertwined and fluttering in the breeze. What a powerful message they represent. We have come such a long way in reconnecting with our Cap-Rouge ancestors, their families, and the preservation of their stories. It was while I was pondering about this that I felt, perhaps the swishing of the flags were actually the whispers of our Cap-Rouge forefathers who are proud of our commemoration to them, their history, and their land.
