Pélagie Residency

Since 1604, with the founding of the first overseas colony by Pierre Dugua de Mons and Samuel de Champlain, the histories of France and Acadia have been closely intertwined.

As Antonine Maillet reminded us when receiving the insignia of Commander of the Legion of Honour of the French Republic, « l’Acadie est restée française, pas seulement avec sa langue, mais avec son esprit, sa mémoire, avec ses rêves d’avenir et avec ses ambitions ». [Acadia has remained French, not only through its language, but through its spirit, its memory, its dreams for the future, and its ambitions].

To further strengthen these cultural ties, the Institut français du Canada launched in 2025 the “Pélagie Residency,” a multidisciplinary residency program bringing together Acadian and French artists.

In 2025–2026, two pilot residencies are being organized:

• The second Pélagie Residency brought together three up-and-coming French authors on the theme of the draft as a creative process: Julia Malye, whose novel La Louisiane (Stock, 2024) resonates with the history of the Acadian people; poet Florentine Rey, who is keen to develop her Conversations poétiques (Poetic conversations) in Acadia; and Benjamin Audoye, whose fifth novel will be set partly in the Maritime provinces. All three were able to enrich this experience with two Acadian authors: poet Sarah Brideau and children's story writer Hélène Devarennes. The residency is organised at the Borgitte project in Cap Pelé by artist Éloïse Leblanc, in partnership with the Dieppe and Halifax book fairs and the universities of Moncton and Sainte-Anne.

• A choreographic residency, in partnership with the Théâtre populaire de l’Acadie, bringing together French dancer, choreographer, and director Thierry Thieû Niang and Acadian choreographer Monique Léger. Together, they will create a piece addressing the major upheavals that have shaped Acadian and Indigenous history from past to present. The work will be performed by young people from Tracadie, Caraquet, Shippagan, St-Isidore, and Neguac. The premiere will take place during the 25th edition of the Festival théâtre jeunesse en Acadie in April 2026.