The municipalities of Clare and Argyle recently welcomed the Congrès mondial acadien (CMA) selection committee for a tour of the Acadian region of southwest Nova Scotia.
The visit is one of the final steps in a months-long selection process to name the host region for the CMA in 2024.
“Not only did the selection committee observe firsthand the enthusiasm of our bid committee, most importantly I trust they felt the collective enthusiasm of the residents of Clare and Argyle,” said Allister Surette, spokesperson for the CMA 2024 bid committee.
“We have the talent, the volunteers, the infrastructure and the drive to host an international congress of this scale in our region.”
On the two-day tour of Clare and Argyle that took place on April 25 and 26, the independent selection committee met with bid committee members, as well as representatives of government, business, cultural and community sectors in the region. They also toured key indoor and outdoor sites for hosting some of the congress’s main events.
The CMA is an international gathering of Acadian culture that is held every five years. Its mission is to fortify the ties among Acadian communities around the world through family reunions, conferences and celebrations. The event could attract up to 100,000 participants.
The theme proposed for the 2024 CMA in the Acadian region of southwest Nova Scotia is Venez vivre votre Acadie (Come live your Acadie), a nod to the centuries-long Acadian roots of the community and the recognition that the worldwide Acadian identity is united in its diversity.
The event is to be held over nine days from Aug. 10 to 18, 2024.
Clare and Argyle are one of two regions vying to host the CMA in 2024.
The selection committee also toured the Baie des Chaleurs region of New Brunswick and Québec. The Société Nationale de l’Acadie is expected to announce the host region before the summer.
