Contributions to time capsule extended until the end of December
LOUISDALE: The 175th anniversary of Louisdale’s founding was celebrated from Aug. 21 to 25 with a series of community events, including a tree-planting ceremony, a tribute night, the unveiling of a time capsule, and a historical showcase.
The area now known as Louisdale was originally established around 1850 by Acadian families from Isle Madame and was called Le Barachois, or Barrasois St. Louis. In 1905, the community was renamed Louisdale, reflecting the central role of the local St. Louis Church, a cornerstone of village life.
On Aug. 22, a tribute night took place at St. Louis Church Hall, beginning with dinner and musical performances by local artists Isabela Samson, Luke Boudreau, Jordi Martin, and Kyle LeVesconte. Following the music, a dedication ceremony and keynote address highlighted the contributions of Louisdale’s pioneers.
“We would be here a long time if we talked about all the trailblazers of Louisdale,” Joan Boudreau, a member of the planning committee said, as she honored ancestors who helped shape the community over the years.
Scarecrows were creatively dressed to represent figures from the past, including Evangeline, a Mi’kmaq woman, early settlers, housewives, members of the local cooperative store, parish priests, and the Louisdale Baracos baseball team.
The tribute also addressed the history of the Acadians’ Expulsion, with Boudreau emphasizing to the more than 200 attendees “the survival, courage and tenacity” of Louisdale’s early settlers.
Debbie Samson acknowledged members of the former Louisdale Historical Society, followed by an official opening and ribbon-cutting ceremony renaming the organization the Viola Landry Historical Society in honor of Landry, whose efforts were instrumental in documenting the early history of Louisdale.
During the ceremony, Robert Goyetche of the Fleur De Lis Seniors and Pensioners Club thanked the Catholic Women’s League (CWL) and other community members for assisting with the evening’s meal.
“As we reflect on the success of Louisdale’s 175th celebration, I want to take a moment to express our heartfelt appreciation for the planning committee and their work,” Goyetche said. “We had a great time working together. Every effort you made contributed to the memorable contributions that showcased our community’s spirit and history.”
Father Duncan MacIsaac offered grace that evening and expressed his admiration for the community.
“What I like the best about this community is the joie de vivre,” he said, referring to the French expression for the enjoyment of life. “That suits me and it’s in the hearts of people here, it’s the love of life; the other thing is the caring and sharing that goes on in this community.”
As part of the celebrations, MacIsaac officiated an outdoor ceremony adjacent to the parish on Aug. 25.
“We hadn’t had a mass in our Rosary Park Resting Place yet, so that’s where our cemetery mass was held this year,” explained Janasta Doiron-Marchand, president of the St. Louis Parish Council.
During the ceremony, a blue spruce tree was unveiled, and a smudging ritual was performed by Sylvia Denny. At the conclusion of the mass, the time capsule was opened, and community members were invited to contribute items of historical significance.
“A copy of a poem from the tribute evening, pictures, envelopes, and stories of ‘ancestors who paved the way for our beautiful community of Louisdale,’ were all handed in,” Doiron-Marchand said. “And it will be there until the end of December for people who didn’t get a chance to put anything in there, because some people might be away. So, anyone wanting to add anything can go to the Viola Landry Historical Society Room and pick up envelopes there.”