Le Pays de la Sagouine gets nearly $722K for upgrades
Acadian village in Bouctouche is an important cultural and tourism asset, federal and provincial officials say
Le Pays de la Sagouine, a tourist attraction in Bouctouche that celebrates aspects of Acadian culture, will be upgraded with a combined $721,625 from the federal and provincial governments.
The funding, announced on Wednesday, comes as the facility that offers theatre, music, comedy, dance and cuisine marks its 25th anniversary.
The federal government is contributing most of the money for the project, which includes improving the foundation of the welcome area, extending the terrace and spectator stands to better accommodate a variety of shows and larger audiences, new technical equipment and an engineering study.
"Le Pays de la Sagouine is an important cultural and tourism asset for the province and a key platform for New Brunswick's cultural scene," federal Fisheries Minister Dominic LeBlanc, whose Beauséjour riding includes Bouctouche, said in a statement.
Land of the washerwoman
LeBlanc was at the announcement on behalf of federal Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, the minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency.
Le Pays de la Sagouine, pronounced pay-ee day la sag-win, means land of the washerwoman in English. Acadian actress Viola Léger, 86, played the iconic role of La Sagouine at the summer dinner theatre for more than four decades but withdrew from public life earlier this year after suffering a stroke that affected her memory and sight.
Renovations to the facility — a reproduction of a prohibition-era fishing village — will improve the experience for visitors, said LeBlanc.
'Urgent need' for renovations
The federal government is contributing nearly $672,000 — $329,125 under ACOA's Innovative Communities Fund, and $342,500 through Heritage Canada.
The provincial government is providing $50,000, while Le Pays de la Sagouine is investing $61,875.
"This is a great investment for an important piece of the Acadian culture in the Kent South area," Kent South MLA Benoît Bourque said.
"Thousands of tourists get the opportunity to visit Le Pays de la Saguoine every year and get to live an Acadian cultural experience."
Le Pays de la Sagouine is "in urgent need" of the renovations, according to Luc LeBlanc, the non-profit organization's artistic director and acting director general.
The work will enable the facility to "remain a solid platform for Acadian culture," and he is grateful, he said.
The funding is part of the recently announced $24.5-million Atlantic Tourism Partnership between the federal and Atlantic provincial governments, aimed at growing tourism in the region.