Premier wants Acadian park rebuilt for 2009 tourist season

The trademark fiddles, local theatre and internationally renowned story of La Sagouine will return, perhaps in time for the 2009 season.

Le Pays de la Sagouine, the landmark Acadian tourist treasure, had its restaurant razed on Wednesday night in a fire that police say appears suspicious.

Damage is estimated in the $2 million range.

Premier Shawn Graham said in an interview with CBCNews.ca that the New Brunswick government will help fund the reconstruction, but he couldn't put a value on the province's contribution until after the final assessment.

"We are going to do what we can to make sure the facility is back in place for our tourism season and we'd like to see it open some time next summer," Graham said.

The attraction is in Graham's Kent riding and he said was informed of the fire shortly before heading into his weekly cabinet meeting on Thursday morning. He has already spoken with Paul LeBlanc, the executive director of Le Pays de la Sagouine, and he expressed his sense of loss for the fire and his vow to help them rebuild.

"It is very important that the building be replaced. It is a priority of the board of directors of Le Pays de la Sagouine and our government," Graham said. "We will work with them through this difficult time."

LeBlanc said on Thursday that he also hopes to have the restaurant and theatre running before the start of next year's tourist season, but he acknowledges it will be a challenge.

"The tourist season 2009 is fast approaching, winter is even closer, and we all know that that is quite a job to build during that time of year," LeBlanc said.

Le Pays de la Sagouine was built 16 years ago and is based on the novel La Sagouine, the story of an Acadian cleaning woman written by Acadian literary giant Antonine Maillet.

Its restaurant, which was destroyed, has held dinners for heads of state and regularly hosts local dinner theatres. The site also boasts a boardwalk to an island where Maillet's story is staged for tourists in both English and French.

Statistics from the Department of Tourism and Parks show in 2007 that 60,961 people visited the park, down from 78,413 in 2005.

Police and fire crews spent Thursday at the Bouctouche tourism spot after fire broke out at about 11 p. m. Wednesday. L'Ordre du Bon Temps restaurant was engulfed in flames when crews arrived.

The building also contained technical equipment, sets and costumes.

Although the fire appears suspicious, RCMP Sgt. Dave Mazerolle said it is still too early to say what started the blaze.

"There's a lot of areas that has to be dealt with — the electrical, any possible misfortune that could have happened, something could have been left on — we're all going to look at those areas but like I did say, there is some indication that it could be suspicious," Mazerolle said.

Bouctouche Mayor Aldeo Saulnier said the loss of the restaurant is hitting people very hard in the southeastern coastal community.

"People that came from all over the world down here, they want to come and visit Le Pays de la Sagouine so for us it's a big thing. And for the people that came here, they have a little piece of Bouctouche in their heart," Saulnier said.

Graham said his fondest professional memory of the venue is when he brought the provincial and territorial premiers to the Acadian tourist venue for a gala dinner in 2007 when he hosted the Council of the Federation.

But Graham said he will personally miss the opportunity to head to the theatre this winter for some of its famous concerts.

"I really enjoyed attending the Christmas plays that were held," he said. "It was a chance for Roxanne and I to go back at Christmas time, it was a chance to be among friends and see a great concert."