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Welcome to Fascinating Facts and Tantalizing Trivia

A Hartson Dowd Column

July 28, 2006

Note:  In December  2003, Governor General Adrienne Clarkson representing Canada's head of state, declared the Crown's acknowledgement (but without an apology) of the event and designated July 28 as "A Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval." This closed one of the longest open cases in the history of the British courts since the Acadian representatives first presented their grievances of forced disposession of land, property and livestock in 1760.

Proclamation Designating July 28 of Every Year as "A Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval", Commencing on July 28, 2005

ADRIENNE CLARKSON

[L.S.]

Canada

Elizabeth the Second, by the Grace of God of the United Kingdom, Canada and her other Realms and Territories QUEEN, Head of the Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith.

To All To Whom these Presents shall come or whom the same may in any way concern,

A Proclamation

Whereas the Acadian people, through the vitality of their community, have made a remarkable contribution to Canadian society for almost 400 years;

Whereas on July 28, 1755, the Crown, in the course of administering the affairs of the British colony of Nova Scotia, made the decision to deport the Acadian people;

Whereas the deportation of the Acadian people, commonly known as the Great Upheaval, continued until 1763 and had tragic consequences, including the deaths of many thousands of Acadians - from disease, in shipwrecks, in their places of refuge and in prison camps in Nova Scotia and England as well as in the British colonies in America;

Whereas We acknowledge these historical facts and the trials and suffering experienced by the Acadian people during the Great Upheaval;

Whereas We hope that the Acadian people can turn the page on this dark chapter of their history;

Whereas Canada is no longer a British colony but a sovereign state, by and under the Constitution of Canada;

Whereas when Canada became a sovereign state, with regard to Canada, the Crown in right of Canada and of the provinces succeeded to the powers and prerogatives of the Crown in right of the United Kingdom;

Whereas We, in Our role as Queen of Canada, exercise the executive power by and under the Constitution of Canada;

Whereas this Our present Proclamation does not, under any circumstances, constitute a recognition of legal or financial responsibility by the Crown in right of Canada and of the provinces and is not, under any circumstances, a recognition of, and does not have any effect upon, any right or obligation of any person or group of persons;

And Whereas, by Order in Council P.C. 2003-1967 of December 6, 2003, the Governor in Council has directed that a proclamation do issue designating July 28 of every year as "A Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval", commencing on July 28, 2005;

Now Know You that We, by and with the advice of Our Privy Council for Canada, do by this Our Proclamation, effective on September 5, 2004, designate July 28 of every year as "A Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval", commencing on July 28, 2005.

Of All Which Our Loving Subjects and all others whom these Presents may concern are hereby required to take notice and to govern themselves accordingly.

In Testimony Whereof, We have caused this Our Proclamation to be published and the Great Seal of Canada to be hereunto affixed. Witness: Our Right Trusty and Well-beloved Adrienne Clarkson, Chancellor and principal Companion of Our Order of Canada, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Military Merit, Chancellor and Commander of Our Order of Merit of the Police Forces, Governor General and Commander-in-Chief of Canada.

At Our Government House, in Our City of Ottawa, this tenth day of December in the year of Our Lord two thousand and three and in the fifty-second year of Our Reign.

At a ceremony that took place on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Minister Copps gave an official copy of the Royal Proclamation to the President of the Soci?t? Nationale de l'Acadie, Euclide Chiasson.

"Having Acadian roots, I am proud to be part of this historic moment, which marks a significant step in recognizing the Acadian community's contributions to building Canada and promoting our linguistic duality," said Minister Copps. "Acadians are a model of perseverance and determination. Their indomitable spirit has allowed them to turn the page on this dark period in their history and to face the future with confidence."

"I hold a deep admiration for Acadian people for their remarkable contribution to helping build Canada and for their desire to build a brighter future based on lessons from the past," said President of the Privy Council and Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs St?phane Dion.

"I am very pleased with the positive conclusion to this file," said Mr. Chiasson. "As a result of this declaration, Acadians will be able to commemorate The Great Upheaval every year. It also serves as official recognition of the historic facts surrounding the deportations that took place between 1755 and 1763."

The deportation of the Acadian people, commonly known The Great Upheaval, began on September 5th , 1755 and continued until 1763. This period tragically affected thousands of Acadians. The Government of Canada recognizes the historic importance of The Great Upheaval and this Royal Proclamation will commemorate an important event in Canadian history.

Information: Naline Rampersad - Director of communications
Office of the Minister of Canadian Heritage - (819) 997-7788