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PM delivers remarks in Beaubassin, NB
Thank you, Keith, for that kind introduction.
I want to thank everybody here for that warm welcome.
Let me also say that I’m delighted to see so many of my Parliamentary colleagues with us today.
I think we have on the Conservative side virtually... we have most of our Maritime caucus, and I think our entire New Brunswick caucus here, so great to see all of you.
Special greetings as well to Premiers Alward and Dexter.
Wonderful to have you.
Greetings as well to any members of both legislatures who are here, as well as representatives of local government.
My friends, we gather here today in a very historic place. Eighty-seven years ago, Beaubassin was designated a National Historic Site of Canada.
People recognized even back in 1925 that some important threads of our country’s history are drawn together at this very place.
And today Beaubassin remains a place of great interest to all Canadians.
Now, ladies and gentlemen, you might indulge me in a few observations about what Beaubassin means to me personally.
As some of you know, as mentioned earlier, my direct Canadian ancestor, in fact my great-great-great-great grandfather settled about five minutes from here in the late 18th century.
His name was Christopher Harper, and he established his family over at Fort Cumberland in 1774.
He was one of a thousand settlers who migrated to Beaubassin between 1772 and 1775.
He had good reasons.
According to family legend, he came for the low taxes.
Some things run in the blood.
He also, I should tell you, Premier Dexter, he also briefly held legislative office in the House of Assembly of Nova Scotia.
The only problem was that it was discovered that the recently drawn boundary had put him in New Brunswick.
So he was promptly expelled from the Legislature, but I continue his fight for low taxes.
What makes this place even more special for me is that my ancestor fought alongside his many Francophone, Anglophone and Aboriginal comrades to repel an attack by the Americans, an attack aimed at turning Nova Scotia into an American state.
Christopher Harper’s part in the defence of this region from American invasion is still a source of pride for our family, a pride shared by many families in this region, those who are descended from the brave souls who took up arms to protect what was to become Canada.
Now, friends, it must be said this, that in a place like Beaubassin, we are confronted with history as it truly is.
There is riches, but there is also complexity.
There have been triumphs, but also tragedies.
History loud in the making and swift in decision.
But when the smoke clears, it whispers softly down the centuries, and invariably, there are some lessons left behind.
In places like Beaubassin, history’s whisper can still be heard.
From the original First Nations inhabitants to the arrival of European settlers, these lands have been witness to some of the highlights, but also to some of the low points of Canadian history, including principally the Acadian expulsion.
Sadly, the Acadians of Beaubassin were expelled from their homes and land.
This was a tragedy of immense proportions, with thousands of people dispossessed, displaced and deported, as if they were not worthy of citizenship.
Naturally, a few years later, a number of Acadian families began returning to Acadia.
Not all of them, unfortunately, but some.
Many of the expelled Acadian families returned to rebuild their homes, their farms and their lives, and their descendents are still here.
That makes them custodians of a wonderful legacy of Acadian resilience.
But I believe there’s also a good story here in Beaubassin for all Canadians, the story of people’s overcoming bad history and creating a better future, the Mi’kmaq, the French, the English peoples coming together, working together, and finding a new unity.
It is the bigger Canadian story.
Today we celebrate the diversity that is found here, but also in every province and territory of our federation.
Indeed, Canada is the country it is today because we have learned to accept our differences, to celebrate them, to gain strength from them, but also sometimes to see past them, to our shared values and our common aspirations, freedom, democracy, justice for all individuals and for all communities.
Just as we accept one another's differences, so too have we learned to put behind us the conflicts and hatred that divided our forebearers.
And this brings us here to Beaubassin, for the story of Beaubassin, its tragedy and its triumphs is in many ways the story of Canada, and it needs to be studied, retold, and shared with the generations that will follow us.
Therefore it gives me great pleasure to declare the redevelopment of the Beaubassin historical site and its official new research station officially open.
Friends, it is written that without vision, the people perish.
My friends, today I would also like to pay tribute to the visionaries who have ensured that the story of Beaubassin would live on.
These individuals acted in order to preserve our shared heritage.
In 2010 Arthur Irving and Irving Oil, Acadia University and Ducks Unlimited joined together to support historical and scientific research on these 1200 acres of Tantramar Marsh land.
I would be remiss if I did not mention the role played by the Amis de Beaubassin, under the inspiring leadership of Mr. Donald Savoie.
Let us show our appreciation to Dr. Savoie of Moncton University, and to all the deeply committed volunteers, the Friends of Beaubassin who helped make this possible.
This great partnership of industry, academia and the environmental community worked together at significant cost to revitalize this important historic site.
They built this research station, they restored these wetlands, and they did so, I should say, without federal or provincial funds.
Their commitment to environmental protection, historical research and the heritage of Beaubassin is truly appreciated by this government, by all three Maritime provinces, and by all Canadians.
In other words, it’s another good Beaubassin story.
This partnership shows what Canadians can accomplish without government involvement when they work together for the common good.
This, my friends, is the real Canadian story, the spirit that built this country from coast to coast to coast.
I would like to conclude by drawing your attention to the monument we unveiled just a few moments ago.
In English, French and Mi’kmaq, it reads: “Beaubassin stood at the crossroads of history, where First Nations, Acadians and English peoples played a major role in its development and in shaping Canada.”
Beaubassin truly is one of the most historically significant places in our great country, and it reminds us how much we can still learn from the accomplishments of our forebears.
Congratulations are once again in order for the development of this very important site.
And thank you once again for inviting me to join you.
