Description

The deportation of the Acadianpeople surely ranks amongBritish North America's most tragichistorical events. It is believed that,in 1755, no more than 70,000 peopleof European descent lived in all ofwhat is now Canada. Of this number,12,000 Acadians were displaced- thousands lost at sea or dead fromdisease and malnutrition; many separatedfrom families and acquaintances,their property destroyed and theirland taken. On Ile-Saint-Jean, of theestimated 4700 French and Acadianspresent at the time of the 1758 deportation,approximately one-third diedin transit from drowning or disease,one-third arrived at their eventualdestinations in France, and one-thirdescaped by hiding in the forest or bytaking refuge in nearby locations notcontrolled by the British. Those whoreturned did so in dribs and drabs,some as early as 1760, others yearslater.