Acadia, at the Heart of the Haut-Richelieu’s Heritage
Here, some stories are worth telling over and over again. The story of Acadia is certainly one of them.
Few people know this, but the Haut-Richelieu region has deep ties to Acadia. In the mid-18th century, after the British took control of Acadia, thousands of Acadians were deported to the four corners of the Atlantic during the Great Upheaval. However, many managed to return to the territory of the Province of Quebec, which was created in 1763 following the Conquest. Around 1768, a few hundred of them settled in the Haut-Richelieu region, on the banks of what was then called the Petite rivière de Montréal, now known as the Rivière l’Acadie.
Their arrival has had a profound impact on our region.
In 1782, the parish of Sainte-Marguerite-de-Blairfindie was officially established. It was named in honor of the family of David Alexander Grant, who was originally from Blairfindie, Scotland. It was the very first parish in the Haut-Richelieu region, even before that of Saint-Jean.
At that time, it already had nearly 1,800 residents, making it one of the most populous parishes in Quebec. Its vast territory then covered a large part of what we now know as Haut-Richelieu, including Saint-Blaise-sur-Richelieu, Saint-Luc, Saint-Cyprien-de-Napierville, Napierville, Saint-Jacques-le-Mineur, and part of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu.
In the heart of the village stands the Sainte-Marguerite-de-Blairfindie Church, which was consecrated in 1801. Renowned for its remarkable architecture, it was designated a heritage building in 1957. In 1976, a protected area was established that included its rectory, cemetery, covered road, and surrounding buildings.
This heritage site continues to bear witness to the importance of this place in the history of the Haut-Richelieu region. Its value is recognized far beyond the region: it is notably included in Divin Québec’s “Sublimes découvertes patrimoniales en Montérégie” tour, an initiative of the Association du tourisme religieux et spirituel du Québec.
Credit: Nicolas Mathieux
When it was incorporated as a municipality in 1845, the parish retained the name Sainte-Marguerite-de-Blairfindie. Since the arrival of the Acadians, however, the area has been informally referred to by various names, including La Cadie, La Petite Cadie, and La Nouvelle Cadie. Around the mid-19th century, the name Lacadie, adopted by the post office, gradually became the accepted term. The municipality officially adopted it in 1926, before the spelling L’Acadie was adopted in 1976—the name this area of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu bears today.
When the church closed its doors in 2014, local residents rallied to preserve this precious heritage. In 2017, the City of Saint-Jean-sur-Richelieu became the owner of the historic complex. The following year, it entrusted the organization Patrimoine l’Acadie with the mission of preserving, showcasing, and promoting this historic site, while transforming it into a vibrant hub of cultural activities.
A story that's still very much alive
On July 18 and 19, Patrimoine l’Acadie invites you to participate in the Acadian Heritage Festival. Activities, tours, meetings, and discoveries will allow you to relive the journey of the Acadian families who helped shape the Haut-Richelieu region.
This is an opportunity to discover one of the region’s most beautiful historic sites, to gain a deeper understanding of our region’s roots, and to take a fresh look at an area that has stood the test of time.
Because here, our heritage isn’t limited to the buildings we admire. It’s found in the stories we tell, the places we preserve, and the traditions we pass down. Ultimately, discovering Acadia also means discovering a part of the history of the Haut-Richelieu region.
