Acadian Society of New Brunswick

The Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick (SANB), known in English as the Acadian Society of New Brunswick, is an organization representing Francophones and Acadians in New Brunswick,{{cite web |title=New Brunswick |url=https://rvf.ca/en/francophone-discoveries/communities/new-brunswick/ |publisher=Dialogue Foundation |access-date=18 April 2024}} the only bilingual province in Canada and the largest Acadian population in the country.{{cite web |title=New Brunswick |url=https://salutcanada.ca/en/new-brunswick/ |website=salutcanada.ca |publisher=Salut Canada |access-date=18 April 2024 |language=en-CA}} The organization, which has received federal funding,{{cite news |last1=Rhodes |first1=Dean |title=Canadian court to rule in landmark language case |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-bangor-daily-news/145628211/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |publisher=The Bangor Daily News |date=9 August 1984 |page=22 |language=en}} holds an annual general meeting. Presidency for SANB runs on democratic elections, and as of April 2024 there is a current election underway with three candidates.{{cite news |title=Élections présidence SANB : Biographies des Candidats – Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick |url=https://www.sanb.ca/fr/communiques/elections-presidence-sanb-biographies-des-candidats |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=SANB |date=4 April 2024 |location=Petit-Rocher, New Brunswick |language=fr}}

File:Conseil d'administration de la SANB.jpg]]

In June 1973, the Société des Acadiens du Nouveau-Brunswick (SANB) was created in Shippagan, resulting from a meeting held the year prior.{{cite web |title=Historique – Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick |url=https://www.sanb.ca/fr/historique |website=SANB |publisher=SANB |access-date=19 April 2024}} The following year, the organization became involved in efforts made to revive the French language in Moncton.{{cite news |last1=Shippey |first1=Len |title=The whole riding's talking about the Jones ploy |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-montreal-star/145620614/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=The Montreal Star |date=4 July 1974 |page=10 |language=en}} In 1979, the organization was involved in the holding of a conference to discuss the creation of an Acadian province separated from New Brunswick,{{cite news |title=New Brunswick French favor forming all-Acadian province |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-leader-post/145629262/ |access-date=19 April 2024 |work=The Leader-Post |date=10 October 1979 |page=29 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Acadians discuss organization plans |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/calgary-herald/145629036/ |access-date=19 April 2024 |work=Calgary Herald |date=9 October 1979 |page=73 |language=en}}{{cite news |title=Conference to discuss Acadian province proposal |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/145628826/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=Canadian Press |publisher=The Ottawa Citizen |date=6 October 1979 |page=20 |language=en}} with proposals being made as early as 1976.{{cite news |title=Acadians want own province |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-ottawa-citizen/145629123/ |access-date=19 April 2024 |work=Canadian Press |publisher=The Ottawa Citizen |date=27 April 1976 |page=5 |language=en}} During the 1980 Quebec referendum, SANB expressed support for voting 'yes', with president Jean-Claude Leblanc making an interpretation of the status quo being favored by those voting 'no', stating that it "leads directly, quickly and undeniably to the assimilation of francophones and their disappearance in the more-or-less long term."{{cite news |title=N.B. Acadians call for 'yes' vote |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-hamilton-spectator/145626308/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=Canadian Press |publisher=The Hamilton Spectator |date=25 March 1980 |location=Moncton, New Brunswick |page=14 |language=en}} In 1986, SANB participated in discussions regarding compensations for the Expulsion of the Acadians.{{cite news |last1=Ruimy |first1=Joel |title=Righting wrongs of Canada's past no small task |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/145621711/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=The Toronto Star |date=28 July 1986 |page=14 |language=en}}

SANB was previously based in Moncton. In 1980, the organization relocated to Petit-Rocher following a meeting held in Memramcook.{{cite news |title=Moncton |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/niagara-falls-review/145627651/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |publisher=Niagara Falls Review |date=10 September 1980}} In 1988, the organization was renamed to the Société des Acadiens et des Acadiennes du Nouveau-Brunswick (SAANB) and renamed again in 2008 to the Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick.

The organization has expressed a strong opposition to anti-bilingualism, with then-president Michel Doucet labelling members of the Confederation of Regions Party, a now-defunct right-wing, anti-bilingual political party, as "extremists" in 1989.{{cite news |last1=Spears |first1=John |title=Anti-bilingual movement takes formal root in N.B. |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-toronto-star/145627012/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=The Toronto Star |date=10 September 1989 |page=13 |language=en}} In 1998, the organization sent a complaint to the New Brunswick Judicial Council regarding one of their francophone judges for remarks she made towards Acadians during a court session in Tracadie, resulting in the judge being fired the following year.{{cite news |last1=Morris |first1=Chris |title=Costly comments |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-windsor-star/145621940/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=The Canadian Press |publisher=The Windsor Star |date=17 April 1999}}

In 2002, the Government of New Brunswick's proposition of Bill 17, related to the healthcare system, led to CANB filing a civil suit against them, stating "nothing in the bill promises that all health services will be available in French."{{cite news |title=N.B. sued over French health care |url=https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-gazette/145626383/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=The Gazette |date=18 April 2002 |page=9 |language=en}} In 2022, SANB criticized the Progressive Conservative Party of New Brunswick for adding two new MLAs from the People's Alliance. The added politicians, Kris Austin and Michelle Conroy, have been described as expressing anti-bilingual opinions.{{cite news |last1=Poitras |first1=Jacques |title=People's Alliance MLAs cross the floor to join Tory government |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/kris-austin-alliance-joins-new-brunswick-conservatives-1.6402535 |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=CBC News |date=30 March 2022 |language=en}} Later that year, calls were made to Premier Blaine Higgs for the removal of Austin from an Official Languages Act examination group by multiple organizations including SANB.{{cite news |last1=Poitras |first1=Jacques |title=Acadian groups unite to call for Austin's removal from working group |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/new-brunswick/acadian-groups-remove-austin-1.6652236 |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=CBC News |date=15 November 2022}} The organization also made further calls for a review to be conducted regarding the leadership of Higgs.{{cite news |title=Outraged Acadian group urges leadership review of N.B. premier|url=https://globalnews.ca/news/9364957/acadian-group-urges-leadership-review-nb-premier/ |access-date=18 April 2024 |work=The Canadian Press |publisher=Global News |date=21 December 2022}}

{{Infobox COA wide

|escutcheon = Tierced wavy in fess Azure Argent and Gules a turreted tower Or its portal and windows Azure.

|crest = A halcyon wings elevated and addorsed Or perched on a nest Gules issuant from waves Argent.{{cite web|url=https://www.gg.ca/en/heraldry/public-register/project/3584 |publisher=Canadian Heraldic Authority |accessdate=1 September 2024 |title=Société de l'Acadie du Nouveau-Brunswick}}

|motto = J'Unis Et Je Fortifie (I United And I Fortify)

|supporters = Two pantheons Azure unguled Argent their mullets Or each resting its interior hind leg on a carriage wheel Azure and standing on a dirt road Or.}}

{{reflist}}

• {{Official website|url=www.sanb.ca}}

Category:Acadian culture in New Brunswick

Category:Organizations based in New Brunswick

Category:1973 establishments in New Brunswick

Category:Ethnic organizations based in Canada

Category:Organizations established in 1973

Category:Language advocacy organizations

Category:Acadian history