Welcome to the Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America! As you browse the site, you will learn about the heritage of French-speaking North America, as well as about its history and diversity. Get to know the people who preserve and cherish it, discover the places where it finds expression and become familiar with the trends that have shaped and influenced its evolution throughout history.

Article Summary

Sandstone grave marker for Thomas Chiasson who died in 1893, Saint-Joseph-du-Moine cemetery. (Photo D. Trask © S. Ross)

By Ross, Sally

Acadian Cemeteries in Nova Scotia

A sacred place of remembrance, the Acadian cemetery has changed considerably over the centuries.  Located in a rural area, beside a chapel or a parish church, the Acadian cemetery has gone from being a simple green space with a few wooden crosses to a carefully levelled terrain dominated by rows of perfectly aligned gravestones.  Funerary  iconography has also evolved. The cross, the flaming heart and the finger pointing to heaven have given way to secular symbols of work or pleasure, such as the fishing boat, the hunting scene, the Bingo card or the royal flush. Whether old or new, th...

Did you know that...

The English version of the Encyclopedia of French Cultural Heritage in North America is online since December 15th, 2009. It features an ever growing number of articles, documents and resources on the heritage of French-speaking North America.

Join us on

Popular Songs (French) Videos Images

© All rights reserved, 2007
Encylcopedia of French Cultural
Heritage in North America

Government of Canada