Acadia (region)

Acadia is a North American cultural region in the Maritime provinces of Canada where approximately 300,000 French-speaking Acadians live. The region lacks clear or formal borders; it is usually considered to be the north and east of New Brunswick as well as many localities in Prince Edward Island and Nova Scotia. Some also include a few localities in Quebec and/or Maine.

An historical or operational definition of Acadia can also refer to the entire three Maritime provinces or those province's French-speakers even in now English-speaking majority areas such as Halifax. Although Newfoundland was not part of the original Acadia, the historic dispersal of Acadians to Newfoundland and modern cultural connections tying French-speaking Newfoundlanders with the those in the Maritimes can also include Newfoundland or Newfoundland and Labrador in these definitions. For example, is the French-language television newscast for all Atlantic Canada including reports from all four provinces.

The present-day region of Acadia's name echoes that of the historic colony of Acadia, a colony of New France which covered the Maritimes, and that was inhabited by Acadians until the Expulsion of the Acadians during the French and Indian War. A few Acadians managed to escape the deportation by fleeing to the most rural parts of the old territory and re-settling there, which is mostly the North and East of New Brunswick today. Their descendants came to dominate these areas, leading to the emergence of modern-day Acadia.

Acadia has always been a poor region for a variety of reasons. For example, after the British conquest, a test oath was put in place, preventing Catholics from voting or being a candidate. The Acadians were also firmly opposed to the Confederation of Canada, which would severely affect the local economy. Furthermore, the lands of Acadia are not very fertile, making them a poor choice for agriculture.