The Acadian community in Quebec is distributed across several regions and comprises individuals with diverse origins. A survey conducted by Léger revealed that over one million Quebecers have an Acadian surname. A study by the University of Quebec at Montreal (UQAM) indicates that approximately 4.8 million Quebec residents have one or more Acadian ancestors in their family tree. Montreal alone is home to approximately 200,000 individuals with Acadian heritage. The regions where Acadians reside are referred to as "Cadies", and numerous towns and villages use "Cadiens" as their demonym.

Definitions

Acadian identity (Acadianité) The term Acadianité delineates the defining characteristics of an Acadian. In the Maritime Provinces, the designation of Acadian is typically extended to encompass all Francophones, including several Anglophones who trace their lineage to assimilated Acadians. In Quebec, the term Acadian is understood to encompass any Francophone individual who exhibits an Acadian accent or demonstrates an affinity for Acadian culture, whether by birth or through association.

The number of Acadians is challenging to ascertain due to the inconsistencies in the conceptualization of Acadian identity across regions, individual self-identification, and the reliability of available sources. A significant proportion of Quebecers who align with the local definition of Acadian are unaware of their origins. In many instances, individuals uncover this information while engaged in genealogical research. According to the 2006 Canadian census, 96,145 individuals were self-identifying as Acadians in the country. Nevertheless, a considerable number of individuals who meet the criteria for classification as Acadians identify themselves ethnically as "French" or "Canadian." This is partly because the option Acadian was not previously available on the relevant forms. Since its inclusion, the number of individuals self-identifying as Acadian has increased, despite a lack of corresponding growth in the actual population. A 1989 Léger Marketing survey estimated that nearly one in seven Quebecers, or approximately one million individuals, have Acadian origins. Several genealogists, including Bona Arsenault and Adrien Bergeron, have endorsed this figure, with Bergeron asserting that Quebec has over one million Acadians.

Unless otherwise indicated, the term "Acadian" in this article is used by the generally accepted definition of Acadianité in Quebec.

Cadie In Quebec, the term Cadie or Petite Cadie refers to a town or region where Acadians have settled. The term is thought to have derived from Acadia and to have ancient roots, later becoming popularized by historians such as Raymond Casgrain, , , Napoléon Bourassa, and . Additionally, the word Cadie is employed as an alternative name for Acadiana, a region in Louisiana.

Approximately thirty municipalities and regions in Quebec can be considered "Cadies", although in some of these locations, Acadians were merely passing through, and Acadian culture is often no longer present today. In Abitibi-Témiscamingue, the villages of Béarn, Clerval, and Roquemaure are historically associated with the Acadians. In the Centre-du-Québec region, Saint-Grégoire in Bécancour, as well as Nicolet and its surrounding area, Saint-Pierre-les-Becquets, and Odanak, are all considered to be Cadies. In Chaudière-Appalaches, the municipalities of Saint-Gervais, the Beauce region (in particular, Saint-Théophile and Saint-Zacharie), and the Bois-Francs area are of particular interest. Additionally, the entire shoreline from Lévis in Chaudière-Appalaches to Notre-Dame-du-Portage in Bas-Saint-Laurent is also associated with the Acadians. The Côte-Nord region is also considered to be a Cadie. Some regions of the Estrie province are regarded as Cadies. In the Gaspésie–Îles-de-la-Madeleine region, Acadians are present in several locations, including along the southern shore of the Gaspé Peninsula, in the Matapédia Valley (especially in the southern part of this region), and on the Magdalen Islands. In the Lanaudière region, Acadians are present in the municipalities of L'Assomption, Saint-Jacques, and in the area surrounding Nouvelle-Acadie. In the Mauricie region, numerous localities are linked to the Acadians, including Batiscan, Champlain, Louiseville, Sainte-Anne-de-la-Pérade, Trois-Rivières, and Yamachiche. Additionally, Montreal is regarded as a Cadie, particularly in the borough of Verdun. In Montérégie, Acadians are associated with various localities situated along the Richelieu River. The Outaouais region is also worthy of mention, as is the city of Quebec, particularly the Limoilou neighborhood; Saguenay–Lac-Saint-Jean, the city of Saguenay—particularly the neighborhoods of Arvida and Kénogami in the borough of Jonquière.

Acadia

Acadia describes a vast territory with undefined boundaries and no formal recognition in law. Nevertheless, few individuals from these regions explicitly reject its existence. In the view of scholars such as Léon Thériault, Michel Roy, and Adrien Bérubé, discussing Acadia after 1763 is a paradoxical and "act of faith" due to the territory's conquest by the United Kingdom and the subsequent dispersal of its population. Over time, the conceptualization of Acadia has evolved, with varying definitions all tied to a sense of territory. Some, such as Édith Butler, assert that Acadia has no borders.

In 1979, Adrien Bérubé, a geographer, proposed four definitions of Acadia that have since become widely accepted. The initial iteration of Acadia, designated as Historical Acadia, existed between 1604 and 1763. Its territory encompassed the shores of the Bay of Fundy, or, in a more expansive interpretation, the entire coastline extending from the Saint Croix River in the west to Chaleur Bay in the north. This included the islands in the southern Gulf of Saint Lawrence, which correspond today to the Maritime Provinces, eastern Maine, and the Gaspé Peninsula. The second definition, Genealogical Acadia (also known as the Acadia of the Diaspora), encompasses the regions that welcomed Acadian families during the deportation. These include the Atlantic Provinces, Quebec, Saint Pierre and Miquelon, New England, Louisiana, the Caribbean, French Guiana, the Falkland Islands, and France. The third definition, Functional or Operational Acadia, is also referred to as the Acadia of the Maritimes or Atlantic Acadia. It encompasses only the Francophone areas of Canada's Maritime Provinces. Finally, Prospective Acadia includes all the Francophone counties and parishes of New Brunswick. Quebec is included in the first two definitions of Acadia. However, associating certain regions of Quebec with Acadia is still considered bold by many.

Acadia of the Lands and Forests is used to describe a region that encompasses the of New Brunswick, the Madawaska region, which extends across the border into Maine, and the Témiscouata region of Quebec.

History

French regime

The first Acadians A number of seigneurs and other Acadians undertook journeys to Quebec City for reasons pertaining to the administration of their affairs, despite the fact that Acadia was governed by its authorities. The city, situated at a major port, also attracted military personnel and businessmen.

Seven Years' War

In 1755, Quebec City became a destination for nearly 2,000 individuals displaced by the Acadian deportation. The refugees arrived in Quebec City via boats traversing the Gulf of Saint Lawrence or traversing the forest. A considerable number of fugitives perished as a result of battle or succumbed to the effects of fatigue, cold, hunger, or disease. A considerable number of these individuals also perished upon their arrival in Quebec. In 1758, Jean-Baptiste-Nicolas Roch de Ramezay, who had previously distinguished himself in Acadia, was appointed as the King's lieutenant and played a role in facilitating the Acadians' arrival in the city. However, Quebec was already overcrowded, which led to several issues. In 1759, the city was subjected to a British bombardment, compelling the population to evacuate. Some Acadians sought refuge on Île d'Orléans, a nearby island, but were compelled to evacuate the same year when the island was occupied. A small number of individuals could establish a settlement in Saint-Gervais, situated on the opposite bank of the Saint Lawrence River. In the Battle of the Plains of Abraham on September 13, 1759, 200 militia members of Canadian and Acadian descent were positioned to cover the retreat of French forces, facing British troops. Following the fall of Quebec, Lieutenant Colonel Monckton permitted 200 Acadians to return to Acadia. However, following a challenging journey, they were imprisoned in Halifax and subsequently deported to England. A census conducted between 1769 and 1770 indicated that Acadians constituted less than 6% of Quebec City's population, a proportion that remained approximately constant until the 1810s. The city, in a state of disrepair, was not an attractive place to live, and the British regarded the Acadians as rebels. Consequently, some Acadians relocated to the outskirts of the city or villages situated along the Saint Lawrence River between Quebec and Montreal.

In 1758, Acadians seeking refuge from deportation established a settlement known as , situated near the Restigouche River in the western region of Gaspésie. In the region, Acadian and French privateers launched attacks on British ships. The Battle of the Restigouche took place between July 3 and 8, 1760, resulting in a British victory over the French. James Wolfe proceeded to destroy Petite-Rochelle, thereby offering the French the option of returning to France without further conflict, which the majority of them accepted. Those remaining sought refuge along the shores of Chaleur Bay. Those on the southern shore were deported during in October 1761. Those who escaped took refuge in Miscou or Gaspésie. By 1774, Charles Robin had brought 81 Acadians to Chaleur Bay.

During the deportation, Montreal received several Acadians, particularly single individuals. However, the majority of these individuals arrived at a later date. The city was perceived as a more appealing destination than Quebec due to its fertile soil, relative peace at the time, and the presence of Sulpician seigneurs who had ties to Acadia. Situated between L'Assomption and Haut-Richelieu, two regions that had previously welcomed Acadians, Montreal also offered a range of employment opportunities, including the reconstruction efforts following the fires of 1765 and 1768. Mathurin Bourg was the first Acadian to settle in Montreal in 1772. A census conducted in 1781 recorded approximately 60 Acadian surnames, indicating that approximately 10% of the city's 18,000 residents were of Acadian descent. The influx of Acadians continued throughout the nineteenth century, as some sought employment in the factories or established businesses, such as that of in 1868. Many were from Haut-Richelieu, where Acadian origins were still a prominent aspect of the local identity. This heritage-inspired figures such as the French-Canadian architect Napoléon Bourassa and his disciple, the Acadian sculptor Louis-Philippe Hébert. Bourassa authored Jacques et Marie, a historical novel about the deportees, regarded as one of Canada's finest works of fiction.

British regime

Royal proclamation