The two main awards of the night, Acadian of the Year and Young Acadian of the Year are presented to recognize volunteer efforts and dedication to helping others.
Meeting criteria
“We put out an open invitation to the community and local businesses and organizations for people to nominate others,” explained the festival president, Alcide Bernard.
“It’s really about their volunteerism in the community,” he added.
For their efforts, Kaylee Arsenault and Albert Arsenault were awarded the titles of Young Acadian and Acadian of the Year.
Young Acadian of the Year
Kaylee, a 19-year-old who attended École Évangéline, was involved in the Acadian Games and was a part of a dancing group called “Les Steppteuses”. With the group she travelled to the Magdaleine Islands as well as France.
“I’m honoured to receive this,” said Kaylee.
“When you volunteer, you don’t do any of it to get something in exchange. But to have people recognize you for your work, it’s really great.”
Kaylee left the rec centre just before the award presentations started to go prepare for her evening show.
“I had to run home and change, and I also had to practise for my performance, and all of a sudden my family and friends were calling and texting me and then I thought, ‘Oh shoot, I might have missed my own award presentation,'” Kaylee explained.
Acadian of the Year
Albert also had a hint about the award just as they started presenting.
“I was performing just after the presentations so I was telling my wife that we had to go and change. But she said she wanted to stay and see who won. I was going to take the keys and go home to get ready but then she was like, ‘I can't give you the keys, I can’t let you leave,’ and then I gave her this ‘Oh my god’ kind of look.”
“She doesn’t have a very good poker face so I knew then,” Albert added.
He, too, participated in the Acadian Games and volunteered at École Évangéline, helping out with the breakfast program.
He also helped install a new sound system in the gymnasium and taught students how to play the fiddle.
“I was still hoping for Young Acadian of the Year,” said Albert.
“But honestly, I think whenever someone wins you think, ‘Am I really this deserving of this?’ because there are some really great people who have won this award,” he said.
Albert said, when you win an award for recognizing your effort, it acts as motivation to keep going.
“I guess someone thinks I’m making a difference, some small contribution. I’m so humbled to receive this.”
“I’ve met so many volunteers through volunteering. The more you volunteer, the more you realize how many giving people are really out there. It’s incredible.”
