The Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin didn’t expect to be meeting in a Summerside parking lot for society business this month.
The board executives governing the Acadian society created a drive-thru signing for documents destined for the P.E.I. legislature.
The society is in the process of changing its name.
At the 2019 AGM held in October, members approved the new title: La société acadiennes et francophones de l’Île-du-Prince-Édouard.
Members felt it was time to change the name to better reflect the larger role the society plays as official spokes-organization for the Acadian and francophone community.
The Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin (SSTA) was formally recognized in the P.E.I. legislature in 1920.
“The origins were really helping young people get an education,” said Colleen Soltermann current SSTA president.
In 1937, then-president, professor Blanchard, travelled to Quebec and spoke on behalf of P.E.I. Acadians, said Soltermann.
“It was then that (Blanchard) was able to gain their interest and support from many Quebec institutions,” she said.
That agreement activated sustained fundraising efforts in the communities to send young Island francophones for higher education in their mother tongue. The society funded the tuition as well as other expenses like travel, said Soltermann.
“We have a lot of our leaders today who, thanks to that agreement, were able to get an education in French,” said Soltermann.
Over the years, the society began to take on the role of spokes-organization for the francophone community with provincial and federal governments. The bursary program became just a part of the group’s mandate.
The bursary program, currently named La foundation d’aide des etuiants et etudiantes, will be re-named to carry the Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin name for generations to come.
“To maintain some continuity and bring the name back to the primary reason for why it was created,” said Soltermann.
Once the society celebrated 100 years in 2019, the board brought up the idea of a name change.
The Société Saint-Thomas-d’Aquin was named for the patron saint of schools and students, due to the large number of catholic educators involved in the society’s beginnings, said Soltermann.
“Our vision as an organization now is to ensure that the Acadian francophone community of P.E.I. can live and flourish. We intervene in all the domains of development,” said Soltermann.
“Our mission is to ensure that each Acadian and francophone can live in French, as an individual and collectively, in P.E.I.”
The new name was chosen after surveys and conversations with the francophone community. Key words and ideas were collected, and the board created the new name. The new moniker is not in use yet. There will be an announcement once the legislature has had its say.
Because the SSTA began with a piece of legislation in 1920, the society is bringing the name change back to the legislature for approval.
“That way we’re going to maintain some of the historical continuity,” said Soltermann.
Alison Jenkins is a local journalism initiative reporter, a position funded by the federal government.
