07/28/2026
On this day in Acadian History:
Today marks the 271st anniversary of the Great Upheaval (Le Grand Dérangement), and it also marks the 21st anniversary of the Day of Commemoration of the Great Upheaval.
On July 28, 1755, Lieutenant Governor Charles Lawrence signed the order passed by the Nova Scotia Council to deport the Acadians from Nova Scotia, setting in motion what would become known as Le Grand Dérangement / The Great Upheaval.
This decision came after years of rising tension over the Acadians’ refusal to take an unconditional oath of allegiance to the British Crown. With the Council’s vote finalized, the order was no longer a threat, it was now official policy. Families who had lived on the land for generations suddenly faced forced removal, loss of property, and separation from their communities.
The events of that day marked the beginning of one of the most painful chapters in Acadian history. What followed was the mass deportation of thousands of Acadians, scattering them across the American colonies, Europe, and beyond — a tragedy whose impact is still felt deeply in Acadian communities today.
As a reminder, we’d like to invite you to remember this day with us by attending an event at the Sainte-Famille Cemetery (linked below).
