Fort Beauséjour – Fort Cumberland National Historic Site Presents “September at the Fort” Series

Ghosts, music, and speakers shed a new light on the fort’s history and landscape

September 12, 2017     Fort Beauséjour – Fort Cumberland National Historic Site            Parks Canada Agency

Fort Beauséjour – Fort Cumberland National Historic Site is welcoming visitors for a special series of fun and adventurous activities during the month of September to highlight the fort’s unique history and environment and to continue celebrating the 150th anniversary of Canada’s Confederation.   

These fun and interesting weekend events include something for everyone during September:

· Saturday, September 16 (3 p.m.) in the Fort’s pavilion, historian and archivist Ronnie Gilles LeBlanc will present the vibrant history of the village of Beaubassin, followed by a hands-on talk on archaeology in the Tantramar region with Colin Mackinnon.

·  Sunday, September 17 (10 a.m.) Alain Clavette will lead a guided bird walk through the Fort and surrounding marshlands. Afterwards (1 p.m.), it’s time to “Fly a Kite Through Time”. Grab a picnic lunch and your kite and let your imagination run wild. Later, join Cody Clair from Indian Island First Nation to learn more about the types of dances, crafts, and tools the Mi’kmaq traditionally used in their daily lives (3 p.m.).

· On the evening of Friday September 22 (8 p.m. - 10 p.m.), the Fort’s haunted past will be explored in a special guided “Ghosts at the Fort Walk” with the Greater Moncton Paranormal Society. Parks Canada staff will also be on-site to recount spooky facts about the Fort’s history.

· Saturday September 23 (10 a.m.), visitors can participate in a guided tour of the site’s British trenches where Parks Canada archaeologist Charles Burke will share information about the ongoing archaeological dig at the national historic site. This will be followed by the “Great Fort Rush” (1:30 p.m.), a mishmash of games and family fun with prizes to be won!

· Sunday September 24 (3 p.m.) the Fort’s bastions and casemates will shake to the sounds of “Guitar War at the Fort”, featuring the blazing guitar work of Denis Surette (Les Païens), Stephen Leblanc (An Acoustic Sin, Rock des Fous, Dominique Dupuis) and Jock Downs (Terry Whalen Band, Mellow Jack). Afterwards, Kedgwick native Maggie Savoie will perform her signature blend of folky blues with an intimate acoustic show in the Fort’s pavilion.

- The series ends on Saturday September 30 with a presentation by Parks Canada historian Anne Marie Lane Jonah on the dramatic events that led to the destruction of the village of Beaubassin and the establishment of Fort Lawrence (2 p.m.). Afterwards, visitors are invited to “Last Fort Standing”, a bilingual guided tour of the National Historic Site (4 p.m.).

All of the activities in the “September at the Fort” series are free of charge. For reservations and information please visit www.parkscanada.gc.ca/beausejour or contact 506-364-5080 or fort.beausejour@pc.gc.ca.

To celebrate the 150th anniversary of Confederation in 2017, the Government of Canada invites Canadians to experience nature and learn more about our history. The Government is creating opportunities for Canadians to participate in a year-long celebration and to help shape the best that Canada can be in the future.

Parks Canada is encouraging visitors to plan their trips and discover new and exciting destinations in 2017 by consulting Parks Canada’s website, or downloading the NEW Parks Canada Mobile App, for a list of hidden gems and other unique and memorable ways to celebrate Canada 150.