After discussion of possible dates, including two dates proposed by an historian in Royan, information from Parks Canada and Champlain’s journals, the sub-comittee would like to put forward to you for support the date of June 18th as a perpetual Pierre Dugua day.
This date was chosen for the following reasons:
1. historical accuracy
We know Dugua and Champlain explored la Baie Sainte-Marie in early June of 1604 and they left there on June 16th and sailed then into what they named Port Royal which is now the Annapolis Basin which they saw for the first time. We know they did not come back here till 1605 to build the Habitation but the year is actually not important. We have no exact date of the build of the Habitation in 1605 – sometime in August.
2. June date
choosing a date in June rather than May or July or August is helpful in terms of our tourist season and other events that happen. May can be cold and rainy. July and August are filled with many Town events and it would be difficult to find room for a Dugua Day.
3. Royan visit in 2021
Our friends in Royan would be scheduled to visit us in 2021. Organising an official unveiling of a possible plaque on Friday, June 18th, 2021 would give us a great reason to extend an invitation to our twinning friends in Royan. The weather would also be more inviting than in May.
This would also give us over a year to work through the Town and organise something.
4. 300th anniversary in 1904 and Parks Canada
June was also the time chosen for a big celebration in Annapolis Royal that took place in 1904, so our date would be in keeping with that event over 100 years ago. That is when the Dugua monument foundation stone was laid.
And Parks Canada will be involved in our celebration. They will be updating information near the Pierre Dugua monument on the Fort grounds. We all know that it is difficult to read at present. Ted Dolan has secured Parks Canada funding for this. We are very pleased with this and to have them on board with u
So I would ask you all to read these minutes and state in a reply all to the e-mail, if you are in support of June 18th as official Pierre Dugua day for the Town of Annapolis Royal and that we work towards an official unveiling of some sort for 2021.
