Grand Tintamarre at the Centenaire Arena (91.9 The Bend)
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau received a warm welcome in Dieppe along with other dignitaries for National Acadian Day celebrations.
Governor General Julie Payette, Premier Blaine Higgs, Dieppe mayor Yvon Lapierre and federal Conservative leader Andrew Scheer were also in attendance.
Earlier this week, the ethics commissioner determined Trudeau broke ethics rules surrounding the SNC-Lavalin controversy.
But Trudeau was in a festive mood and there was no mention of politics on Thursday night.
“Very, very loud celebration we have has a very key message to each other, to future generations, to our ancestors who are looking at us and smiling and to everyone in the world, ‘We are still here!’ (repeated final phrase in French),” Trudeau exclaimed to a rousing applause.
Trudeau did not make himself available to the media after his speech or after marching in the Grand Tintamarre.
Meantime, Conservative leader Andrew Scheer was also in Dieppe for National Acadian Day.
Scheer did speak to the media about the ethics breach.
“Let’s put this in perspective, Ms. (Jane) Philpott and Ms. (Jody) Wilson-Raybould were kicked out of the (Liberal) caucus for the sole crime of telling the truth. To this day, Justin Trudeau refuses to accept responsibility for his actions,” noted Scheer.
During the opening ceremonies, Governor General Julie Payette kept her comments light and humourous as she addressed the crowd.
“Bonjour… and bone-jure… to all of you here! (Some of you) may not be francophone and may not master ‘le francais’ exactly perfectly yet. But that will come later tonight,” she joked with laughter from the audience.
Tens of thousands used various noisemakers to be loud and proud in the Grand Tintamarre which started at Place 1604 and made its way to the Centenaire Arena for an evening concert.
