Caraquet man appointed to the Order of Canada

Caraquet man appointed to the Order of Canada

Clarence LeBreton was 1 of 61 appointees to the Order of Canada announced by Governor General

Two months ago, Clarence LeBreton got a phone call telling him he was being appointed a member of the Order of Canada, and his response was, “Are you sure you got the right guy here?”

Decades of public service and community building confirmed that yes, he was the right person.

“I was surprised, of course I was happy,” he said.

LeBreton, originally from Caraquet, was the only New Brunswicker to make the list of 61 appointees announced on Friday.

Presented by Gov. Gen. Louise Arbour, the Order of Canada is the highest citizen merit in the country.

The honour is presented twice annually around New Year’s Day and Canada Day and is given to Canadians who have made outstanding contributions.

There are three levels of the order — companion, officer and member. Members, like LeBreton, are recognized for their service to a particular community, group or field of activity.

LeBreton's community includes the Acadian and francophone populations in northern New Brunswick, and his activities focused on cultural preservation and regional development.

LeBreton was a part of the Government of New Brunswick for over 35 years, all while publishing historical books, teaching, and building a family.

“So I was a bit busy sometimes,” he said.

He said the highlight of his career was being involved in the founding and construction of the Village Historique Acadien in Bertrand, N.B., in the 1970s. He held several positions there and is still active even after retiring, holding seminars and educating people about Acadian heritage.

As a historian who has written books on Acadian history, LeBreton said the village was an important milestone in the preservation of Acadian heritage.

“We’re a vibrant community, and the Village Acadien is part of it,” he said. “History is the road map for the future.”

The historical village has evolved into one of New Brunswick’s principal museum attractions, according to the Department of Tourism website.

Sylvain Godin, the general manager of the Village Historique Acadien, said he was glad to learn about LeBreton’s appointment to the order.

“He’s an essential voice for us in ... promoting the memory — the collective memory — of the Acadian heritage,” Godin said. “Clarence is always engaged in his community, and he’s always there.”

LeBreton previously held positions including as assistant deputy minister at the Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Tourism and Parks and Northern Development. He also did a stint as a municipal councillor.

He has also been a board member for multiple organizations, including CBC, L’acadie nouvelle —the province’s only daily French-language news publication — and the Judicial Advisory Committee of New Brunswick.

LeBreton said the Caraquet community showed him a lot of support after the announcement.

“The population in general were very proud that a guy from Caraquet received that honour.”

Caraquet Mayor Bernard Thériault said people are “delighted” by LeBreton’s appointment.

Thériault said LeBreton has played an instrumental role in the preservation of Acadian culture and still plays an active role in his community.

“I think [it] was a great appointment," Thériault said. "Very proud to see that a guy of that level of activities has been recognized by the Governor General.

“He has a big impact on Caraquet, he has a big impact on francophone New Brunswick.”

LeBreton said he hopes his appointment to the order will inspire younger generations to stay involved in their communities.

He will receive his insignia and certificate of appointment at an upcoming ceremony.

Abby Russchen is a journalist based in Fredericton, N.B. You can reach her at abby.russchen@cbc.ca.