La Vieille Maison receives the John Bragg Award for Canada

METEGHAN, Nova Scotia, June 25, 2026 – The Société Vieille Maison Association is proud and moved to announce that it has been awarded the 2026 John Bragg Atlantic Canada Award.

La Vieille Maison will receive a $50,000 grant to continue a major conservation and improvement project at the Meteghan historic site. For the association's members, this recognition goes far beyond the preservation of a historic building.

"This grant will not only allow us to protect a heritage building, but also to share the stories it holds more broadly," said Adrien B.

Comeau, president of the Société Vieille Maison Association.

Born in Meteghan in 1906, Adolphe Robicheau had a remarkable career as a ballet master and arts educator. At a time when few Acadians had access to major cultural institutions, he established himself as a respected figure in the arts world. However, his legacy extends far beyond his artistic career.

"He dedicated a significant part of his life and fortune to saving elements of Acadian heritage that would have otherwise disappeared," notes Daniel Robichaud, the association's secretary. "Adolphe Robicheau was a man whose life unfolded during an era when it was often impossible to live one's identity openly.

His legacy deserves to be properly recognized today," adds Robichaud.

The Société Vieille Maison Association sees this distinction as an encouraging sign that heritage narratives are evolving to reflect the full diversity of the people who have helped shape Acadia and Atlantic Canada.

"Every repair, every improvement, and every program offered helps pass our history on to future generations," added Mr. Comeau. The association's treasurer, Nicole Pothier, sees it as a measure of sustainable management: "This gives us the means to secure our future."

The Société Vieille Maison Association thanks Canada's History Society, the River Philip Foundation, its financial partners, its volunteers, and everyone who has contributed to the revival of this exceptional heritage site. We would also like to congratulate our fellow recipients, the Société historique du Madawaska and Heritage NL, who won this award for their respective provinces.

About La Vieille Maison

Built in 1796 and located in Meteghan, Nova Scotia, La Vieille Maison is recognized as one of the most authentically preserved post-Deportation Acadian homes in Canada. Saved in 1958 by Acadian dancer and philanthropist Adolphe Robicheau, it is now a community museum dedicated to the preservation, research, and transmission of Acadian heritage.

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Information:

La Société Vieille Maison Association
Adrien B Comeau
president@lavieillemaison.ca

Canada's History Society
Jean-Philippe Proulx
ipproulx@canadashistory.ca

Web: CanadaHistory.ca/BraggAwards