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Respondents were generally over 20 years of age, with a greater proportion in the 55-64
(31.7%) and 45-54 (29.7%) age groups. Seven out of ten respondents were female. The
language spoken by respondents was mostly French (96.7%), which is representative of the
French-speaking proportion of the Acadian Peninsula’s population. Few Anglophones live in
this region, which is considered the most homogenous in New Brunswick from a linguistic
point of view. Respondents from rural communities (with a population of 1,000 or less)
represented 58% of the sample, compared to 42% for respondents from one of the five
communities with 5,000 inhabitants.
Participation Profile
Overall, 84.7% of the respondents took part in at least one WAC event. Extrapolated to the
Peninsula’s general population, this percentage represents 43,938 people on a possible total of
51,875.
Nearly four out of five respondents (78.7%) indicated personally knowing at least one
volunteer, employee or artist who was part of the program.
Very few residents (2%) decided to leave the Peninsula during the WAC. And finally,
respondents have lived in the Acadian Peninsula for an average of 45.04 years.
Positive Social Impacts
Using a Likert-type scale (where 1 means totally disagree and 5 means totally agree),
respondents gave each of the 15 statements a score of over 4 on a 5-point scale.
Results suggest that the success of this congress has given the region’s population confidence
in its ability to host major artistic and cultural events, since 90.3% of respondents chose 5 on a
scale of 1 to 5 in response to this question. Respondents recognize that the WAC provided
artists with a personal sense of pride and recognition (86.6%). It should be noted that most of
the hundred or so artists who performed on stage or displayed in exhibit halls were area
residents. Others were Acadians from other Acadian regions.
From the very beginning of the planning process, organizers and part of the population
wanted it to be known that the Acadian Peninsula was able to host a grand event despite its
economic challenges and the exodus of its youth to major centers elsewhere in New
Brunswick and Canada. According to respondents, it would appear that this goal was
achieved, as 86.3% believe that the CAW provided the Acadian Peninsula region with
positive recognition from visitors.
A bit more than half of the respondents totally agree that the region’s quality of life had
improved (54.4%). The same proportion felt that the WAC contributed to their personal
enjoyment and wellbeing (52%). Almost half the respondents felt that the WAC led to the
improvement of the region’s current cultural facilities or the development of new ones. One
might imagine that the respondents considered certain facilities needed at least to be improved
in order to host the event (e.g. temporary setup of tents, grandstands, etc.).
The table below demonstrates that respondents are more in favour of social impacts that affect
the overall region (the Acadian Peninsula) compared to those that affect their own daily life.
For instance, they believe the WAC brought a sense of wellbeing to the Peninsula population
in general more so than to themselves personally.