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their daily lives, whether in their daily routine, the use of cultural facilities, overcrowding in
stores or streets, noise or other unfortunate incidents.
Table 2
Negative social impacts of the 2009 World Acadian Congress (n = 300)
Percentage (%)
of respondents
who answered 5
Average
score
out of 5
Congress organizers and volunteers were overworked. 23.7 3.31
Local cultural facilities were too crowded during the
Congress.
15.7 2.63
The Congress disrupted normal routines in the region. 15.0 2.58
Motor vehicle traffic increased to unacceptable levels
during the Congress.
12.7 2.26
During the Congress, the region experienced crowding
at certain places like parking lots and stores.
10.0 2.40
There was too much litter and garbage left during the
Congress.
8.7 1.90
The arrival of visitors to attend the Congress reduced
privacy in the region.
8.0 1.87
Noise levels increased to an unacceptable level during
the Congress.
7.7 1.82
The Congress created too many incidents of disruptive
behaviour.
6.0 1.66
Statistical tests run on different groups of respondents (those living near the main venues
versus those living further away, or respondents aged 54 and under versus those 55 and up)
did not produce any statistically significant differences.
Discussion
Results indicate that the organization and hosting of the World Acadian Congress were a
success in the eyes of Acadian Peninsula residents. They confirm comments heard during and
after the event to the effect that it was an all-round success. Residents had a wonderful
experience and the perception of their quality of life, generally and collectively, was
improved. Positive impacts largely surpassed the negative impacts expressed in the instrument
used for the survey.
There are surely various factors which can explain this favourable perception by the local
population. Firstly, there are geographical considerations, since the activities weren’t
concentrated in the limited periphery of one single community. Indeed, the 400 events took
place in most of the 102 communities. The extent of the territory and the distance between the
venues and residences were sometimes several kilometres.
The type of events can also explain the positive impacts, as most of them were family or
community oriented (e.g. meals, presentations, displays and indoor shows). The major
outdoor events, which are often the cornerstone of festivals, were few in number and attracted
approximately 5,000 people in less densely populated areas within the municipalities (such as
an ocean wharf).