Robichaud monument to be unveiled | Published August 8th, 2007 Page 1 of 2 Robichaud monument to be unveiled Hometown project honours former premier's huge contributions to N.B. By Aloma Jardine Times & Transcript Staff Published Wednesday August 8th, 2007 Appeared on page A4 SAINT-ANTOINE - Once in a generation, a leader comes along who changes the course of a province's history. In New Brunswick in the 1960s, Louis J. Robichaud was that leader. The reforms Robichaud brought about continue to shape the province today. On Sunday, a more concrete reminder of Robichaud's contributions to this province will also take its place as a monument in his honour is unveiled in Saint-Antoine, the former premier's hometown. Jacqueline Robichaud can't wait for her first glimpse of the monument honouring her late husband. Although Robichaud has seen a model of the memorial, she has yet to see the real thing. "I think it is a great idea, I think it is beautiful," she says. "It means a lot (for our family). There is so much happiness and joy. He did so much for his province." Ronald Cormier, the mayor of Saint-Antoine, says it brings great satisfaction to see the project come to fruition. "I didn't think at first that we could do something that big and the whole committee, we're so happy that we have achieved this," he says. "Especially for the family. Louis still has sisters that live here in Saint-Antoine and he has a brother in Bouctouche, and he has children who will be here for the ceremony, and Mrs. Robichaud in Bouctouche. It's something they appreciate, maybe a lot more than we do." Cormier is one of the few who has already seen the completed memorial. He's been at the site every day to see how things are coming along. "It will sort of give us an identity in the village, we will be Louis Robichaud's hometown," he says. "We have even changed our welcome sign coming into the village. At the bottom is reads 'Birthplace of Louis J. Robichaud.'" Cormier says the committee that has worked to put the monument in place wanted something different, so the memorial stayed away from the traditional statue design. Instead, sculptor Luc Charette created two equal blocks, one of which will bear Robichaud's likeness, while the other shows a scale and the words Chances Egales and Equal Opportunities, a nod to the Equal Opportunities program Robichaud brought in that helped out the poorer parts of the province. A bronze book on a pedestal will carry Robichaud's biography, as well as represent his efforts to improve education in the province. A fountain will stand in the centre of the whole structure. Cormier estimates the project will cost about $200,000 including the landscaping and installation but says raising money to cover the costs has been surprisingly easy. They're only a few thousand dollars short of their goal and he expects that will soon be covered. "The people of New Brunswick responded overwhelmingly. Donations came from everywhere," he says. "People in the village said it is a lot bigger than Saint-Antoine. We had donations from municipalities all over the province and people donated from all over the province and companies donated from all over the province." http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/45184 2007-08-13 Robichaud monument to be unveiled | Published August 8th, 2007 Page 2 of 2 Jacqueline Robichaud says it is a thank you from the people of the province to her late husband, who died in January 2005. "Before Louis there was not much for the Acadians, but my God did he work hard," she says. "For the schools, there were no schools, so he built schools, the hospitals -- he touched everything, and he worked hard and that is why people are so (generous in giving). They are rewarding him by donating (to this monument)." Although Louis J. Robichaud made many contributions to the province, his wife says the creation of l'Université de Moncton was the one he was most proud of as it finally gave young Acadians their own university where they could study in their own province in their own language. "He was so proud of the university because so many young people didn't know where to go," she says. "He always said, 'This is my baby.'" Cormier says the village felt it was important to honour Robichaud and not just because he is a native son. "Maybe because of his equal opportunity program. For us, the Acadians, that program changed a lot of things, plus he was the first Acadian to be premier," he says. "But I remember going to Hartland and looking for something for Richard Hatfield and I couldn't find anything. I think great premiers should have something to identify them. We don't have enough heroes in New Brunswick." The unveiling takes place at 2 p.m. Sunday at Gilbert Léger Park on Main Street in Saint-Antoine. Cormier says they are expecting everyone from Lieut.-Gov. Herménégilde Chiasson and Premier Shawn Graham to provincial cabinet ministers, senators and mayors. You must be logged in to contribute to this discussion and others on this site. Please log in to continue. Subscribe Now! Want online access to Atlantic Canada's premiere source for local news, entertainment, sports and much more? Learn more about our full subscriptions by calling 1.800.332.3329. http://timestranscript.canadaeast.com/front/article/45184 2007-08-13.