Thanks to the amalgamation of a small village and several local service districts, on May 8, 1995, our beautiful valley – the Village de Memramcook was born. Memramcook is a great place to live, where people want to put down their roots. Our vibrant and thriving municipality celebrated its 25
th anniversary of incorporation in 2020. And today still, Municipal Officials continue to work hard to develop this young community overflowing with potential.
Cradles are closely linked to births. And since it was in Memramcouke where most Acadians rallied after the Deportation and the loss of their lands, it is quite natural to refer to this area as the “Cradle of New Acadia”. It was in Memramcouke where dispersed Acadians re-established their homes. Bit by bit, the Acadian spirit slowly rekindled itself and began breathing life into the newly settled Acadian communities hugging the three Maritime Provinces’ coastline. It is therefore no surprise that Memramcouke finds in its midst New Acadia’s oldest religious parish (1781) and the first Acadian college (1854 - Séminaire St-Thomas). Closed in 1862, the Séminaire reopened its doors under Collège Saint-Joseph in 1864. In fact, this is where the First National Acadian Convention took place in 1881. No other Acadian village has spun off as many other villages as has Memramcouke. That in part explains why folks from Memramcouke have relatives living all over Acadia. Memramcouke really is the cradle that reenergized Acadians to rebuild their lives and their villages (inspired by the text of Donatien Gaudet in “Passe-Pierre et les Jeux”).
Dating back to 1700, the Parish of Memramcook’s first settlers were aboriginal peoples from the Mi’kmaq tribe who made their home along the river. Did you know that “Memramcook” is a Mi’kmaq name that, according to some, means “crooked river”? Many controversies marked the final spelling choice of the parish’s name (for example: Memramcouke). At the beginning, it was written “Memeramcouque”, and then it became “Mamramkook”. Finally, after many years, the spelling “Memramcook” was universally adopted.
Memramcook, like many other Acadian villages settled before the Deportation, was built around 1700 near salt marshes. Even today, these marshes still hold dikes and aboiteaux than can be visited and admired. And, at certain times of the year, samphire grows there in great big quantities.
To learn more about the history of our beautiful valley, please visit the
Société historique de la Vallée de Memramcook website.