Outline
1. 概要
2. Introduction
3. What is an Acadian?
4. Geography
4.1 About Canada
4.2 About Halifax in Nova Scotia
4.3 Acadia Flag and Culture
5. Legend: Evangeline and Gabriel and route of Cajun
6. Languages
6.1 Acadian’s French
6.2 Acadian mixed French English
6.3 Quebecois French
6.4 Chiac
7. Acadian Education
8. Conclusion
9. References
10. Appendix
1. 概要
現在多様化する英語に対するこれからのあり方がさまざまな場面で注
目されているが日本では言語の選択の自由という考え方はあまりない。英語教
育に世界中が必死になって取り組みだしている。そんな中、英語を取得するた
めに海外留学することも珍しくはない今、本当に留学して得た英語がどこの国
でも通じるのか、そして世界中の人が話す英語にはどうして違いがあり理解で
きないのか、そしてどのようにして言語を取得するのか。しかし、カナダには
母国語が２つ存在する。それらの言語をどのような過程で取得し、その後どの
ように位置づけしているのかについて調べた。
2. Introduction
In general, there are many dialects and accents which exist in the world.
Language has changed, such as the way of using word, speaking, writing and so on.
When people who don’t share the same language communicate, they have to speak
English. Many people can understand English using some easy words to communicate,
but sometimes because of different cultures and grammars, people have some problems,
for example sight seeing tour. For formal meeting, people need Standard English to
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
understand in detail; otherwise misunderstand make a lot of damages.
In Canada, there are many kinds of English and French. For example, People
from New Found Land (province of eastern Canada) have strong dialect which is known
by Canadians. In the case of the telephone number, (709)643-7333 New Found Land
people show the number three are “TREE TREE TREE”. The Advertisement described
three TREEs. They pronounce three to TREE.
However, In Canada, English and French exist as a mother tongue. Each
language has its history and education and some problems. Not everyone can speak both
languages. There are Canadian French, Quebecois French and Acadian French in
Canada. Of course, these are French but these have different dialect and accent and so
on.
3. What is an Acadian?
“Acadian “is the name of a group of French farmer settlers of eastern
Canada. In 1997, their population was about 300,000. The definition of
Acadian is said to be the people who live Maritime Provinces (Princes
Edward Island, Nova Scotia) and the descendents of the settlement from
France in the 17th century. People, who settled in Maritime places from
France, tried to teach French to the native people.
Until lots of French people settled there, some battles broke out,
some people went back to France and the other ones settled in other places.
War made the culture and history of people complicated. The Acadian people
were one of the victims of the war; between France and England. But they
were said to be “neutral people“. That’s why the reason they accepted settlers
from France. These days Acadian was known as people who speak French
and English. They are trying to keep their own culture and history; they are
proud of being Acadian and started to make sites to find one’s ancestors.
Their relationship is getting stronger now.
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
1
This map shows the first setter’s route and the map which was
designed by Samuel de Champlain. He was a talented person as a map writer,
explore, Catholic missionary and so on. His first voyage was to the New
France (North America which was controlled by France until 1763, after that
year British reign over. After this, this place became Quebec).
4. Geography
4.1 About Canada
Canada is the second largest country in the world. Population is
about 311 millions. About 77 % of Canadians live in towns like Toronto (488
thousand) Montreal (351 thousand) and Vancouver (207 thousand); the
capital is Ottawa (110 thousand). Compared with Japan, population is one
fourth and the land size is thirty times large.
Canada is known as county French and English are spoken as a
mother language. About 60% of Canadians speak English as a
mother-tongue and 24 % of Canadian speaks French. There are two kinds of
French
in
Canada,
Acadian-French
and
French-Canadian
(Quebecois-French). Acadian is, and French-Canadian is known as the
people who speak French, they settled from France to Quebec in 17th century.
These two Frenches are different from Standard French, which means the
French spoken in France. Canadian French consist of large number of
1
http://www.civilization.ca/vmnf/explor/champ_em.html
Civilization Corporation
(12/14/2004) Canadian Museum of
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
Anglicisms (English-style).
In Quebec, 82% of people speak French as a mother-tongue. 33.9% of
Acadian people speak French. 4.4% Manitoba, 4.1% in Ontario. (Chevier,
1997)
4.2 About Halifax in Nova Scotia
The population of Nova Scotia is about 940,000. It is about 3.1% of
Canadian total population. Nova Scotia is named from Latin by the Scottish
who settled in Nova Scotia first. The meaning is “NEW SCOTLAND”. It is on
the east peninsula of Canada, the neighboring Canadian provinces are New
Brunswick (which is bigger than Nova Scotia) and Prince Edward Island
(which is smaller than Nova Scotia.) Nova Scotia is about 53,000 square
kilometers. It is twice as large as Massachusetts in U.S.A and a little smaller
than Ireland. Nearest state is Mane, 2 hours away from Nova Scotia.
Halifax has one of the largest cities in Atlantic Canada and it has
the world’s largest harbor. Now, in summer time, many tourists come to visit
and people are fascinated with tasteful seafood. Historically, because of the
location, Halifax is a good place to settle, and was introduced to other
European cultures especially from Scotland. The origin is British, and
almost people are from England, Ireland and Scotland and there are some
German, Americans and Blacks and Africans. During the Middle of the 19 th
century, Irish Catholic’s settled in Halifax, because of the potato famine.
2
4.3 Acadian Flag and culture
2
http://www.canadaspace.com/novascotiamaps.htm (11/29/2004) authorized
Canadaspace.com Inc.
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
3
This is the flag of Acadia, which was declared in 1884 at Prince
Edward Island by Acadian delegates. For National Meeting and Cerebrations
or some important events, Acadian thought they need the Flag to indicate their
belongings. Reverend Marcel-François Richard decided the flag to remind
their homeland is France. The basic is French tricolor flag; blue, white,
red with a golden star in the blue section which means the Blessed Virgin
Mary, the “Star of the Sea”. The national anthem of the Acadians is “Ave,
Maris Stella”. Blue means signify liberty, white is fraternity; feeling of
friendship between members of group, and red means equality.
At the same time, they made motto; UNITED WE STAND, which means
keep strong relationships.
Introduction
There are some songs and anthems in French. And Acadians try to
keep these songs to tell their descendents. They changed songs French to
English to let many people songs. Originally, French is made up from
Latin.
This is the “Ave Maris Stella” in Latin and French.4 This is the one of
phrases. “Ave Maria Stella “is known as an important song for Acadian
people. This gives the long history of colonization and their independence.
This song was sung at the first Maritimes Provinces.
“Ave Maria Stella”
3
http://nb.cbc.ca/acadianchristmas/#fact2
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
Anthem in Latin
French Adaptation
Ave Maris Stella,
Dei Mater Alma,
Atque semper Virgo,
Felix coeli porta. (bis)
Ave Maris Stella,
Dei Mater Alma,
Atque semper Virgo,
Felix coeli porta.(bis)
This poem has been sung by the descendants of Acadia, especially for
Girouards family while dedicated to the Girouards, could also apply to all
Acadians with a slight change to the last lines: “the Acadians, our ancestors”
Author is unknown The reason why Acadian people respect the name of “Girouards”
is one of the biggest families and oldest family for Acadian people so there were lots of
Girouards at that time and they spread over Nova Scotia, but they came back and stay
together and made bigger family as an Acadian. This is the one of the song’s phrases.
They made lots of songs to tell a history and their stories.
5
The Girouards, our ancestors
They came from the old country of France
To this new and untamed land.
They settled by the riverside.
They conquered the forest and the snow,
The Girouards, our ancestors.
Trans. Rita (Girouard) Kay6
5. Legend: Evangeline and Gabriel7 and Cajun
6http://www.teleco.org/museeacadien/anglais/questi3_a.htm
7
(11/14/2004)
In 2004, “Congres Mondiale Acadien” was held in Nova Scotia to celebrate the 400 th
anniversary of the first French speaking settlers in Canada. The Festival held as an
annual event and one man and woman is chosen as Evangeline and Gabriel every year.
This information is instructed from Debbie (2/18/2004) at Saint Mary’s university
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
The most famous story of Acadia was written by the American poet
Henry Wadsworth Longfellow in 1847.
The story is Evangeline and Gabriel’s wedding day in 1755, Evangeline
traveled with exiles from Nova Scotia to Louisiana on the Mississippi River.
At that time New France government force outside of Acadie so many
people settled Louisiana in United States or Quebec and some where. After
she arrived, she noticed her lover; Gabriel was already left there. So she
departed there, to find him, but they couldn’t meet for many years. Finally,
she could find him, but he was already dead and soon she died holding him.
Their burial place was in nameless graves in the heart of Philadelphia.
After that, Acadia was reunited.
That story spread very quickly, and was translated into many
languages; the first was French, after that German, and Polish. In 1853, the
French version was published in London. This story is known to not only
Acadians, but also North Americans as reading material.
People who went to Louisianan were called Cajun, which is defined
as “a Louisianan who descends from French-speaking Acadians”. Louisiana
is located in the South of the U.S. and next to Mississippi and Texas; around
100 thousand people speak French. However, Cajun’s common family name
is Soileau, Romero, Huval, Fontenot; these are not the origin of Acadian.
These are not similar to the name like Spanish, German or French “Creole”.
(Creole is white people of French.)
6. Languages
Introduction
Canada is known there are two kinds of mother tongue country;
English and French, that’s true, but to tell detail, there are different way of
speak and dialect because of some histories. In generally, Canadian French is
two kinds of French; Quebecois French and Acadian French. These two
French are different.
6.1 Acadian’s French
Introduction
There are 7 kinds of French spoken around the world as a dialect of
French; Acadian French, African French, Belgian French, Cajun French,
TESL Centre’s Class of Nova Scotia’s history.
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
Standard French, Quebec French, Swiss French. From these French, I’m
going to research two kinds of French, which are Acadian and Quebec French
and compare them in point of the differences of pronunciation and
vocabulary and from history. Acadian language has many words which were
spoken in France, but it already disappeared in France.
In terms of history, some English words from French during the
Norman Conquest, but which have already died in France now, because the
vocabulary and the way of expressions were brought by the first settlers from
France over the centuries. Acadian’s s peculiar language reminds one of the
past history and colonial times. The mainly origin of French is Latin, and
then French had been changed little by little. L’ACADIEMIE FRANCAISE
declared the ways of pronunciation made more acceptable and then Acadian
French hasn’t changed compared with French spoken in France.
6.2 Acadian mixed French English
Today Acadians speak mixtures of French and English; it’s very
close to Latin and to 17th century French. Spelling, pronunciation and
meaning are a little bit different. These are some examples….





Tintamarre: a noisy march or parade. In 1604, it started as a special
event. From 1955, it became an official part of the Acadian culture. The
bells of Church rang across the area at 6 o’clock in the evening.
Tintamarre is celebrated every year on August 15; National Acadian Day.
Brocher / to knit (Standard French :tricoter) it is used the meaning of
sew used gold or silver meaning of to knit of Standard French
Marrionnettes/ aurora (Standard French: aurores boreales) this word
doesn’t exist in Standard French dictionary
Haler / to pull (Standard French :tirer) it is used meaning by to pull
boat or net
Gargonton / throat ( Standard French: jeter, lancer)

Hucher /to yell (Standard French: crier) this word came from the word
“ huer”


Garrocher ( jeter, lancer) : to throw
Longi / slow ( Standard French: lent ) it is used to express something is
long
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
6.3 Quebecois French
More than 90per cent of Quebec’s speak French. The largest numbers of people
speak French in the America area and the second largest francophone city after Paris.
The name Quebec came from the Mi’kmaq (First Nations people indigenous to northern
New England and Canada’s Maritimes.) word Gepéég means “strait”. The Quebecois
is a descendant French, the same as Acadian. Quebec French is very
different from standard French in terms of pronunciation and vocabulary.
These differences are because of historical isolation. There are many people
who speak only English. Only Quebecois have been keeping to speak French,
maybe the environment is changing to English system and Francophobe
moved to Quebec or Maritime province; Acadia. Before 1759, Quebec French
was brought from New France so their French was different to French
spoken from France; New France people used the Royal Court’s French. After
that year, Quebec became an isolated place because of the French Revolution,
people didn’t visit Quebec.
6.4 Chiac
Chiac is an Acadian French (which includes words from Old French )
vernacular mixed with English which is spoken in south-east New
Brunswick, especially spoken among the dominant Anglophobe ( someone
who dislikes anything relating to England ) the local French dialect has been
heavily influenced and corrupted by English. Old French means from the
Romance language which is spoken in the northern half of the territory of
modern France during 1000 to 1300 A.D. Old French languages is the
ancestor of the French language spoken today. It uses mainly French syntax
with French- English vocabulary and phrase forms.
Canadian French was separated from the French of France about
400years ago, at the time of the French colonization of America. Lots of
Acadian literature and music was written in Chiac. In New Brunswick, there
are 4,892 people; 76% of them speak French in its local Chiac. And this town
called the “Lobster Capital of the World”, and the world’s largest town of
lobster sculpture. People who speak Chiac( English and French )had been
said that an impure hybrid. Either “Bad” French or “bad” English.
However, some Acadian started to reclaim Chiac as the language
from original French settlers of the parts of the northern region of North
America (Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island).
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
7. Acadian Education
This section is focused on this paper. How do Acadian people get
French as an Acadian? How to separate between English and French? People
live in Canada have the right to choose the language English or French, but
if their family speak only French, it is hard to learn new language as a
second language.
In Canada, there is a lot of English and French in public place and it
is proper for politicians, to speak French fluently. However, the chance is
limited for general people because if people can’t speak French, its ok,
because TV or magazines published in English. So there are few problems if
people can’t speak French, for example, in Quebec or Acadia.
French First
Language
Program
Inten
tion
 Child of the appropriate parent under
Section 23, ( people who passed appropriate level)
have the rights and freedom
 Child of the person of Acadian or Francophone
who wants to develop an Acadian and
Francophone identify through learning
Acadian culture and French
Goal

When child speak French, there are no
difficulties in the French and English
speaking and writing
 develop a positive attitude for the French and
develop a positive attitude and sense of belonging
to Acadian and Francophone
Inten
tion
Child who is not in the French environment
Goal

French
Immersion

Program

To encourage the development of speaking and
writing
Develop a high proficiency in the English
Appreciate the richness and diversity of the
Francophone culture and heritage
Raise students they can learn French more
naturally and make them bilingual
Intent
ion
Child who is not in the French environment
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
Core French
Program
Goal



To master not to have a difficulty to speak
French
Encourage a positive attitude second
language learning
To master the richness learning environment
 Table 1: The graph shows the levels of French School and Goals
8
French First
French Immersion
Core French
Language Program
Program
Program



This
school
program’s 
offers an
only
French
–speaking
environment
French is used
from Grade 1 to
12.
English
is
introduced
Grade 4.
in
There are three
types of French

Immersion
Programs
 Early
program
 Middle
program
 Late
This program’s
school is offered
from Grade 4 to
Grade 12.
Students take one
French course
while all their
other courses are
taught in English
program
It is showed below
Table 2: Differences of school’s definition
From these graphs, there are some programs for students to learn
English or French language naturally. To separate the levels, it is easier to
learn and they don’t feel they forced to study it. Because the basic is to
understand being bilingual and learn two sight of thinking. That makes
students thinking wider and world wide sight (international person).
Three types of Immersion Program
8This
graph is arranged from
http://www.uc411.com/getprofile.asp?profileid=58&OVRAW=acadian%20university&O
VKEY=acadia%20university&OVMTC=standard
(11/26/2004)
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)



Early French immersion program
 French class starts in Grade 1
 The 90% of French instruction in Grade 1-3 to 65% in Grade 4-6
 In Grade 7-9 is about 50% the term “early immersion” changes to
“ continuing immersion” from Grade 7
 Senior high level (Grade 10-12) is about 25%
Middle French immersion program
 French class starts in Grade 4
 75% of French instruction in Grade 4-6
 Grade 7-9, at the intermediate and senior high school (Grade
10-12) levels, students receive the same amount of instruction as
their counterparts in other immersion schools
Late French immersion program
 French class starts in Grade7
 About 75% of French instruction in Grade 7-8
 About 50% of French instruction in Grade 9
 From Grade 10, students from Late immersion Program are
grouped with students from Continuing Immersion Program
The University of Acadian; Université Sainte-Anne has missions for
achievements
This University’s achievements are to classifying Acadian culture and history
especially Nova Scotia. Not only University’s students but also people who want to
get something about Acadia, professors and staffs are always helping them. To let as
many as people know about Acadia, the first area is in Nova Scotia and then the
other Maritime Places and to spread other places.9
They started to find the families of Acadians and trying to make union from
January, 2001. Now it is 52 families into their genealogy. Their campaign let people
know their ancestors and their family’s history. After French people settled in 17th
century, many people stayed Maritime Provinces, but more than two-thirds of them
forced to back to France, Louisiana or Quebec because of two governors confused.
9
http://www.ustanne.ednet.ns.ca/cacadien/stmtmiss.htm ( 12/04/2004) made by
Elaine LeBlanc, secretary and Jason Saulnier, Audio digitizer
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
That’s why their file tries to find the people who spread to some places, back to 17 th
century and to know that time.
8. Conclusion
In conclusion, Canada has two national languages and people have
the right to choose the language. Government advises to get both
languages and to be a bilingual to make sure Canada’s high subsistence
level. But no one tell which is the level of the bilingual. That’s true if
people can speak two languages, maybe they get higher salary than
others.
In actually, Quebec is becoming isolate. The reasons are not only due
to language, but in Acadia, these days Acadian people try to let
Canadians know about their history and culture and are holding an
annual festival; which is getting bigger and bigger every year. Acadians
step is little by little, though. But their advance is still going on. They
are proud of being an Acadian, but they learnt not only Acadian
language but also English and French and their education is about the
awareness of richness of their environment and nature. They never say
English is bad influence for Acadian people. The balance is necessary in
the future. But for Canadian people, it’s very important to know their
ancestor and learn about their culture and keep it generation to
generation. It is rare to pay attention one’s ancestor’s history and culture
and to reproduce as an Acadian.
Compare to Japan, it is surrounded by the sea so cultures and any
over sea’s information was limited, that’s why our language have been
changing slower than other language and peculiar, to tell the details,
there are many similar points between Asian countries like Kanji and
grammar. But now a day our culture and language are changing
dramatically because of internationalization.
Same as other languages it will be more new matured languages
appear, but we should show the respect to these languages because it is
natural phenomenon to appear new words or languages world is getting
closer and closer everyday.
At the same time, English became international language and
English is spoken all over the world and many kinds of Englishes exist
and these have own typical grammar, pronunciation, rhythm and
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
vocabulary. Every English has own history and we can’t tell which one is
the better and bad. In the future, it is not dream Acadian or Quebecois
French become as an international language.
9. References
Cuthbertson, Brian (1996) “Wolf Ville & Grand Pré past and present”
Formac Publishing Company Limited
Gerrior, William D. (2003) “ACADIAN awakenings” Port Royal
Publishing Limited Focused on Nova Scotia and Prince Edward Island
Gerrior, William D. (2003) “ACADIAN awakenings” Port Royal
Publishing Limited Focused on New Brunswick
Poirer, L. (1985) “My Acadian Heritage” Lancelot Press
Available on the Internet
The Map of Maritime Places http://www.canadaspace.com/novascotiamaps.htm
(11/29/2004) authorized Canadaspace.com Inc.
Samuel de Champlain http://www.collectionscanada.ca/explorers/kids/h3-1410-e.html
History until Acadian flag decided
http://www.teleco.org/museeacadien/anglais/questi3_a.htm(11/14/2004)
University of Acadia
http://www.uc411.com/getprofile.asp?profileid=58&OVRAW=acadian%20university&O
VKEY=acadia%20university&OVMTC=standard (11/26/2004)
Université Sainte-Anne’s achievements (12/04/2004) made by Elaine LeBlanc, secretary
and Jason Saulnier, Audio digitizer
http://www.ustanne.ednet.ns.ca/cacadien/stmtmiss.htm
About Acadian French (11/13/2004) the GNU Free Documentation License
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Acadian_French_language
About French (11/13/2004) the GNU Free Documentation License
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_language
Acadian chronological table http://nb.cbc.ca/acadianchristmas/#fact2
Chiac language (11/26/2004) authorized by Wikipedia
http://www.worldhistory.com/wiki/C/Chiac-Language.htm
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
Appendix
Biographical sketch of Acadia
1604 First settlers arrive in Acadie: St. Croix island, between New Brunswick and Maine
1605 Port Royal settled, major town of Acadie.
1671 earliest surviving Acadian census is taken. The total is 340 people.
1755 deportation of Acadians begins: 6000 deported first year
1763 Treaty of Paris concedes all of Acadia, Quebec and French possessions in North America to
Britain, with the exception of St. Pierre-Miquelon. Acadians begin to return to Nova Scotia, only to
discover their land has already been settled. Many move onto Quebec, all over the Maritimes; many
to New Brunswick
1765 first Acadians settle in Louisiana.
1884 at its second national convention, Acadians adopt their own flag, and national anthem (Ave
Maris Stella).
1963 founding of L'Université de Moncton, the largest French-speaking university in the Maritimes.
During the coming years, student groups held many demonstrations, pushing for bilingualism in
Moncton.
1972 founding of Le Parti Acadian (it wanted to separate from New Brunswick to form an Acadian
province.)
1982 Constitution recognizes right to French education, where numbers allow. This led to the
opening of French schools in Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland.
1994 first World Acadian Congress is held in southeastern New Brunswick, the largest reunion of
Acadians since the deportation of 1755. More than 300,000 people attend.
1996 first Acadian governor-general, Romeo LeBlanc, appointed.
1997 first Acadian appointed to Supreme Court of Canada, Michel Bastarache.
1999 Canada (Moncton, New Brunswick) holds the "Sommet de la Francophonie", a gathering of
leaders from more than 50 French-speaking countries.
The Acadian’s Anthem,”Maria Stella”
Anthem in Latin
French Adaptation
Ave Maris Stella,
Ave Maris Stella,
Dei Mater Alma,
Dei Mater Alma,
Atque semper Virgo,
Atque semper Virgo,
Felix coeli porta. (bis)
Felix coeli porta.(bis)
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
Sumens illud Ave
Acadie ma patrie
Gabriélis ore,
A ton nom, je me lie
Funda nos in pace
Ma vie, ma foi sont à toi
Mutans Evae nomen.
Tu me protégeras.(bis)
Solve vincla reis,
Acadie ma patries,
Profer lumen caecis,
Ma terre et mon défi
Mala nostra pelle,
De prés, de loin tug me tiens
Bona cuncta posce.
Mon Coeur est acadien.(bis)
Monstra te esse matrem
Acadie ma patrie
Sum at per te preces
Ton histoire, je la vis
Qui pro nobis natus,
La fierté, je te la dois
Tulit nesse tu us.
En l’avenir, je crois(bis)
Virgo singularis
Ave Maris Stella,
Inter omnes mitis
Dei Mater Alma,
Nos culpis solutos
Atque semper Virgo,
Mites fac et castos.
Felix coeli porta.(bis)
The Girouards, our ancestors
They came from the old country of France
To this new and untamed land.
They settled by the riverside.
They conquered the forest and the snow,
The Girouards, our ancestors.
Three centuries ago, on the soil of New France
In spite of the cold, the wind, the downpours,
In their children they knew how to instill
A great love for this vast country.
The Girourards our ancestors.
Like beautiful trees, with deep roots,
They grew, they developed,
Acadians and Acadian French in Canada (Tomoko Nakaya)
And from their solid stable trunks
Their descendants multiplied.
They populated these white acres of snow.
The Girouards, our ancestors.
Too often, we have forgotten them
These pioneers, in the land of New France.
By ignoring the men and women of old
We thought we could be liberated,
But they inspired our dreams, our hopes.
The Girouards, our ancestors.
Trans. Rita (Girouard) Kay