The 2007 winners of the Antonine-Maillet–Acadie Vie Literary Award are knowned

Octobrer 4, 2007

Place de l'Acadie, Caraquet, NB - The 9th Antonine-Maillet-Acadie Vie Literary Award ceremony was held wednesday night at the Édifice Martin-J.-Légère of the Fédération des caisses populaires acadiennes.

The 2007 Annual Award has been won by Georgette LeBlanc for her book of poetry Alma, published by Les Éditions Perce-Neige. The winner received a certificate, a bronze medal engraved with her name and a $4,000 grant.

The 2007 Richelieu Youth Award was given to Kristel LeBlanc for her book of short stories Faits l'un pour l'autre. The winner received a certificate as well as a $1,000 grant.

Biographical notes on the 2007 winners:
Georgette LeBlanc was born in 1977 in Chicaben (Pointe-de-l'Église), in the Baie Sainte-Marie region in Nova Scotia. She completed a Masters degree in the evolution of traditional music in Baie Sainte-Marie and finished her PhD in Francophone studies at the University of Louisiana in Lafayette. Since September 2007, she has been working as a professor at the Université Sainte-Anne, in Nova Scotia. With her first book of poetry entitled Alma, she was a finalist for the Émile-Nelligan Award and winner of the prestigious 2007 Félix-Leclerc Award for poetry. Since the spring of 2007, she has participated in a number of book fairs, literary festivals and public poetry readings in Canada and in Paris.

Kristel LeBlanc is originally from Balmoral. Born in 1987, this young woman has always had a particular passion for children. She is currently studying primary education at the Université de Moncton. She will always remember her participation in a scientific circle since she loved her experience! She expects to obtain her B.A. in 2010 and hopes to teach at the primary school level in a school in her region.

Since 1999, the Antonine-Maillet-Acadie Vie Literary Award has given out a total of $45,000 in grants to 17 Acadian authors in recognition of their works, to help them pursue their passion for writing.

About the Antonine-Maillet-Acadie Vie Literary Award
Created in 1998 during the 50th anniversary of Acadie Vie's foundation, the Antonine-Maillet-Acadie Vie Literary Award aims to recognize Acadians who, through the quality of their literary work, contribute to the visibility and promotion of Acadia throughout the world.

About the Mouvement
The Mouvement des caisses populaires acadiennes was founded in 1946. It is the largest Acadian financial institution in New Brunswick. With its 200,000 members and global assets at more than $2.4 billion, this network consists of 33 Caisses and 85 service points in New Brunswick. More than 1,000 employees and 350 elected representatives constitute the strength of the organization. The Caisses populaires acadiennes were selected as one of the 2006 Top 10 best employers in the Maritimes by Mediacorp Canada Inc. The Fédération des caisses populaires acadiennes is located at Place de l'Acadie in Caraquet, New Brunswick. For further details, visit the Web site at www.acadie.com.

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For all additional information:
Gisèle Robichaud
Communications and Public Relations Consultant
Telephone: (506) 726-4767
Toll free: 1 888 249-3222, ext. 4767
Fax: (506) 726-8220
E-mail: gisele.robichaud@acadie.com

For media interviews:
Mario Griffin
Communications and Public Relations Consultant
Telephone: (506) 726-4785
Toll free: 1 888 249-3222, ext. 4785
Fax: (506) 726-8220
E-mail: mario.griffin@acadie.com