Abbé Joseph William Bourg

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Abbé Joseph William Bourg is the first Acadian priest. He was sent by his superiors to work in baie des Chaleurs in 1772. He learned the Mi'kmaq language and was greatly appreciated for his mediation efforts between Mi'kmaqs and white settlers. He lived in what is now Carleton and is responsible for the very first census of Carleton and Nouvelle. His mediation efforts were rewarded by Sir Richard Hughes, Governor, in the capital, Halifax, who in recognition gave him the Heron Island (located between Carleton New Mills, Nouveau-Brunswick and the land now called Charlo. However he never took possession of these lands, being busy with the congregation in Carleton and the Island was eventually given up for Loyalist settlers (his land deed still exists in the old Louisbourg archives).