Montage of 10 black-and-white photographs of the L'Assomption Society Parade in Carleton in 1945. Photos mounted on black paper using black corners. Transliteration:
front: allegorical floats / Carleton 1945;
back: Carleton 1945

The object bears witness to an important event for Acadians, namely the parade organized by the Société L'Assomption in 1945. These photographs show allegorical floats representing various activities and themes: the general store; the nine provinces; Canadian folk art; tanning/shoemaking; the army; agriculture; "good old days" gatherings; etc. These photographs attest to the importance of these activities for the citizens of Carleton.

In this sense, the photographs also bear witness to the development of Acadian and Gaspé society in general. The object attests to the links between the Petites-Cadies in Quebec and other Acadian settlements in the Maritime provinces and the United States, notably through the mutual insurance company Société L'Assomption, an Acadian society.

The Assumption Society, founded in 1903, still exists today. Founded by Acadians in Massachusetts, it was initially an insurance company. In 1913, its headquarters moved to Moncton, and in 1969, it became a mutual insurance company. Today, it is known as Assumption Life. (https://www.assomption.ca/fr/Home). According to the organization Memory NS, this society was created to fill the need for a nationalist organization aimed at unifying the Acadian people. "Article 2 of the constitution set out the goals of the new association: "To rally all Acadians under the same flag; to assist its sick members; to provide financial assistance to the legal heirs of deceased members; to preserve our language, customs, and religion." Articles 92 to 100 of the constitution established a school fund and set out its regulations. This society, founded in the United States in 1903, spread to the three Maritime provinces in 1904. By 1908, it had $12,727 in the bank, 72 branches, and 4,320 members. In 1909, it founded its magazine, L'Assomption, published in Fitchburg." (http://www.cyberacadie.com/cyberacadie.com/indexfa2a.html?/Renaissance_histoire/La-Societe-mutuelle-l-Assomption.html) It was thus a mutual aid society that later added life insurance to its offerings.