A campaign to create an Acadian flag emoji is gaining traction online, with tens of thousands already signing on in support.
Julian Robichaud, a filmmaker from New Brunswick, and fellow campaign organizer Alexis Belliveau launched the initiative after noticing Acadians often have to get creative when showing their pride online.
“Each year when we want to represent our Acadian pride, we’re always using different emojis to try and represent the flag,” said Robichaud. “Some people use bubbles with a star; some use the French flag with a star. We thought, why not try to get the Acadian flag represented among the official emojis?”
The pair recently released a short video on social media promoting the idea, and the response has exceeded expectations.
“It really blew up,” said Robichaud.
Supporters can add their names through the campaign website, emojiacadie.ca.
But collecting signatures is only the first step.
Robichaud said the campaign team is preparing a formal submission to the Unicode Consortium, the organization responsible for approving new emojis used across digital platforms.
“You’ve got to put your case together to explain why you deserve to have an emoji,” he said. “We feel Acadia has a unique situation that could help get it approved.”
In addition to public support, organizers are now seeking letters of endorsement from community groups, cultural organizations and institutions across the region.
“If you’re a community or cultural organization and you want to support it, we’d love to get a letter of support,” Robichaud said.
The group plans to spend the next three to four months gathering signatures and endorsements before submitting its application around the start of the new year.
“It can take a year or two to have an emoji approved,” said Robichaud. “We’re hoping maybe by 2028 or 2029 we could see it happen.”
Robichaud believes the campaign has resonated because it offers a modern way for younger generations to celebrate Acadian identity.
“It’s probably something our generation would think of,” he said. “I don’t think my granddad would have come up with an emoji campaign.”
At least one Moncton City councillor is throwing his support behind an Acadian flag emoji. Councillor Parul Richard spoke about it at this week’s council meeting.
“Like a proud Acadian, I fully support this initiative. We just celebrated Acadian National Day, and I think it’s a wonderful way to continue showcasing our culture, our history, our language, and our Acadian pride here in Moncton, New Brunswick, and around the world,” Councillor Richard said.
“An emoji may seem like a small symbol, but in our digital age, it is also a way of representing who we are and our belonging to Acadian culture.”
The initiative also coincides with heightened celebrations of Acadian culture surrounding National Acadian Day on Aug. 15.
“If you think it’s worth supporting, go on and sign,” he said. “You might have Acadian blood, you might have an Acadian neighbour, you might have kissed an Acadian. We don’t really care. We just want people who believe it’s a good idea to get behind it.”
