A. There are many National Historic Sites in Canada, but few are as popular as the Fortress of Louisbourg in Cape Breton, Nova Scotia. It’s the third most popular Parks Canada site in the Atlantic Provinces, and the tenth Canada wide. Louisbourg attracts almost 200,000 visitors annually, partly because of its location near the world-famous Cape Breton Highlands National Park, but also because of its history. In the 17th and 18th centuries, the French and British competed for control of Atlantic Canada and its thriving cod fisheries based in Louisbourg. At this time, Louisbourg was a centre of commerce that traded cod for manufactured goods from France, New England, and the West Indies, making this maritime resource the region’s primary driver for economic growth.
B. Construction of the fortified seaport of Louisbourg began in 1713. It became an important military base with a permanent garrison and a settled French population of about 8,000 by 1744. However, it kept changing hands between France and Britain, depending on which country won the most recent war. In 1745 the British won, and the French population returned to France. Three years later, Louisbourg reverted to France, and the French population returned to Louisbourg. In 1758 the British attacked yet again, re-capturing the fortress in only seven weeks. This time British domination was permanent. The fortifications were destroyed and the town abandoned. This, plus the capture of Quebec in 1759 and Montreal in 1760, ended France’s power in North America.
C. In the early 1960s, the Government of Canada began a $25 million project to reconstruct about one-quarter of the original Louisbourg town and fortifications. The buildings, yards, gardens, and streets were recreated as they were in 1744. At first there was extensive archaeological excavation, uncovering millions of artifacts as well as the ruins of fortifications and buildings. Enough information was uncovered on site and discovered in archives in France, Britain, the United States, and Canada to recreate the fortress with accuracy. Louisbourg is North America’s largest historic reconstruction.
D. Nowadays tourists can enjoy the lavishly reconstructed fortress. In the summer, 150 costumed actors are onsite. Men, women, and children in their period-style clothes act out activities representing society from poor labourers to the very rich. There are engineers, musicians, soldiers, merchants, street vendors, bakers, servants, and fishermen. Visitors can listen to music and stories, watch dances, and observe activities such as lace-making, cooking, gardening, and animal care. They can watch soldiers load and shoot a musket or fire a cannon. Visiting Louisbourg is stepping back 250 years in history.
E. Not given in any of the above paragraphs.
Decide which paragraph, A to D, has the information given in each statement below. Select E if the information is not given in any of the paragraphs.
2. In the 18th century, both France and Britain wanted to control Louisbourg.
3. Louisbourg is the most popular historical site in Canada.
4. Today’s visitors are entertained by numerous re-enactments.
5. Fish was the most important commodity of 18th century Louisbourg.
6. The British finally destroyed Louisbourg to remove the French from the area.
7. Visitors to the site can participate in the 250-year old activities.
8. Louisbourg was the largest French settlement in North America in the 1700s.
9. Less than half of the original Louisbourg fortress has been restored.