Featuring Luc LeBlanc and Marshall Button, Caraquet fundraiser culminates in seven new scholarships established for future doctors

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Nearly 200 guests gathered in Caraquet on Thursday evening for Acadian Roots: Support That Stays, a celebration of comedy, culture and healthcare hosted by The New Brunswick Medical Education Foundation Inc.

The event marked the Foundation’s first major fundraiser held in Francophone New Brunswick and highlighted the importance of supporting future physicians committed to serving rural Acadian communities.

Welcoming Remarks

Opening remarks were delivered by The Honourable Louise Imbeault, Lieutenant Governor of New Brunswick; The Honourable Isabelle Thériault, Minister of Tourism, Heritage and Culture; and Bernard Thériault, Mayor of Caraquet. Dalhousie-born comedian Marshall Button served as emcee for the evening.

Event Components

The evening featured a full comedy set from McKendrick-born comedian Luc LeBlanc, a performance by the classical quartet Ensemble à cordes Chaleur, and a panel presentation on healthcare in Acadia featuring Philippe Basque (Village historique acadien), Catherine Bourque (Vitalité Health Network), and Dr. Carl Boucher (New Brunswick Medical Society).

The event concluded with the announcement of seven new scholarships designated for students enrolled in French-language medical education programs. Each scholarship includes a return-of-service commitment to rural Francophone communities in New Brunswick, most within the Acadian Peninsula.

Support That Stays: The Video

https://video.wixstatic.com/video/dcb038_ce3229767cb54646bd5c582ed9dfb1fe/1080p/mp4/file.mp4

The fundraiser also aimed to raise awareness of one of the province’s most significant physician recruitment initiatives. The New Brunswick Medical Education Foundation currently awards more than $1.4 million annually in return-of-service scholarships to medical students from across the province who commit to practising in New Brunswick after completing their training.

Local scholarship recipients Emma Vibert, Caitlin Riordon and Shaughnessy Riordon were featured in a video presentation during the event, alongside messages from Dr. Nicole LeBlanc and Premier Susan Holt.

In 2025, the Foundation awarded scholarships to 166 students from 43 New Brunswick communities, helping strengthen the province’s future healthcare workforce.

Approximately 40 per cent of students currently supported by the Foundation are enrolled in French-language medical education programs.

New Scholarships Announced:

Assumption Life Medical Education Scholarship (two $6,000 awards)
Dre Nicole LeBlanc Medical Education Scholarship (one $5,000 award)
Port of Belledune Medical Education Scholarship (two $6,000 awards)
Municipalité de Caraquet Medical Education Scholarship (one $6,000 award)
Municipalité de Shippagan Medical Education Scholarship (one $6,000 award)

We Gratefully Acknowledge

Entertainment Sponsors: UNI & Faye and David Huestis Family Foundation Inc.
Reception Sponsor: Vitalité Health Network
Student Sponsors: Government of New Brunswick and Department of Health
Media Sponsor: Acadie Nouvelle
Table Sponsors: Assumption Life, the Municipality of Caraquet, Centre de formation médicale du Nouveau-Brunswick, Dooly’s Caraquet, University of Moncton and the Municipality of Shippagan.