2025 Recipients

A pioneering Black physician who treated hundreds following the Halifax Explosion and served as the publisher of Canada’s first African Canadian newsmagazine. A legendary Acadian writer whose literary works helped revive and define Acadian identity. A master carpenter and visionary who led the construction of North America’s tallest wooden church alongside 1,500 Acadian volunteers.

The lives and legacies of these remarkable Atlantic Canadians will be honoured through the John Bragg Award for Atlantic Canada. The award is a granting program made possible by the River Philip Foundation, dedicated to preserving and promoting the histories of people whose contributions shaped the region.

Each organization will receive a $50,000 grant for a project to share the stories of inspiring people who have shaped Atlantic Canadian history and society. 

The 2025 recipients are:

Antonine Maillet, Chantre de l'Acadie

Le Pays de la Sagouine, Bouctouche, New Brunswick

A new interpretive space at Le Pays de la Sagouine will celebrate the life and legacy of Antonine Maillet, the award-winning author of La Sagouine and Pélagie-la-Charrette. The immersive installation will feature archival materials, filmed interviews, and interactive storytelling technology, spotlighting Maillet’s role in Acadian cultural revival. Born in Bouctouche and the first non-European to win the Prix Goncourt, Maillet’s work gave international voice to Acadian resilience, identity, and language. Her literary universe has drawn over 1.5 million visitors to the cultural site inspired by her vision.

Dr. Clement Ligoure – Halifax’s First Black Physician

Association of Nova Scotia Museums, Halifax, Nova Scotia

Dr. Clement Ligoure was a community leader, physician, and editor who treated hundreds after the 1917 Halifax Explosion and helped recruit for the No.2 Construction Battalion — the largest Black military unit in Canadian history. He also published The Atlantic Advocate, Canada’s first African Canadian newsmagazine. This multifaceted project will digitize archival materials, produce a bilingual portable exhibit, create curriculum-linked educational resources, and develop podcast episodes. In partnership with the Africville Museum, Black Cultural Centre for Nova Scotia, and Loyalist Connections Creative Society, the project aims to make Ligoure’s legacy a cornerstone of African Nova Scotian history education.

Léo Melanson and the Acadian Builders of Sainte-Marie

Association Sainte-Marie héritage et développement, Clare, Nova Scotia

This project commemorates Léo Jean Melanson, an Acadian carpenter who led the construction of Sainte-Marie, the tallest wooden church in North America, which is currently facing the threat of demolition. Built between 1903–1905 by 1,500 Acadian volunteers, the church is a powerful symbol of cultural pride and perseverance. The initiative will document the church’s unique design through 3D scanning and develop a multimedia exhibition, preserving its architectural legacy and oral histories. Whether the building is preserved or not, the project ensures this historic feat remains accessible and celebrated for future generations.