Quiet ‘Quinzou’ offers inclusive Acadian Day celebrations for neurodivergent people

'It is a fun celebration but for neurodivergent people like myself it can get overwhelming fast,' Autism Resource Centre project assistant Marie-Pier Leroux said.

Marie-Pier Leroux is proud of her Acadian heritage, but has found traditional Acadian Day celebrations overwhelming as an autistic woman.

She says other neurodivergent people have told her that traditional Acadian Day celebrations, which are often large public gatherings involving loud music, can feel daunting.

“It’s either the lights, the noise, and people are hugging each other. People are so happy with this celebration, but (the idea) came to me that maybe we should have something more sensory-friendly for other neurodivergent people that want to celebrate,” she said in an interview.

Leroux is a social worker and works as a project assistant at the non-profit Autism Resource Centre in Riverview, N.B.

On Friday, her organization held its first Acadian Day, or Quinzou as it’s sometimes called in French, specifically adapted for those with sensory issues.

“It’s very much just a safe space for people to hang out where the lights will be dimmed and the music won’t be too loud and people won’t be making as much noise,” Leroux said.

The event features a tent with sensory aids like noise-cancelling headphones for those who need a break, as well as quiet activities like Acadian-themed colouring pages, word searches, temporary tattoos and board games.

Participants were asked to sign up in advance to keep the event small.