174 THEISLAND ACADIANS

J.-Henri Blanchard

The speaker from the Island found a sympathetic and receptive audience. Following his talk, members of the audience suggested that he canvass colleges in Quebec to procure scholarships for Island Aca- dians; he visited the institutions in 1937 and 1939. He was given a warm welcome and, in 1937, seven Acadian boys began their classical studies in Quebec. By 1939 there were twenty-two enrolled?’. The few existing Acadian colleges also took in their share of students from the Island. The Saint Thomas Aquinas Society co-ordinated the distri- bution of all the scholarships.

This generous outside support gave the Society new momentum; efforts were made to build a more solid foundation and even to increase the sphere of activities. About thirty branches, mainly in-