Andre Boudreau, known as the "father of the World Acadian Congress," died Wednesday of cancer.

Andre Boudreau was born in Nigadoo, New Brunswick and moved to Alberta more than 20 years ago, but he never forgot his Acadian roots.

He didn't want anyone else to forget either.

In the early 1990s Boudreau suggested a reunion of Acadians around the world. People were skeptical at first, but Michel Cyr, president of the National Society of Acadians, says the success of the first congress in 1994 shows Boudreau was a man of vision.

"Since then people in southeastern New Brunswick have maintained a strong element of pride," says Cyr.

"That's evident by not only Acadian flags are more commonly found in Moncton, Dieppe, Memramcook, anywhere where you find Acadians, really, in southeastern New Brunswick."

Cyr says the congress made Anglophones appreciate the Acadian community too.

"People quickly realized that by having French as a second language or another language through the Acadian community was truly an added value in the economic landscape of southeastern New Brunswick," he says.

Boudreau was made a member of the Order of Canada in 2000. Cyr says it's one of many awards Boudreau received for his work in education. He would like to see a bursary set up in Boudreau's name.

The last Acadian Congress was held in Nova Scotia in the summer of 2004. Cyr is certain there will be a special tribute to Boudrea at the next Acadian congress in 2009.