I'll admit I dont know the numbers of various ancestral groups in Atlantic Canada, but I do know both Scotts and French ancestors of mine migrated through. The fisrt one being a Desjardins who was a Jesuit priest in the early 16,000s.

The impression I took from Nova Scotia was very slanted twords the Scotts history, judging by place names and even the accents of the people I met, seemed a bit like what I'd heard in Scotland. Another unsceintific barometer I used was to the songs the bar bands were playing while we were there. I know that there were quite a few English loyalist who fled New England during and after The American Revolution and went to Nova Scotia, this is not saying that there were not many there already.

I just know the two weeks my wife and spent in the region were just great and turned me towards maritime music and deepened my love of Celtic music as well. We realy enjoyed Halifax, and the drive around cape Bretton's Cabott trail is something special. We spent three nights at the Keltic Lodge (Yes that's how they spelled it)in Ingonish, just inside the Cape Bretton Highlands Park. It was the last week of the season and they were closing the hotel that weekend so we had the place, and the folk musician playing in the lounge pretty much to ourselves. Lucked out with great weather for late October. 5 nights in Charlottetown on PEI was also very nice, had a great room with a hot tub for less than a crappy room in the Holiday Inn in Waterbury CT would cost! Saw a bar band that was just great at The Old Dublin Pub. And where ever you go, try the fish chowder! Always different always great!
Whack Fall The Day
Nick