Words of Antonine Maillet during the centenary of the Convent of the Immaculate Conception, on July 12, 1980 "I write plays because I attended all the performances given at the Bouctouche convent." The most recent winner of the Prix Goncourt (1979) strongly emphasized the colossal and decisive role of this Bouctouche institution in preserving the French language and stated that the centenary celebrations of the convent etch a memorable date into the country's history...1880.