The myth of the legendary "Republic of Madawaska" originated with a response from an elderly Madawaska colonist to a French civil servant, who was conducting an inspection. When questioned by the French inspector, the elder, filled with honour and pride, answered, “I am a citizen of the Republic of Madawaska.”

This expression was repeated by Dr. Lorne Violette of St. Leonard, while serving on the New Brunswick Legislature in Fredericton, at the beginning of the century. He extolled the virtues of the citizens of the "Republic of Madawaska".

Quickly anticipating the advertising advantages that could be drawn from the legendary "Republic of Madawaska", two citizens of Edmundston—Dr. P.C. Laporte and the Honourable J. Gaspard Boucher designed coats of arms for the ‘Republic.’ Dr. Laporte subsequently obtained a trade-mark for the coats of arms from the Trade-marks Office in Ottawa on April 5, 1949. 

To this day, the inhabitants of Northwestern New Brunswick will proudly greet you with… "Welcome to the Republic of Madawaska".