JOE'S SCARECROWS

Joe Delaney always loved the Mi-Carême, in fact, you could even say he is one of the main reasons the Mi-Carême is still very much alive in the region of Chéticamp, St-Joseph-du-Moine and Margaree. Since he was a known welcomer, people made it a must to stop by his house because they knew they would get a good laugh. They loved to hear his stories, his jokes, the lively music and the snacks they would receive. His love for the Mid-Lent celebration certainly influenced Joe to build his scarecrows to resemble Mi-Carêmes.

Known worldwide, Joe's Scarecrows has been visited by travelers from every province in Canada, every state in the U.S., and some European and Asian countries. It is situated on the scenic Cabot Trail, giving visitors to Cape Breton Island easy access to this wonderful site.

Back in the mid 1980’s, Mr. Delaney had tried to make a garden on his land next to the main road. The neighbors had told him not to bother because the crows would eat all the vegetables from his garden. To outsmart these scavengers, Joe, being a huge fan of the Mi-Carême, put up two scarecrows dressed in funny costumes and masks. The very next morning there were a few cars stopped on the roadside, whose occupants were admiring the wooden life-like scarecrows who were both dressed as mi-carêmes. Among the visitors was a couple from California who suggested to Joe to forget about his garden and to spend his time building more mi-carêmes. This is the story of the birth of the scarecrow theater in St-Joseph-du-Moine.

Following the suggestions of those visitors as well as of others, Joe and his son, Chester, began making more mi-carêmes and eventually had a field full of these characters who represented all walks of life. Each of them had a story behind it, which could be clearly described by Joe. This abundance of disguised scarecrows gives visitors a small understanding about what a typical mi-carême looks like.

In February 1996, Mr. Delaney unfortunately passed away, but his son, Chester, has kept the tradition alive by fixing up the mi-carêmes year after year and also building new ones. As manager of the grounds, Joe’s daughter, Ethel, helps to keep the theater alive. Together they have kept the tradition going since the death of their father. They are very encouraged by the continued positive comments made by visitors, guaranteeing the survival of the mi-carêmes in St-Joseph-du-Moine.