Joe Delaney was born July 12, 1916, the son of Paulite à Siméon Delaney of Cap Le Moine. He spent part of his childhood years in Massachusetts. When Joe was 15, his family returned to Saint-Joseph-du-Moine. In 1940, Joe married Bella (à Pat à Elie) Gaudet.
In 1958, Joe was named the janitor at the Saint-Joseph-du-Moine School. He occupied that job for 27 years. During his life, Joe Delaney was involved in many local and regional organizations. He was always active on many committees. His name is closely associated with sports development in northern Inverness County. Joe made many special contributions to his community during his lifetime.
Upon his retirement in 1984, Joe planted a small garden on his land next to the main road. Being a huge fan of the Mi-Carême, Joe put up two scarecrows dressed in funny costumes and masks. The very next morning there were a few cars stopped on the roadside, where occupants were admiring the wooden life-like scarecrows. Visitors suggested to Joe to forget about his garden and to build more Mi-Carêmes. Joe and his son Chester began making more Mi-Carêmes and eventually had a field full of these characters, now well-known to all as Joe’s Scarecrows.
Joe Delaney passed away in February 1996. He is remembered for his sense of humour and his generosity to his community.