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As It Happens

Quebec community turns unearthed World War II vehicle into beehive

Maryse Goudreau hosted a community festival called Tankfest on her property in Escuminac, Quebec. She had help to dig out a buried WWII tank, and her neighbours helped her decide what to do with it. It will be made into a beehive.
CBC News ·
Escuminac-based artist Maryse Goudreau (far left) hosted Tank Fest in her backyard. (Michel Goudreau/Facebook)
As It Happens4:56Quebec community turns Second World War vehicle into beehive

This past weekend the community of Escuminac, Quebec celebrated the Festival Tank d'Escuminac.  Artist Maryse Goudreau created and hosted the event. When Goudreau bought her farm property a few years ago, she discovered buried Second World War military machinery in her yard.

"We stumbled upon this thing and we had no idea what it was...it was all rusted," Goudreau tells As It Happens host Carol Off.

She invited neighbours to dig it up with her and decide how to use the mysterious vehicle. And after a lengthy debate, the community now plans to turn the unearthed machine into a beehive.

Goudreau eventually learned that the 'tank' was actually a Bren gun carrier.

"It's a type of engine or carrying machine that was used during the Second World War," she explains.

After the news broke, the community rallied around the three-day festival to help unearth the vehicle.

"A lot of people showed up, we started on Friday with Escuminac school," Goudreau explains.

Students brought their own shovels to help clear roots, dirt and debris from the tank. (Michel Goudreau/Facebook)

"Children came and we had left the site untouched for them so they started with their pruners cutting down branches and then they went at it and started digging out the engine."

Goudreau says she has no idea how or why the vehicle ended up in her backyard. Some of Goudreau's neighbours told her the previous owner had a sawmill during the 1940s and 50s. They think the vehicle may have been used to haul wood out of the forest.
Tank Fest in Escuminac brought out about 300 people, over the three days of digging, discussion and festivities. (Michel Goudreau/Facebook)

But Goudreau admits, "we have no idea how he acquired it. And, still today, no one has come forward with information on how a civilian could acquire this kind of material."

Goudreau reasons that there were a few places in the area that were military equipment depots.

"We think maybe it came from there but we have no way of knowing for sure until we do the tracing of the numbers that are on the machine."

But beyond piecing together the history, Goudreau really wanted the festival to provide a place for the community to brainstorm ideas for what to do with the unusual vehicle. 
People performed live music, teams brainstormed about potential future uses for the tank, and shared stories. (Michel Goudreau/Facebook)

"We ended up having a really big decision and we decided that we would convert it into a beehive, replacing the gun of the Bren with a tap which honey would flow out of," she explains.

"We decided this because here is all farmland…a lot of the land that was used for farming is not active right now and we have had a really bad spring for pollination so there's not much fruit on our trees here."

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