MADAWASKA, Maine — Madawaska has wrapped up another successful Acadian Festival, its largest annual event, which this year featured the unveiling of a massive star sculpture constructed by local students.
Local artist Dan Cayer of Grand Isle pitched the idea to town officials last year. Madawaska in 2024 saw the completion of its new border crossing, which replaced a 65-year-old port of entry and a bridge that was over 100 years old.
Cayer’s design is in the shape of an Acadian Star and built out of pieces of the former bridge, immortalizing a structure that physically connected the two countries for a century by turning it into a piece that symbolizes that connection. The star has been officially named “Stella Maris,” which is Latin for “Star of the Sea,” and also refers to the Virgin Mary.
The sculpture was built by a group of students at the St. John Valley Technology Center in Frenchville. Students welded, ground, cut and assembled the pieces, finishing the project in June.
Hundreds gathered at the town’s Parc de la Traverse on Main Street on Saturday, where the finished piece was unveiled. The dedication ceremony included remarks from Town Manager David Daigle, a historical overview from Select Board Chair Renee Deschaine and a statement from Cayer read by board vice-chair Jenney Dionne.
Before the construction of the bridge, nearly every settler traveled by boat across the St. John River that separates the two countries.
“The river was the highway of that time,” Deschaine said, “and most travel took place on the river, including moving back and forth across the river in small crafts that were only useful in moving people and small amounts of material.”
Eventually the former bridge was built in 1920, primarily for the purpose of improving international trade and commerce, and stood there for more than a century.
“We are here today because the French people crossed the St. John River in 1785 looking for a better life for their families, and to preserve their French culture, food, music and language,” Cayer wrote in his statement.
The crisscrossing steel within the star sculpture represents the millions who have crossed the St. John River throughout time. The star’s shape also resembles open arms, welcoming people into the community, Cayer said.
“For more than 100 years, that steel was part of something that connected our communities,” Cayer wrote. “Now it has a new purpose, but it is still telling the story of people crossing the St. John River.”
Kevin Lavoie, St. John Valley Technology Director, said the project represents community collaboration.
“Each project tells the same story,” he said. “When communities invest in students, students invest right back into their community. Too often, workforce development is viewed simply as preparing someone for a job. I believe it is much bigger than that, workforce development is about building relationships; it’s about creating opportunities.”
Tony Paradis, who teaches welding at the Frenchville tech center, at first rejected the idea of having his students work on the star due to their full schedules and practice for Skills USA. He reconsidered and saw his students eagerly take on the project, which helped them all grow.
“I watched natural born leaders take their role as leaders in these groups. I saw students find their motivation to be productive, watched as the lights turned on in the ‘Aha’ moment where they would grasp the concept of it,” Paradis said. “This group of young men and women impressed me the entire time, from their craftsmanship to their drive to complete this project.”
Father Claude Gendreau led a dedication ceremony in French for the star.
The ceremony was immediately followed by the Tintamarre parade, an Acadian tradition where people join in with loud instruments, noisemakers and even pots and pans. The loud parade represents the announcement of the Acadians’ survival.
Participants wore traditional Acadian attire and some marched with giant papier-mache heads, or “grosses tetes.”
“It’s a traditional Acadian noise parade,” said Acadian Festival Committee Chairperson Danielle Hebert. “The parade says that we’re here and we’re not going anywhere.”
The 48th annual event also featured the return of the historical guided bus tour, hosted by Ken Theriault, historian and Madawaska Public Library director. The tour spanned much of the St. John Valley, including Grand Isle, Van Buren, Lille and Madawaska.
The bus was filled with about 50 people, Hebert said. The tour went from about 8 a.m. to 2 p.m., and will likely return during a future festival. If it does not come back next year, it will certainly return for the festival’s 50th anniversary in 2028, which many committee members have started discussing and planning already.
Hebert said she was pleased with this year’s turnout as well as all the volunteers and sponsors who helped make it happen.
“It’s just amazing,” she said. “Everybody’s showing up and we’re so happy to have everyone here with us.”
