For nearly 20 years, this P.E.I. haunted barn has been scaring visitors for a good cause - CBC

Abegweit First Nation Chief Junior Gould started the Chief’s Haunted Barn in his backyard nearly two decades ago, and it has since grown into a large community event that draws thousands of visitors. (Steve Bruce/CBC)Social SharingThe Chief's Haunted Barn is back in Abegweit First Nation, bringing Halloween scares to visitors while raising food donations for Islanders who need them.

More than 70 community members help transform an old barn in Scotchfort into a Halloween attraction, complete with actors, sound effects, lights and jump scares.

Admission is free with a non-perishable food item, and cash donations are also accepted. The annual fundraiser collects thousands of pounds of food for local food banks.

Chief Junior Gould said the event started nearly 20 years ago in his own backyard. At the time, he was working as a tribal police officer and wanted to give children a safe place to spend Halloween.

"The best way to do that was to entertain the kids and give them something to do other than just causing havoc in the community," Gould said.

Over the years, the backyard event grew into a community gathering. Gould said food donations became part of it as the community looked for ways to give back.

"We wanted to donate to the outside community, and the community rallied around that."

The haunted barn is open from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. through Thursday, with extended hours from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday and Saturday.

Caden Francis has been volunteering at the barn for several years now. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

Volunteers help with everything from security and parking to acting and serving visitors. Young people also pitch in by running the canteen.

Some nights attract a few hundred visitors, while busier nights have drawn more than 1,000, Gould said. He estimated that more than 7,000 people visited the haunted barn last year.

Caden Francis, 18, has been volunteering at the barn for a few years. He said it's a chance to give back to his community while keeping himself busy.

"I wanted to be there for my community, and, you know, stay out of trouble," Francis said.

The Chief’s Haunted Barn is an annual Halloween attraction in Scotchfort, where an old barn is transformed into a spooky experience with actors, sound effects, lights and jump scares. (Steve Bruce/CBC)

Francis plays a statue in a tunnel, sitting in a wheelchair until visitors get close enough for him to jump up and scare them.

But he said the volunteers also know when to dial back the scares, especially for younger visitors.

"If we see a young kid or a girl or a guy being too scared, I’ll rip my mask off and tell them it’s all just a bit," he said.

Francis said volunteers sometimes stay later than scheduled to accommodate visitors when the barn gets particularly busy.

"Being here for my chief and our community, and being here for whoever wants to come through, it’s a great feeling."

Thinh Nguyen is a digital reporter with CBC P.E.I. He can be reached at thinh.duc.nguyen@cbc.ca