This fall, Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North invited the community to try something a little different and a lot of fun: a Pop Up Escape Room Fundraiser in both Courtenay and Campbell River.

With a haunted theme and a whole lot of heart, the escape rooms welcomed families, friends, coworkers, and brave puzzle-solvers of all ages. Participants stepped inside a custom-built space, worked together under pressure, and raced the clock to solve clues and escape before time ran out. Equal parts teamwork and thrill, it was a reminder that when people come together, great things happen.

And that is exactly what Habitat is all about.

Powered by Volunteers and Community Partners

Behind the scenes, this event was made possible by an incredible group of volunteers who donated their time, creativity, and problem-solving skills to bring the escape room to life.

From designing puzzles and building sets to welcoming guests and resetting rooms between sessions, volunteers logged approximately 108 volunteer hours to make the experience seamless and memorable. Their energy and commitment transformed a few shipping containers into an immersive, family-friendly adventure that delighted hundreds of participants.

We are deeply grateful to our sponsors who helped make this event possible, including United Rentals, who generously provided the sea cans, and The Home Depot, whose donated building supplies helped turn ideas into reality.

This event truly showcased what can happen when businesses, volunteers, and community members come together with a shared purpose.

The Fungus Amoung Us team - made it out in 28 minutes flat!

By the Numbers

The Pop Up Escape Room Fundraiser was not just fun. It made a meaningful impact.

• Tickets sold: 527
  
  

• Total funds raised: approximately $12,275
  
  

• Winners: Lady Seymour from Campbell River in 11 minutes! and Bump in the NIght Courtenay in 20 minutes!
  
  

Every ticket purchased helped support Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North’s work to build strength, stability, and self-reliance through affordable housing.

Bringing the Puzzle to Life

For the creative minds behind the escape room, the most rewarding part was seeing it all come together and watching guests dive in.

You spend weeks designing clues and props, and the best moment is when people actually play through and everything clicks.

From first-time escape room players to seasoned pros, guests rose to the challenge, laughed together, and proved that teamwork really is the key to success.

Looking Ahead

After the success of this year’s Pop Up Escape Room Fundraiser, we are already looking ahead. Plans are underway to do it all over again next year, with new twists, fresh puzzles, and a few special surprises we cannot quite reveal just yet.

We are excited to continue creating fun, family-friendly events that bring people together, spark creativity, and strengthen community connections. Because at the end of the day, building homes starts with building community.

And sometimes, it starts with escaping a haunted room together.