Haunted Escape Room Returns Thanks to Volunteer Creativity
When you step into Habitat for Humanity Vancouver Island North’s Pop-Up Escape Room - Haunted Edition this October, the first thing you’ll notice is the atmosphere. The distressed wall panels, eerie notes scattered on tables, and haunting blueprints tucked among the clues all set the stage for a spine-tingling challenge. What you may not realize is that every detail — from the creepy props to the interactive puzzles — was created with care by Habitat volunteers.
One of those volunteers is Carol Lewis, a self-taught artist who has been part of the Habitat family for more than 30 years. Carol has worn many hats in her time with Habitat, from swinging a hammer on home builds in Alberta to greeting shoppers as a cashier at the Campbell River ReStore. This year, she took on a new role: transforming simple materials into props that bring the escape room’s haunted storyline to life.
“My favourite prop to create was the distressed wall panels,” Carol said. “Trying to make something that looked like the walls of an abandoned build, and adding that spooky Halloween vibe, was such a fun challenge.” This was particularly tricky given that this year’s event will be held in a pair of sea cans at the Campbell River ReStore, generously donated by United Rentals.
Carol’s love of creativity goes hand in hand with her commitment to community. She often volunteers as a cashier at the ReStore and takes pride in helping customers find just what they’re looking for. “It’s always wonderful to see how happy people are with the treasures they find,” she said. “I try to be familiar with the stock so I can point someone toward exactly what they need — it’s very gratifying.”
She isn’t alone in bringing the Haunted Escape Room to life. A team of mechanically inclined volunteers has been hard at work building puzzles, designing interactive elements, and setting up the room itself.Their efforts are supported by longtime Habitat partner, Home Depot, who donated supplies for this project. Together, this work not only makes the event unforgettable but also demonstrates how volunteer creativity and collaboration fuel Habitat’s broader mission.
For Carol, the connection between a spooky fundraiser and Habitat’s broader work is clear. “Habitat for Humanity is about working together to build vibrant communities and helping people secure a decent, affordable place to call home,” she said. “Being part of that is incredibly meaningful.”
The Pop-Up Escape Room runs from October 15 to 30, with proceeds going directly toward Habitat’s homebuilding projects in Campbell River and the Comox Valley. Last winter’s event sold out, so participants are encouraged to book their spot early.
