Boys and Girls Club's haunted house gets green light

Halloween at the Boys and Girls Club of Airdrie (BGC) is about to get bigger and scarier.

Airdrie City council approved a one-month lease of the former RCMP building for its annual haunted house event, during the Sept. 4 meeting.

The club has been hosting the haunted house for six years, but this year’s event will run for 10 days, thanks to the approval by council.

The extended run will allow the club to raise more money for its programs.

“The past six years have been great, but we’re always looking at opportunities to increase fundraising,” said Denisa Sanness, BGC executive director. “It’s going to be absolutely fantastic.”

Last year, the event was held over two days at Iron Horse Park, but spectator feedback led the club to expand the event.

This year, the haunted house will run from Oct. 18 to 31 and there will be two separate shows, one for younger audiences and families and another for older patrons.

Sanness said the club modelled this year’s event after the Boys and Girls Club of Red Deer and District, which expanded its event last year and raised $80,000 in two days.

“Red Deer turned it into an Alberta attraction,” she said.

“We have an opportunity to make it big and high-profile and draw people in from Calgary. It’ll be something people talk about and the RCMP station is the perfect setting.”

In previous years, the BGC held the haunted house at its Allen Street location, but the event caused the disruption of the club’s regular programs.

Sanness said a third-party venue would help prevent that and grow the event into one the size of Red Deer’s.

“We’re hoping the success this year will get people excited about where it’s going to happen,” Sannis said.

She added the club is hoping to change venues each year.

“We want to build this so we don’t have to look for a location. We want businesses to see the benefit and want to be part of it.”

Alderman Kelly Hegg commended the BGC for its vision and future planning regarding the event, as did Alderman Ron Chapman.

“I was involved with the haunted house from the get-go,” said Chapman.

“I don’t want to say it scared me, but it definitely made me nervous.”

During the 10 days, the haunted house will run from 6 to 9 p.m. on weekdays and 1 to 10 p.m. on weekends.