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C£> S p o t lig h t 1 1 1 LLi " Connected toyour Community" Haunted Backyard scares up support for a good cause Oakville Beaver Staff -------------------------------------------------------------esidents looking to get a good Halloween scare while supporting a great cause are invited to brave the terrors of one Oakville home' s Haunted Backyard. Mike Wilson, who previously worked for a Toronto film studio, has been organizing a haunted house at his 119 Walby Dr., property for about 20 years. Each year the scary spectacle has gotten a little larger and has now gotten to the point where the maze of horrors encompasses Wilson' s entire backyard, which is about a third of an acre in size. For the last eight years, Wilson said, the spooky experience has also raised money for the Canadian Cancer Society, collecting nearly $6,000 in donations last year. "It just keeps getting bigger and better," said Wilson. "Last year we had about 3,000 people come through here." The Haunted Backyard is open to the public Halloween night and every Friday and Saturday in October from 6 p.m., to 9 p.m. Those who enter the backyard must make their way through a maze-like collection of twists and turns filled with skeletons, severed heads, spiders, vampires, witches and much more. A bloody gallows, a bat filled cave and a tomb filled with unmentionable terrors are just a few of the highlights visitors will find. Scares will come from every direction administered by both the chilling atmosphere and by the 50 or so costumed volunteers lying in wait in hiding places concealed throughout the maze. Wilson says children of all ages are welcome noting that some kids will get farther into the maze than others. "We have kids as young as one or two come who are literally not aware of what is going on. They don't know to be afraid yet. Once you get up to ages three, four and five they start becoming more aware of their surroundings and then leery of their surroundings," said Wilson. "As they become older they become more and more brave. One year they might not get to the door. The next year, we might get them just inside to get their candy. The next year, they might get beyond that and into the hallway by David Lea J Mike and Jody Wilson go all out for Halloween to raise money for cancer research. Are you looking for a Spooktacular good time? Stop in for a spell at the Haunted Backyard. | Riziero Vertolli/Metroland and that's it, they'v e had enough before they even get into the main maze. Sooner or later everyone gets brave enough to come in." Little children are not the only ones who find the Haunted Backyard creepy. Two years ago, Wilson said, a 16-year-old birthday girl was freaked out by the maze and A D e fe n d in gp rin cip le stoinsp irepublictrust stayed outside while her friends went in. She conquered her fears and joined her friends inside the maze last year, he said. Wilson emphasized he is not trying to give anyone an unpleasant experience and if anyone is really scared they can yell, `Chicken!' at which point the volunteers will take off their masks and become friendly. Due to the maze being large the frightened individual will probably need to yell `Chicken!' multiple times to ensure they can leave the maze without any further scares. Wilson said considerable work goes into setting up the Haunted Backyard noting he has to start a month before it first opens to the public. Friends volunteer their time to help get everything ready, however, once everything is in place it then has to be maintained against the elements. Wilson said he sets himself a budget of $500 each year for fixing and adding to the backyard, but inevitably goes over this. Fortunately, he says, the popularity of the Haunted Backyard has grown to the point where companies like Rona Lansing are willing to donate materials. Wilson said he moved around a lot as a child and saw how different Halloween is treated from one place to another. One community might go all out for the trick-or-treaters while other communities mostly turn out their lights and let the occasion pass unmarked. "That' s so disappointing. It is such a fun thing to do. I think it is terrible for anyone not to take part in it even in a slight way. No one says you have to give out $100 worth of candy, but get out there and give them a bit of a scare and a little bit of fun," said Wilson. "It's not all about the treats. It' s about the fun of the time. It's about getting out there, having a scare, giving a scare. It is a very big community event in my mind." Wilson said he decided to begin raising money for the Canadian Cancer Society because his father passed away from cancer and his family has always been a big supporter of cancer research. He has an ultimate goal of raising $20,000 for the Canadian Cancer Society, a goal he is currently about $7,000 away from. After that, the Haunted Backyard might start raising funds for a new charity. Wilson hasn't decided yet. There is no minimum donation to experience the Haunted Backyard. Wilson prefers cash donations, however, cheques can be made payable to the Canadian Cancer Society. For more information, call 905-469 1363 or visit www.facebook.com/groups/ TheHauntedBackyard. LLE o®© *m etro lan dm e d ia Ontario Press Council B eaver* Volume 55 | Number 76 5046 Mainway, Unit 2, Burlington (905) 845-3824 Oakville Beaver is a member of the Ontario Press Council. The council is located at 80 Gould St., Suite 206, Toronto, Ont., M5B 2M7. Phone (416) 340-1981. Advertising is accepted on the condition that, in the event of a typographical error, that portion of advertising space occupied by the erroneous item, together with a reasonable allow ance for signature, will not be charged for, but the balance of the advertisement will be paid for at the applicable rate. The publisher reserves the right to categorize adver tisements or decline. Editorial and advertising content of the Oakville Beaver is pro tected by copyright. Unauthorized use is prohibited. Vice-President and Group Publisher of Metroland West Neil Oliver Advertising Director Daniel Baird / dbaird@metroland.com / 289-293-0624 Managing Editor Angela Blackburn / editor@oakvillebeaver.com / 289-293-0617 Regional General Manager Kelly Montague kmontague@metroland.com / 289-293-0614 Director of Distribution Charlene Hall / chall@metroland.com / 905-631-6095