Halloween home map highlights spooky Winnipeg homes
An online map highlighting some of Winnipeg’s best-dressed Halloween homes is taking the guesswork out of finding spooky decorations across the city.
The map, now going for about five years, began as a localized neighbourhood initiative. That changed with the arrival of the pandemic.
“I’d drive around and find these houses on my own and then share it with my local community group,” said Carol Cassell, creator of the Winnipeg Halloween Map. “The pandemic spurred me to do it for the entire city.”
Boasting about 36,000 views online, the map is proof Winnipeggers have an interest in viewing Halloween homes. The Winnipeg Halloween Map Facebook page has also gone from about 1,000 members on October 1, to close to 6000.
Cassell is no stranger to Winnipeg map making, having already made some showing Christmas homes, weekly garage sales, COVID-19 window gallery maps and ones for playgrounds and other attractions.
“I really like to see other people be happy,” said Cassell. “Putting the maps together and knowing those maps were going to bring some people joy really helps me get through the pandemic.”
Cassell said the maps take a bit of work, and with this year’s Halloween home submissions sitting at 162 so far this year, it keeps her busy.
That’s 162 forms with addresses that Cassel has to find time to enter into the map, but the work doesn’t stop there. To ensure the homes are worth a visit Cassell will ask for pictures. Sometimes she will even take the trip herself.
It is an extra step but a worthwhile one, according to Cassell. It is based on experience gained with the Winnipeg Christmas Map where some submissions didn’t live up to expectations.
“There were some submissions that I was like, ‘Oh, some lights on a bush. That’s really not worth driving across the city,’” said Cassell.
This year, homes featured on the map are graded, with a black skull and crossbones taking the top spots. Homes with that label are “very decorated right now.”
Pumpkins indicate low-to-moderately decorated homes and then you have the moons, which are decorated on Halloween night only.
Decisions on where a home sits on the Halloween scale often rests on the shoulders of the person who submits the map entry. While not scientific, Cassell said enjoyment for children is a contributing factor.
“I think anything that gets kids excited to see is something I put down as very decorated. Inflatables, cool lighting, animatronics, stuff like that,” Cassell said.
When asked about Winnipeg’s top Halloween home Cassell pointed to a Harry Potter-themed house in Transcona. Not only is the house covered in Hogwarts décor and homemade props, it is also raising money for research and treatment of a rare disease one of its young residents has.
“They’ve even done a scavenger hunt. There’s a bingo sheet that’s been made available to print out, so people can come by with their families and look for everything in their yard,” Cassell said.
The map can be found online.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Poilievre-led government 'would never' use notwithstanding clause on abortion, his office says
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.