Patrick Clowery, President of the Intermunicipal Board of the Massawippi Regional Park, in front of the Eustis covered bridge, one of the stops in the real-life escape game. Photo Courtesy
New adventure game set to showcase the charms of Lake Massawippi
By William Crooks
Local Journalism Initiative
The Memphrémagog Regional County Municipality (MRC) has announced July 18 an innovative real escape room-style adventure game titled “Legends of Lake Massawippi: The Quest for the Lost Pages.” This unique activity is set to highlight the eastern part of the MRC’s territory, focusing on Lake Massawippi and its surrounding municipalities.
The game, developed in collaboration with Défi-Évasion and the Régie intermunicipale du Parc régional Massawippi, invites participants to embark on a 58-kilometre journey, according to a recent press release. Players will reconstruct a collection of local tales and legends by solving puzzles at various stops. The route spans five municipalities: Ayer’s Cliff, Hatley Township, Hatley, North Hatley, and Sainte-Catherine-de-Hatley.
Participants have the flexibility to start at any municipality and can take breaks to enjoy the scenic views or extend their adventure over several days. Jacques Demers, Prefect of the MRC of Memphrémagog, emphasized the project’s intent to shift the spotlight to Lake Massawippi and its picturesque surroundings. “We want people to discover the beauty of our region through this engaging game,” he said in the release.
The initiative is part of the Signature Innovation Project funded by the Ministry of Municipal Affairs and Housing’s Regions and Rurality Fund. Patrick Clowery, President of the Intermunicipal Board of the Massawippi Regional Park, explained that the concept was well-received by the park’s administration. “The MRC brought this interactive game idea to us, and we were immediately in favour,” he noted in a July 18 interview.
The game involves participants reconstituting a collection of stories and legends from the municipalities around Lake Massawippi. These stories are displayed on panels at various locations, and each panel presents a riddle or puzzle that participants must solve. The aim is to make the game both educational and entertaining, allowing participants to learn about the history and folklore of the region while enjoying a fun and interactive experience.
The game panels are being installed at key locations such as the Ayer’s Cliff Rest Area, Parc de Souvenirs in Hatley Township, and the covered bridge in North Hatley. “I hope the panels are already in place or will be shortly,” said Sonia Tremblay, General Director and Secretary-Treasurer of the Intermunicipal Board of the Massawippi Regional Park, expressing optimism about the installation timeline in a July 18 interview.
Tremblay provided more details about the game. “Each municipality has a panel at various sites where participants will solve riddles to uncover local legends,” she explained. For instance, a legend of Hatley Township requires players to piece together the story by finding clues at designated stops. “We’ve made sure that the panels are installed in easily accessible locations,” Tremblay added.
In North Hatley, participants will learn about the legend of Wippi, a monster said to inhabit the lake. “We tried to connect each story to the unique history and culture of the municipality it represents,” Tremblay explained.
The flexibility of the game allows participants to start at any of the five municipalities and complete the game at their own pace. “Participants are free to start and stop the game as they wish, taking time to explore the beautiful scenery and enjoy the local attractions,” said Tremblay. This flexibility is expected to attract a wide range of participants, from tourists looking for a unique activity to locals wanting to learn more about their region.
The project has been in the works for several months, and the MRC of Memphrémagog is eager to see it come to fruition. “We have been working closely with Défi-Évasion and the Régie Intermunicipale du Parc Régional Massawippi to ensure that everything is ready for the launch,” said Clowery. “We are confident that participants will enjoy the game and learn a lot about our region.”
The game is expected to be available throughout the summer, with panels and clues ready for participants to discover. “We are planning to have everything in place by the end of July,” said Tremblay. “We encourage everyone to come out and experience the Legends of Lake Massawippi for themselves.”
The MRC of Memphrémagog is also planning to promote the game through various channels, including social media, local newspapers, and tourism websites. “We want to make sure that as many people as possible know about this exciting new activity,” said Clowery. “We believe that it will be a great success and a wonderful addition to the attractions in our region.”