AI-generated illustration; not a photograph of the reported event.
- calendar_today October 29, 2026
Haunted Town of L'il-Sur-Mer Marks 10 Years of Frights and Fundraising
The Haunted Town of L'il-Sur-Mer, situated just 15 kilometres south of Swift Current, Saskatchewan, has completed its tenth year of eerie entertainment and charitable giving. This unique haunted village has developed into a popular seasonal attraction, raising significant funds for local charities with each haunting season.
A Whole Village of Haunted Attractions
Unlike a typical haunted house, the Haunted Town of L'il-Sur-Mer transforms a rural paintball field into a sprawling network of spooky buildings each fall. The town includes themed structures such as a clown house, a spider house, a haunted pirate ship, and a church. As the wind howls and darkness falls, guests are immersed in an unnerving atmosphere, with eerie sounds and sights around every corner.
Origins and Community Effort
The imitation town is built on ArMy Paintball's property, with the paintball season ending as Halloween approaches. According to its website, the site was initially constructed in tribute to the D-Day troops who stormed Normandy, and its name, L’il-Sur-Mer, loosely translates to "small town by the sea." Property owner Andy Keys and his friend Rene Panasiuk envisioned using the village for a next-level haunted attraction.
Volunteers and Board Behind the Scenes
The event is organized by a board of 10 members, with up to 50 volunteers contributing on event nights. Yvonne Haubrich, a board member, explained, “This is our favourite time of year. I've loved Halloween since I was a kid, and horror movies and all of the things. This way at least you can have fun, do something you like, it's a lot of work, and then at the same time raise a lot of money for the community.”
Local scouts also benefit, running a concession stand as a fundraising initiative for their troop.
Financial Impact and Growth
Over the past decade, the Haunted Town has raised more than $150,000 for local charities. Haubrich reported that approximately $145,000 was raised from 2017 to 2026, with this year’s six sold-out tours expected to push the total beyond $175,000. Every cent from ticket sales is put toward charitable causes across southwest Saskatchewan.
“They have a mighty army out there that are all in to see these kinds of things happen that can benefit the community around them,” said Tom Weppler, director of MyCityCare in Swift Current. “I can't say enough about what they do. The benefits that they bring to the community for our organization, and others as well, is just phenomenal.”
Increased Demand and Future Plans
Interest in receiving support from the Haunted Town has grown, with around 30 organizations applying for funding this year—triple the number of previous years. Groups interested in applying can do so via the haunted attraction’s website. To support the ever-more elaborate tours, organizers have moved from self-funding to working with sponsors.
With visitors traveling from across Canada and tours selling out quickly, the board has explored possibilities for expansion. Haubrich noted, “Everybody always has ideas because that's the kind of group we are. But it's just the ability to put them together. Obviously if you're sold out, you can do more and more, but people have lives and work.”
Looking Ahead to More Chills and Charity
As soon as the season ends, planning begins for new scares the following year. Haubrich emphasized that the team is committed to ensuring each Halloween tour is fresh and unpredictable, maintaining the Haunted Town of L'il-Sur-Mer’s reputation as a unique haunted village and community fundraiser in Saskatchewan.
Source: cbc.ca.
