Derek Neary
Northern News Services

Fort Liard (Nov 02/01) - Brian Mavin embodies the spirit of Halloween.

Using his extensive collection of props, Mavin converted the former Beaver Enterprises office building into a haunted house, and it took 200 hours of work to do it.

Brian Mavin created an elaborate haunted house for kids in Fort Liard. It's something he does every Halloween, but this was the best one yet, he said. - Derek Neary/NNSL photo

"This year is going to be the best ever," he predicted last Friday. "The kids are definitely going to get a scare."

How could they feel anything but scared?

As they proceed through the dark, maze-like halls into each room, ghosts and ghouls jump out at them from behind walls. Spiders, rats, skulls, and severed limbs greet them at every turn. A CD pumps out sounds of chains, screams and maniacal laughter.

In the torture chamber, an unfortunate victim is being hacked to bits. After witnessing that, frightened visitors are offered chopped liver.

"It starts getting gruesome when you go in through here," Mavin admitted. "It's going to be pretty nasty."

With some assistance from co-worker Bernie Costello, his wife, Kerri, and Cathy MacAskill, he began his labour of love Oct. 1. It's something he's done for the past five years, starting in Fort Chipewyan, where he used to work.

He's been building his collection of Halloween paraphernalia through purchases from a specialty store in Edmonton and via Internet shopping. He has all the best-known masks -- Michael Myers, Jason from Friday the 13th, Freddy Kruger, and on and on.

It was someone in a vampire costume who struck terror into one adolescent a few years ago, compelling the young man to look desperately for the nearest exit.

"I actually thought he was going to dig through the wall," Mavin said, smiling.

It took 16 volunteers to pull off this year's edition of the haunted house. Mavin held a rehearsal on Sunday night just to be sure everything went right on Monday and Tuesday.

Having grown up in St. John's, he used to attend Spook-a-rama every year at a park near Memorial University.

He was quickly hooked on horror.

"I just love Halloween ... and it's great fun for the kids," he said.