APICA launches outdoor escape game for local businesses

Continuing to keep the businesses vibrant during these harder than normal times, the Aylmer Professionals, Industrials, and Merchants Association (APICA) integrated an escape game on rue Principale on August 1.

APICA’s Director General Nathalie Rodrigue explained that the activity is part of the association’s economic recovery plan “Acheter Aylmer, c’est gagnant!” in response to COVID-19’s impact on local businesses.

“We really want to be there for our businesses,” Rodrigue said. “We want to show that we can still be there for them in this very unusual situation.”

Made possible with the help of local company specializing in escape games, the Cochlea Team de Gatineau, the game is way of getting people to support Old Aylmer businesses and having a good time in a unique way.

Free of charge, anyone interested can play the game by downloading Cochlea Team’s application called Wakanai. The adventure gives participants 60 minutes to solve the mystery. With six clues along the way, all are located in front of different businesses on a map, but in no particular order.

“It’s really about discovering businesses and discovering rue Principale,” Rodrigue said. 

With the starting point at Commemorative Park, the route extends all the way to rue Front – featuring several signs showing the clues at different locations.

The escape game will remain in place until August 31, and new activity aimed at helping different businesses should take place during September, Rodrigue said.

She added that APICA is close to finalizing a broader plan to help reinvigorate Aylmer’s commercial arteries.