The Ouellette family (Melanie, Jeremis, Annaliese, and Adrianna) of Thompson, Manitoba, who run Lock N Load Paintball, have generously donated their time, equipment and gaming expertise to the Manitoba Winter Games.

Athletes, when not competing, have an opportunity to gather with their friends and experience an Escape Room, laser tag, colouring, jewelry making, table pong or a whole host of board games and interactive games such as Tetris and Jenga.

The Ouellettes have created two Escape Rooms: the Treasure Room at the boys' residence and the Zombie Room at the girls' residence. Athletes have been challenged by the Escape Rooms, but have been showing team spirit and working together to find success.

Aside from these games, karaoke, movie day, snowshoeing, and a campfire are scheduled throughout the week for the athletes.

Activity rooms have been busy, and the athletes have plenty of energy to burn. There is a lot of bonding happening, and the athletes are making new friends.

We talked to a few athletes about their favourite part of the Activities Room:

•  Isabella Dauk - Team North - Bracelet making
•  Haylee Falk - Team North - Bracelet making
•  Arienne Dufault - Team Winnipeg Blue - Corn Hole
•  Sydney Feldman - Team Winnipeg Gold - Jenga

“It's been nice to see the athletes making friends and memories, as they are playing with other regions,” noted Annaliese Ouellette.Adrianna added, “The athletes wrote inspiring messages for each other and that was nice to see.”

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