LAC LA BICHE - On Dec. 13, a group of youth from the Lac La Biche area were getting into the festive spirit in a comical way by participating in a murder-mystery event called ‘Crime at Christmastime.’
The evening of mayhem, intrigue and laughs played out of McArthur Place and was put on by the Lac La Biche County FCSS Teen Chillzone program.
The classic whodunnit was set at the luxurious Bel Air mansion of Regina and Benjamin Baxter - the most famous couple in the neighbourhood.
As a group of fanciful neighbours gather, a murder occurs, and everyone becomes as suspect.
Christine Martin, a community outreach worker with Lac La Biche County FCSS, said ‘Crime at Christmastime’ was successful, with 32 youth taking part in the murder-mystery.
“Great event, lots of new teens to Teen Chillzone, so it was a nice way for them to get introduced to the program,” Martin told Lakeland This Week.
Every year, FCSS puts on a murder-mystery production that also includes a dinner. According to Martin, a mystery is chosen and preparations are made throughout the couple of months prior to the event. In previous years, these events have included Halloween murder mysteries, a New Orleans mystery set during Mardi Gras, as well as some with Christmas themes.
The themes vary each year, and FCSS staff try to find fresh ideas for each event.
The annual murder-mysteries are a great way of getting teens to step out of their comfort zone and get them socializing and connecting with their peers face-to-face, she said.
“It’s really a very social activity that requires each teen to talk to other teens based on the information they have or need to solve the mystery,” she said. “The chatter and noise in the room is always great to hear and each mystery has been a hit so far.”
