The Easter Bunny got a little head start this year. Saturday morning, Regina’s Government House was transformed into a giant playground, where young and old gathered for the traditional egg hunt – with, at the end of the day, a simple but irresistible promise: to leave with arms full of chocolates.
As soon as they arrive, the children are welcomed in a festive and friendly atmosphere. The event quickly took on the appearance of a collective expedition. In the park, hundreds of children set off, running in all directions in search of the precious hidden eggs. And faced with this challenge, each one develops their own strategy.
Inside Government House, young and old explore the museum’s rooms to solve the Easter riddle and complete their quest.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Julien Sturbois
For some, organization is essential. Munir Mominyar, a young egg hunter, explains how his group maximizes its chances: We got everyone to spread out, and then when everyone had a chance to go, everyone found eggs. Then they brought them back, and we all put them together
he indicates.
An effective tactic, which consists of dispersing before pooling the findings. But not everyone relies on individualism. Other families favor sharing and closeness, sometimes with a little encouragement.
Passing through from Ottawa, Ryan Jeffries and Evelyn Maeder accompany their daughter Mirabelle, who is still a little hesitant to set out on her own. In a scene that is both tender and familiar, the parents recount their experience: We’re visiting, we’re from Ottawa, but we’re here to visit my mother and my family. So… Keep going! No I can’t… Courage, courage Mirabelle. She wants an adult with her…
they say.
Between encouragement and bursts of laughter, the hunt resumes with a vengeance. Because this year, the event is not limited to a simple egg collection: it is transformed into a real treasure hunt.
To guide the participants, a more elaborate game system has been put in place. Hope Van Vliet, guide at Government House, details the rules of this revisited edition. Outside, children must assemble pieces of eggs while following colorful clues. So there you have it, you have to find two pieces of an egg and put them together. But we also have little papers like this and you can see the six colors that you have to find
she explains.
At Government House, the young participants validate their collection of clues and eggs before obtaining their chocolate reward during the Easter hunt.
Photo: Radio-Canada / Julien Sturbois
But the adventure doesn’t stop there. Participants are also invited to enter the museum doors to continue their quest.
Inside, a second challenge awaits the most curious. Hope Van Vliet describes this enigmatic journey which combines exploration and reflection: So we have eggs with letters on them, and you have to find the others in each room of the museum and write the letters on the paper
she specifies.
She also adds: You can find little papers with a letter on them, then there is a little game where you have to put the letters in the right order to make a joke
she adds.
The children then wander through the different rooms, scrutinizing every corner in search of clues. The objective: to reconstruct a sentence and answer a simple but amusing question – what does a rabbit say to another rabbit?
Once the enigma has been solved, the long-awaited moment finally comes. After the effort, the reward. Participants exchange their findings for chocolate eggs, savoring the fruit of a sometimes relentless quest.
Beyond the game, the event recalls the essential: the pleasure of meeting up, sharing and celebrating together. And for those who missed this edition, a second chance is already planned. The egg hunt will return next Wednesday, with a new opportunity to unravel the mysteries of the museum – and, of course, leave with some sweet treats.
With information from Julien Sturbois and William Lemoine
