Surrey haunted house marks final year with tribute to teen killed in police-involved shooting

A beloved haunted house in Surrey, B.C., carries a special meaning this year—in memory of Chase De Balinhard, who loved Halloween.

After 16 years of scares and fundraising, a beloved Cloverdale haunted house is taking its final bow — dedicating this year’s event to a neighbourhood teen who loved Halloween.

“This is the Spooktacular event we do every year,” said organizer Shane Yarwood. “This is our 16th and final year.”

Yarwood said closing the haunted house was a tough decision. “My kids have grown, and it takes two months to build for four hours of entertainment. So it becomes long nights, long days.”

Over the years, the Halloween display has become a community fixture — raising close to six figures for children’s charities.

“Our goal this year, 16,000. Over the years, in the 16 years, we’re roughly $100,000 for Children’s Hospital,” he said.

Honouring Chase De Balinhard

This year’s haunted house is dedicated to Chase De Balinhard, Yarwood’s neighbour who once acted in the event and loved Halloween.

“We started out with KidSport, and then we went to BC Children’s because our nephew had cancer at a young age,” said Yarwood. “And then this year, we decided to go with Chase, because he had volunteered with us a couple years and loved Halloween.”

Yarwood said Chase’s enthusiasm for the haunted house was unforgettable.

“He was a character. He would practice and practice two months before and get quite excited. He’d get into his role to the point where we’d have to tell him to settle down. This is not a movie. But the characters he’d play, he’d hit it out of the ballpark. It was amazing.”

“You saw Chase everywhere,” he added. “He was up and down the street, riding his bike or just wearing a costume, just having a good time.”

A Halloween tradition that lives on

“The Yarwood spooktacular event is a staple every year in our community,” said Crystal De Balinhard, Chase’s mother.

“Since Chase was born, we have walked by here or come through, and it’s just a bright light in our community. And every year they raise money for Children’s Hospital. So we’re very excited that they’re doing it in honour of Chase this year.”

“It’s extremely heartwarming. Emotional, very emotional because Chase loved Halloween, and he loved the Yarwoods,” she said. “His spirit lives on through these community events.”

Rick De Balinhard, Chase’s father, said the connection between his son and the haunted house ran deep.

“It was Chase’s special night. Halloween was Chase’s favourite time of the year, and this was just a highlight of it, coming down here. He acted in here one year, so he was very proud of it, and he always came down.”

“Doing this in honour of Chase would mean everything to our son. He’d be blown away,” he said.

Keeping his memory alive

The family says the community support has been overwhelming.

“It’s very touching,” said Rick. “The community has given a lot of support since Chase’s passing, and it’s been overwhelming. It gets very emotional seeing the care and the support that our community continues to give.”

“We’ve had so many people reach out saying that they’re going to drop by on Halloween, and that means the world to us,” added Crystal. “We don’t want Chase to be forgotten.”

“These are things that keep his memory alive,” said Rick. “Although it’s going to be fun, it’s going to be very emotional for us.”

“Remember his spirit,” he said. “Remember Chase for who he was — very caring, full of laughter, full of fun. He would just be so honoured by this today.”

Crystal De Balinhard added, “We just really want to thank the Yarwood family for honouring Chase. He would have absolutely loved this, and we’re so happy that our friends and family are all going to come out and support.”

Chase was 15 years old, but because he was on the autism spectrum he functioned developmentally more like a 10-year-old.

He was shot and killed by RCMP in Surrey while carrying what his parents say was an unloaded pellet gun back in February.

The Independent Investigations Office has yet to release its findings in his case.

The B.C. government has said a coroner’s inquest into his death will get underway after the watchdog completes its investigation.

The teen’s death has sparked controversy over police training on responding to calls involving people with intellectual or developmental disabilities.

Donations to the Yarwood’s fundraiser in Chase’s honour can be made here.