For Ben and his wife, Jessica, supporting the IWK is deeply personal.
Both of their sons were born prematurely and required specialized care in the IWK’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU). Their youngest son, Elliott, was also born with a congenital diaphragmatic hernia, a serious condition that required lifesaving surgery when he was just two days old.
In the weeks that followed, Elliott remained in the NICU under the care of an incredible team of doctors, nurses and specialists. And even after coming home, his journey with the IWK continued through ongoing appointments, follow-up care and support from a wide range of healthcare professionals.
Early in Elliott’s care, one doctor told Ben and Jessica, “Everyone here knows who Elliott is. If you didn’t feel like family before, you certainly will now.”
Those words have stayed with them ever since.
During some of the most difficult and uncertain moments of their lives, the IWK became much more than a hospital — it became an extension of their family. The care, compassion and support their family received inspired Ben and Jessica to find a meaningful way to give back.
They found it in something they have loved for years: Halloween.
Longtime Halloween enthusiasts, Ben and Jessica even spent their honeymoon at Universal Studios Orlando’s Halloween Horror Nights. In 2024, they turned that passion into purpose by launching Green Fam Farm, a homegrown haunted attraction dedicated to raising funds for the IWK.
What began as a $2,000 fundraiser in its first year quickly grew into something much bigger. The following year, Green Fam Farm raised an incredible $10,000, welcomed nearly 3,000 visitors and brought together close to 60 volunteers to help make the experience possible.
Behind the scares is a remarkable community effort.
Ben purchases and maintains the attraction’s growing collection of animatronics and decorations, while neighbour and local artist Grant Tomchuk helps design and build many of the themed sets. Family members, neighbours and dozens of volunteers also pitch in, with planning beginning months in advance and construction getting underway each September.
And this year, Green Fam Farm is taking things to an entirely new level.
The team is partnering with House of Doom to create what they hope will be their biggest IWK Halloween fundraiser yet. Visitors can look forward to a walkthrough stretching more than 1,000 feet and featuring six immersive scare zones, including the popular House of Doom experience.
During the daytime family event, younger visitors can join in the fun too, with family-friendly activities including face painting. Together, the team has set an ambitious goal of raising $20,000 for the IWK.
For Ben and Jessica, every scare, every volunteer hour and every donation represents something much bigger than Halloween. It is a way to honour the care their family received, celebrate the community that has rallied around them and help support other families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives.
Driven by gratitude, community spirit and a shared love of Halloween, Green Fam Farm is turning spooky fun into meaningful support for families across the Maritimes - one haunted attraction at a time.
Follow Green Fam Farm on social media for event announcements and updates throughout October:
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/greenfamfarmhalloween
Instagram: @GreenFamFarm
