The Martlet

Unknown to the local authorities last Sunday, Jan. 10, there was a full-fledged manhunt involving over 35 participants in Victoria’s downtown sector.

In a blocked off area near the B.C. Museum Clock tower, several people could be seen chasing one another through the streets taking refuge by whatever means at their disposal. The hunt was roughly the 23rd of its kind to take place in Victoria just this past year. But these all-out chases are not your average manhunts.

With over 350 members in its chapter, Victoria Manhunt — better known as “A Game O’ Manhunt” — has become one the fastest-growing local recreation groups.

With the entire game evolving around a elaborate hide-and-seek concept, the rules are simple for newcomers to learn. Through flyers, facebook, newspaper ads and word of mouth, this group has had 50 new members join since Christmas.

Manhunt’s Victoria chapter, organized by second-year UVic History in Art grad student Eric Anderson, is the first on Vancouver Island.

It’s not the first in Canada however, as Vancouver, Toronto, Montreal, Halifax, London and Edmonton each boast their own rapidly growing chapters.

According to Anderson, there are several reasons the group has taken off in Victoria.

“It’s something that’s free,” Anderson said. “It’s something based outdoors, and I think it really speaks to people’s ideas about community and co-operation.”

The game begins after a “Manhunter” has been designated “it.” After waiting 120 seconds for the “fugitives” to hide, the Manhunter will stalk his or her prey within a predetermined boundary. If the fugitives exit the boundaries at any point during the game, they will join forces with their hunter and become yet another Manhunter.

If a Manhunter manages to arrest a fugitive during the game, the fugitive will become “brainwashed” and be forced to join forces with the Manhunters.

If a fugitive manages to elude the hunters by the end of the game, he or she is declared the winner.

The concept is simple enough, and participants need not bring anything more than a pair of durable shoes and clothing that blends in with their surroundings.

Most games take place near downtown Victoria to encourage a maximum number of players. Games have occurred as far away as Sir James Douglas School in Fairfield, while others have been played in the busiest streets of Victoria. The only thing that sets the players apart from civilians is a highly-visible yellow arm band.

The weather may be dreary, but Anderson says people are more than willing to come and play. Each hunt brings out an average of 20 to 30 people.

“It’s absolutely open to everyone,” Anderson said. “There can be a lot of running involved, but it’s a game that you can also be sneaky in and really avoid running – it caters to a lot of different athletic levels. We’ve never turned anybody away.”