Who ya gonna call?

The Winnipeg Ghostbusters use their proton packs to raise funds for Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba

For the Winnipeg Ghostbusters, busting ghosts is only part of the job—they’re also busting barriers to help improve health care for kids in Manitoba.

What began as a Halloween yard display quickly turned into a community-driven fundraising force. Founders Kris Rutherford, his wife Nicole Rutherford, and their neighbor Adam Giardino were longtime fans of the Ghostbusters franchise and decided to bring their passion to life by setting up elaborate Halloween displays in their yards every year.

When Kris learned that Ghostbusters groups around the world were using their costumes to raise money for charity, the trio saw an opportunity to do something more.

“We thought, what if we could do this in Winnipeg and raise money for local charities like the Children’s Hospital?” says Kris.

That idea caught fire. Their first appearance in costume at Winnipeg Comic Con led to chance meetings with other Ghostbusters fans. Soon after, the Winnipeg Ghostbusters unofficially launched on Halloween in 2016 and they haven’t slowed down since.

Following the group’s continued success and the enthusiasm from fans throughout Winnipeg, Kris reached out to Sony Pictures. The Winnipeg Ghostbusters eventually received official recognition as a Ghostbusters franchise which came with a certificate signed by legendary director Ivan Reitman.

“With that recognition also came a responsibility of supporting our community through our love of Ghostbusters,” Kris says.

The Winnipeg Ghostbusters franchise is made up of 15 full members. The group has been built by co-founders Kris and Nicole Rutherford and Adam Giardino and now includes community-minded members Andrew Royal, Adam Wilton, Brandon Dewar, Brian Teichroew, Chris Reid, Evey Lapp, Jeremy Jeffery, Matthew Gerrard-MacMillan, Michael Cumbers, Robert Sabo, Steve Rogowsky and Vanessa Mancini. Faye Sabo, Lucas and Sadie Wilton, and Scarlett Rutherford make up the crew of “Jr. Busters” who are always ready to lend a (tiny) proton pack hand.

While the team dresses up in screen-accurate gear and replica props, their work goes far beyond cosplay. The Winnipeg Ghostbusters attend roughly 15 events every year raising funds for Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba and other charities, often setting up interactive photo booths and immersive displays. Their centerpiece is a 25-foot-tall Stay Puft Marshmallow Man – a fan-favorite at conventions and festivals.

At these events, they collect donations in exchange for photos and run silent auctions with items donated by local businesses. At last year’s Winnipeg Comic Con alone, they raised $5,000 for the Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba.

They’ve also hosted their own events, like a Ghostbusters Day celebration at the Park Theatre, which included screenings of the original films and a guest appearance by a replica Ecto-1.

Supporting children’s health has always been at the heart of their mission.

“Most of us are parents or aunts and uncles, and we know how important it is that kids have access to specialized care when they need it,” says Kris. “I had surgery at the Children’s Hospital as a child and spent several days there. I still remember how incredible the staff was. That experience has stayed with me.”

Alongside their support for the Children’s Hospital Foundation, the group has also fundraised for other local causes including Madox’s Warriors, the Christmas Cheerboard, CancerCare Manitoba and the Kidney Foundation of Manitoba.

“There’s no better feeling than that of accomplishment,” Kris says. “Year after year we see our donation numbers grow. It inspires us to keep going and find new ways to support the causes we care about.”

One of the biggest rewards? Meeting fans whose lives they’ve touched. “People come to our booth and drop $100 in the donation bin, just to say thanks for what we’re doing. It’s remarkable.”

“Winnipeggers are genuinely kind, generous, and inspirational,” Kris says. “We want to keep showcasing that to the world.” 

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You can find the Winnipeg Ghostbusters supporting Children’s Hospital Foundation of Manitoba at Ghost Walk Winnipeg on Oct. 16 and 17. They’ll also be at Winnipeg Comic Con from Oct. 24 to 26.