The Town of Aurora has been honoured with an Award of Excellence from the Economic Developers Council of Ontario (EDCO) for its Cybersecurity Escape Room, a groundbreaking project that merges technology and education with entertainment that's the first of its kind in Canada.
The 2024 Cybersecurity Escape Room in downtown Aurora is designed specifically for cybersecurity training, a town news release said.
"By blending the thrill of an escape room with real-world cybersecurity challenges, it turns traditional training into an immersive and memorable experience. Created in partnership with siberX, the escape room featured hands-on tasks such as identifying phishing schemes, decrypting codes, and mitigating simulated ransomware attacks," the release said.
The award, announced at the EDCO's 68th annual conference and showcase, recognizes the cybersecurity escape room in the visitor attraction and tourism product development initiative.
“The Town of Aurora is honoured to receive this prestigious award, which highlights our commitment to creating unique and engaging experiences for our community and visitors,” said Mayor Tom Mrakas. “The Cybersecurity Escape Room project showcases our dedication to innovation and economic growth
while promoting digital literacy in an interactive and fun way. This recognition from EDCO is a testament to the hard work and creativity of our staff and partners.”
The escape room quickly became a local attraction, boosting tourism and supporting nearby businesses, the town said. In three months, it welcomed nearly 300 visitors, with inquiries about implementing similar initiatives coming from across Canada, the U.S., and beyond, the town added.
The EDCO Awards of Excellence recognize outstanding economic development projects that set new industry standards and have the potential to become best practices. Award recipients are considered leaders in economic development and are often invited to share their insights at EDCO events.