Redefine Success
Why We Started Laser Tag Ottawa: LaChasing “The Spark”
Laser Tag Ottawa didn’t start as a business idea. It started as a feeling I’ve carried since I was a kid—the sense that so many activities for kids could be incredible… but too often they land somewhere between “fine” and “forgettable.” Not because the kids don’t care, but because the adults running it don’t go the extra mile.
I remember being that kid in gym class playing dodgeball, thinking: This could be next level. Not in a complicated way—just better gear, proper balls, pinnies that actually fit, and a ref who was genuinely excited about the game. Someone who wasn’t just there to “supervise,” but to lead the experience. When that leadership is missing, kids don’t really get the chance to buy in. They don’t get to step into a story, feel the adventure, and chase that moment of success that makes them walk away taller.
As an adult—and now as a father—I still see the same pattern. I’ll take my kids to an activity and on the drive home I’ll catch myself thinking: What if we created a space where this could really happen? A space where the leaders are intentional. Where they interact with the kids. Where they pull something out of them that maybe doesn’t show up in everyday life.
That “something” is what I call the spark.
I’ve always felt that spark in myself. And if I’m honest, I can count on one hand the number of times someone truly saw it in me and helped develop it—or better yet, poured gas on the fire. Those moments mattered. They shaped me.
And they’re a big part of why we started Laser Tag Ottawa.
Heather-Joy sees that spark too. She’s been helping kids find it and grow it for years through her work as a teacher—watching what happens when a child feels safe enough to try, supported enough to keep going, and seen enough to believe they can do more than they thought.
So when we talk about what we’re building, it’s not just “laser tag.” It’s an environment where kids can get into it. Where they can feel brave, included, capable, and part of something. Where teamwork isn’t a poster on the wall—it’s something they experience in real time. Where excitement turns into effort, and effort turns into success.
That’s what fuels Laser Tag Ottawa.
It’s what fuels us as community leaders.
And ultimately, it’s what fuels us as parents.
What this blog will be
This is our first post, and it’s the foundation. Going forward, we’ll use this space to share:
Stories from events and the moments that remind us why we do this
Reflections for parents, coaches, and leaders who want more than “just an activity”
Behind-the-scenes looks at how we design experiences that are immersive, inclusive, and confidence-building
If you’re reading this and you’ve ever thought, Kids deserve better than average, you’re in the right place. We’re building something here—one spark at a time.
