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Montreal, QC

Irene Yao

I’m a Political Science student at McGill, living in Tiohtià:ke/Montreal for the past three years. I love basketball, running, reading, visual arts, and working in bright sunshine whenever I can. I enjoy explaining things and turning big or messy ideas into something clear and digestible. During the pandemic, I led a Rising Youth project called To a Dear One, where we mailed over 1,000 handwritten letters to elders and healthcare workers. That experience inspired me to join Sprouts. Now, I’m creating Room to Fight, a bilingual escape game that helps Quebec renters learn their rights through puzzles and play. This summer, I’m also writing a research paper for an undergraduate class on clan rulebooks after visiting Shantou, China, exploring how everyday people live with and interpret law across generations and cultures.

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Room to Fight

Room to Fight is a bold, bilingual escape game that teaches Quebec tenant rights through mystery and play. Players solve puzzles based on real laws — like rent control and illegal deposits — while racing against the clock. Designed to be portable and modular, the game hopes to bring legal knowledge and ressources to youth and first-time renters across Quebec. Around the game, quick trivia booths and co-created resources ensure that even five minutes of play can leave a lasting impact and spark real tenant empowerment.

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About this Project

Communities Served

My project will involve and/or impact the following communities:

    United Nations Sustainable Development Goals

    When it comes to community impact projects, the UN has created 17 Sustainable Development Goals. These are the Sustainable Development Goals associated with my project.

      How the project works

      Room to Fight hopes to run four public events where participants play a 30-minute escape game based on Quebec tenant rights. Interactive kiosks, visual resources, and co-creation sessions will support the game, aiming to reach 400 people between this fall and January 2026.

      Project Impact

      Room to Fight hopes to make Quebec housing rights accessible through play, turning legal information into something memorable and empowering. By reaching renters in community spaces and involving them in co-creation, the project aims to build legal confidence, reduce isolation, and help people recognize injustice — and what they can do about it.

      Project Mission

      Room to Fight’s mission is to turn Quebec tenant rights into an engaging, bilingual experience that actually sticks. Through gameplay, visuals, and community input, the project aims to demystify housing law, support first-time renters, and create tools that inform, empower, and spark conversation, especially among youth and first-time renters.

      Project Team

      A creative and curious bilingual team who is excited to co-create with you!

      • Isabelle Monette
      • Nancy Gong
      • Julie André
      • Abiola Olanyian (to be confirmed)
      • Other event support members (in recruitment)