It’s been three years in the making, and this past Friday (Dec. 6), Ladysmith Intermediate School officially opened its new playground.
The new play area is raised slightly from the rest of the school grounds and contains a brand new swing set and various climbing equipment.
Various dignitaries were there for the opening including School District 68 representatives and the town’s deputy mayor Bill Drysdale.
Carolynn Orchard from the school’s Parent Advisory Council says a lot of hard work was put in by her colleagues in order to raise the required funds.
“We’ve been doing all kinds of fundraising in the past three years,” said Orchard. “[That included] Friday concessions with hot dog sales, we’ve done discount card sales, Purdy’s chocolates, magazine sales and all kinds of other things.”
Drysdale and co. at Ladysmith town council also provided the school with funding, via a grant-in-aid process, along the way.
Orchard confirmed all the money raised in that process has “gone to support other school activities as well as the playground.”
LIS principal Cathal Walsh began proceedings at 11:15 a.m. by thanking the PAC for all its efforts over a megaphone.
Despite subzero temperatures on a bitterly cold day in town, hundreds of students flocked outdoors in order to get first use of the new set.
Orchard believes the new playground was a definite necessity.
“I think it’s very important for the children to have really constructive activities during their lunch breaks,” she said. “This will provide physical opportunities for the students when they’re outside in our playground.”
Orchard also wished to thank local businesses Stalker Excavating, Island Aggregates, Coastal Trucking, Home Hardware, Mayco Mix and Coast Environmental for their “generous donations and discounts,” towards the playground.
