Last year, one of Quesnel’s local schools won $100,000 for a play space revitalization through BCAA’s Play Here contest.
Bouchie Lake Elementary’s new playground was installed last September, and children have been happily playing on it ever since.
The contest is back, and this year no local schools are in the running. But a community to our north is, and it’s the only Northern B.C. school to make the final list.
According to the 2011 census, Mackenzie has a population of just 3,500; likely more with surrounding areas. It’s in the top 10 to win the grant, and its citizens are excited. The Observer received requests to promote their efforts.
The playground would be situated in a central park in the town, so would be used by many.
Our community’s children may never play in Mackenzie’s playgrounds, but supporting another northern city in receiving the gift of play is the least we can do. Seeing how the new playground impacted our local school, Quesnel residents can surely identify with Mackenzie’s citizens.
Other finalists include playgrounds in the Kootenays, Cache Creek, Vancouver Island, Okanagan and Vancouver. All surely deserving, but Mackenzie is hoping to “Unite the North” with their campaign for a new playground.
More than one community is chosen to receive $100,000 each year, so Mackenzie certainly has a chance – but as a promotional poster from the campaign points out: “Our northern community has a small population relative to other communities in this competition, so we need your help.” As of Monday, Mackenzie was in first place going into the second week of voting, which shows how northerners are coming together to help this community gain access to better play equipment. But other communities are gaining in votes, and Mackenzie needs help to stay in the top spot.
Those of us who are online day in, day out, can help – and it’s really very easy. The finalists with the most votes win the contest, and voters can submit votes once a day via the BCAA Play Here website at www.bcaaplayhere.com. Voting closes June 17. So bookmark that page, visit once a day after checking your email, and give a little love to our neighbours to the north.
Us Northerners are known for community spirit. Why not extend that a little farther for the next week and a half?
Quesnel Cariboo Observer
