CANORA – The project to fund an outdoor classroom and accessible swing at Canora Junior Elementary School received significant support on Sept. 19.
Accompanied by Telemiracle Teddy, Chad Grodzinski from the Kinsmen Club of Yorkton presented Shawna Stangel, CJES principal, with two cheques: $22,741.68 from Telemiracle and $5,000 from the Kinsmen Club of Yorkton.
To date, a total of $61,239 has been raised for the project, reported Stangel.
“We are still in need of approximately $15,000-$20,000 to fully fund this project as construction and component costs have increased significantly since our initial quotes on the project two-and-a-half years ago,” she said.
If any local businesses, farms, individuals, or corporations are interested in helping reach the final fundraising goal, they are encouraged to reach out to Stangel at CJES.
“Charitable tax receipts can be issued for anyone who requires one and anonymous donations are gladly accepted.”
Good Spirit School Division has given CJES the go-ahead to break ground in the coming weeks to begin construction “for this amazing and necessary project.”
Canora-based McTavish Concrete will be laying all the concrete and completing the groundwork preparation necessary for the first installation steps this fall.
“Weather permitting, we will do as much as we can this fall toward final completion,” said Stangel.
An official ribbon cutting featuring all donors and project contributors will be scheduled for spring of 2026.
According to information found online, the needs for an inclusive outdoor classroom and swing at CJES are:
- First and foremost, to ensure that 100 per cent of the school’s students can access outdoor play.
- Outdoor classrooms bring learning to life. An outdoor classroom is a space that brings learning outside. It becomes a gathering place for teachers and students and provides an opportunity to integrate nature into the school grounds. The goal of the outdoor classroom is simple: to increase the quantity, quality, and benefits of outdoor experiences for children. But this does not only support structured adult-led outdoor activities. Children also need opportunities to initiate their own activities. They need to explore, imagine, try new things, and learn alone or with friends.
- Children with disabilities benefit from free, unstructured play just as other children do, and they have a right to equal opportunities. An inclusive playground removes barriers between kids, despite any differences, and gives them the chance to play and grow together as they should. Inclusive play makes opportunities available to all children, regardless of ability and background. CJES believes children should all have the chance to play together. All children benefit from being outside, interacting with their environment, learning from nature, and developing through play.
- Recognizing the diverse learning profiles of students and the community, CJES intends to expand education outside the walls of the school, into our natural environment with the use of an outdoor classroom. The goal and hope of the program is that by using alternative teaching methods that incorporate the environment, this will instill in our learners a newfound appreciation and love of education.
- The overall intention is to create safe, respectful, accessible, and participatory learning environments.
According to a release, the CJES project fits right in with the goals of the Kinsmen Foundation, which “seeks to provide accessible equipment to improve the quality of life for people with disabilities. They recognize that health, wellness and fitness at social, mental and physical levels are components of that quality of life. Requests such as accessible playground equipment fall under their mandate and vision.”
Chad Grodzinski of the Kinsmen Club said, “Thank you to the people of Saskatchewan who rally around the Kinsmen Foundation and Kin clubs with their time and donations. They are the ones who make opportunities such as this one possible!
“On behalf of the Kinsmen Club of Yorkton I am proud to present a cheque of $5,000 to put towards the building of an Inclusive Outdoor Classroom and Swing at the Canora Junior Elementary School. It was also a pleasure meeting one of the young students who will benefit from such a project.”
Grodzinski added that one of the community’s greatest needs is supporting its children.
“Although our club is based in Yorkton, we consider Canora and its residents part of our community. Our club’s biggest fundraisers is Kinsmen Radio Bingo and we know that many Canora residents are loyal Kinsmen Radio Bingo players, so we are happy to support projects in the Town of Canora.”
As the board representative who brought and presented the CJES proposal to the Kinsmen Foundation Board this past June, Grodzinski said he was honoured to be successful in securing some of the funds raised from Telemiracle to go toward this project.
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