Volunteers are urgently needed for the installation of James Thompson Elementary’s new playground.
The school is looking for at least a dozen adult volunteers for a full day of commitment from 7:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 24.
James Thompson Elementary is located at 6211 Forsyth Cres. and will be replacing its 30-year-old playground with modern facilities.
Lunch will be provided for volunteers and no experience is required, as the playground supplier will provide safety training on-site.
Those unable to attend are encouraged to supply tools for the day, such as wrenches, rakes, shovels, ladders, levels, wheelbarrows or other equipment. These will be labelled and returned to their rightful owner.
Beloved for generations, the aging playground had the potential of becoming a safety hazard, leading to its removal.
Groundwork has been completed to accommodate the new playground sets, which will be installed by volunteers and are suitable for children of various age groups.
The first is a set focused on younger children, and the second is designed as a circuit for older kids; they will both feature components such as slides, climbing nets, monkey bars, obstacle courses and other amenities, allowing for games like grounders.
Playground committee co-chair Imelda Nurwisah said students had a large input on the components they wanted to see in their new playground.
“We actually showed them different components, and they could tell us what they liked about their playground,” she said. “We tried to really make that come to life for them in the final design.”
Accessibility also played a big role in the concept, as there are students with special needs in the community.
“We wanted to make sure it was accessible, and that it had elements that are inclusive for kids that are neurodivergent,” she added. “There's tactile elements and areas for quieter play so that you can engage with your peers.”
“You can also pick an area for a quiet moment of reflection and calm if you need to as well.”
So far, 23 volunteers have confirmed their attendance, with the need of at least a dozen more to match the requested 35 from the playground supplier.
The summer season makes it difficult to find volunteers, but the installation is necessary so kids have a playground to play on when they come back from vacation, said Nurwisah.
Planning for the new playground began in 2021, and the project has been overseen by three different school principals.
The cost of the new playground is $225,000, with $30,000 raised by the school’s PAC and the remaining $195,000 funded through the Playground Equipment Program from the Ministry of Education and Child Care.
Volunteer parent Albert Wei said the playground has very strong ties to the community, serving as a social hub for generations.
“After school days, this park becomes a conversation social hub for parents who allow their children to stay at school and play on the playground; it's a great meeting place,” he said. “What I also found over recent years was an opportunity for some of the Asian parents to practice their English, as they converge and meet other parents in the community.”
Those interested in volunteering or providing tools for the day can do so by signing up through the following survey.
For more information, contact [email protected].
