By Spencer Sterritt

Cedar school in the running to win $100K for new playground

Jun 1, 2018 | 8:40 AM

NANAIMO — A Cedar elementary school hopes the generosity of others will help them win a new playground.

Ecole North Oyster is one of 10 B.C. schools, and only the second on Vancouver Island, in the BCAA Play Here competition. B.C. residents vote on the projects and the top three each receive $100,000 to make their dreams come true.

School principal Jacqueline Dunn said winning the money for a new playground would be lifechanging for the school, which doesn’t have enough play equipment for their growing number of students.

“I often see our poor kids trying to find things to do and they’re struggling…They’re often playing in our beautiful forest, because we don’t have a ton of play equipment. Unfortunately that’s led to our forest becoming somewhat degraded.”

Looking out across the yard, Dunn said she often sees kids just walking around and not getting the exercise they need. Currently there’s some play equipment for Grades 4 and up, while younger students are limited to some swings.

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The $100,000 will pay for a new slide, structures for kids to play on and new paving, all designed to be accessible for everyone.

Parent and committee organizer Chrissie Stephen said she often feels bad when hearing stories from her daughters about what they did at recess.

“There isn’t anything challenging for the kids, so they’re not learning their limits or capabilities,” she said. “I remember recess as being one of my favourite parts, when you got to play on the monkey bars. I feel sad for the kids who don’t have that opportunity.”

Stephen said there’s been overwhelming community response, especially because Ecole North Oyster has the only playground in a seven kilometre radius.

After years of hardwork, she said there’s no way the new playground isn’t going to be built.

“It’s going to get accomplished, it might just take a couple more years.”

As of Friday morning, Ecole North Oyster was in second place with roughly 8,300 votes.

You can cast your vote online here.