We did it!! What a great day it was!!

We had over 200 volunteers come out and over a hundred kids take part in our Build Day on Saturday!

We have so many positive feelings about the day, it is hard to put it into words....Many thoughts and images remain.... the kids working hard alongside their parents and peers; Milli's ever-faithful assistant, Kaela; the guy who just moved to Canmore on Friday heaving mulch for the nature trail; Ken and the devoted volunteers working for hours on Thursday and Friday in the pouring rain and cold (including the part-time residents from New Orleans in their shorts!); Kevin Van Vliet swearing incessantly as he battled it out with the tamper; May Riva with a huge smile on her face as she gave Nancy a great big bear hug; the SUN, the rain, the SUN again; crazy Larry and his abundant enthusiasm; six of us trying to get a ridiculously wet Bouncy Castle back into its bag; people just helping each other out; Brian Callaghan sweating buckets moving pea gravel and coming close to tears; the kids' faces just before they rushed the playground; three teenage boys who coolly approached the playground after the crowd had left, leaping onto the new structure and trying to stifle their smiles; Tanya devotedly tracking down every last wheelbarrow; and above all, simply connecting on a new level with so many people.

We hope everyone who came out had an equally positive day - and that it brought you some joy and hope!

For those who could not make it, please join us in celebrating the new playground, and help us in keeping it clean and safe. Take a moment to visit the rejuvenated Nature Trail and Memorial Garden - it is beautiful!

Thanks to all who donated and contributed to make it such a special day!

Schedule for Build Day!

7am:  Set-up.

8am:  Registration opens. Registration tables will be set up in the Grade 1 Entrance area. There you will sign your waiver, get your T-shirt and wristband, and be directed to a specific area. All volunteers must check in at the registration tables! Any tools/equipment can also be dropped off at the entrance. Please sign up at the school or on this website before the day!

8am – 2:30pm:  Building new play structures, Memorial Garden Beautification, Landscaping of Slope, Re-Naturalization area, Nature Trail, Outdoor classroom Beautification, and more!

9 am:  National Let Them Be Kids Live Web Broadcast begins (http://www.ltbk.ca/). Tell your friends & relatives who can't be with us so they can watch the excitement too!

9am:  Refreshments & snacks available (set up near Grade 1 Entrance). Don’t forget to bring your re-usable mugs & water bottles!

10am–11:30am:   Kids’ activities! Face-painting, scavenger hunt with Big Fun Team & Friends of K-country activities! Right from the Start team will also be leading different grade levels on specific projects… Kids should check in at the Kids’ Activity table on the field (Boston Pizza tent) to get their fun ‘Passport’.

11:30am–1pm:  LUNCH will be served, on a rotating basis. Vegetarian options available. We encourage you to bring your own re-usable plate/cutlery.

1pm–2:30pm:  Kids’ activities continued! Activities led by Big Fun, CAUSE, KidSport, and Friends of K-Country, Face Painting & Bouncy Castle.

2:45pm(approx):  We will gather for GROUP PHOTO in front of new play structure.

3pm (approx):  Dedication & Opening Ceremony!

3:30pm–5pm:  Clean-up & tear down…playtime for the kids on the new playground!

Check out the latest article in the Leader...

Two Wolves - a big thanks to all!

Two Wolves Trading Company raised $250 with the help of the community and decided to triple it to make it $750!!

A big thanks to them and a huge thank you to everyone who dropped off their bottles, cartons and jugs and met them everywhere with their bags in hand to donate and also to their neighbours Starbucks for adding to the pile!

Old wooden play toy comes out...

Time to say goodbye to an old friend....

22 days from now we will be coming together as a community to build our new friend!!! Our new playground will provide a safer, more stimulating place for our kids to play. Hopefully the sun will be back out by then!!

Our kids are awesome!

It is truly AMAZING to see how are our kids have been modelling citizenship throughout this project!

Last week students suggested a Penny Drive for the playground, and we agree that this is a great idea! If you have jars or tins of pennies collecting dust in your closets and drawers this is a good opportunity to clear out some space and at the same time support a worthy cause. We will be collecting pennies in the office until Monday, May 31.

A group of grade 4 students also raised a concern about the trees being cut down. The principal, Nancy Crosley, had a good discussion with them about saving trees vs. safety and what they can do. They were encouraged to sign up for landscaping on build day. They want to know that at least 9 new trees will be planted somewhere to replace the 9 that are to be cut down. One little girl is going to give a tree to the landscaping crew!

Come see us at Children's Festival - Sat May 22

On Saturday May 22nd, a few of us will be at the Canmore Children's Festival, stationed at an info table near the Big Bouncy Castle. Festival runs from 8:30 am to 3:30 pm. Make a donation or sign up to volunteer and you will be entered for a draw to win 2 lift tickets for Lake Louise!

New playground will be dedicated our local hero, May Riva!

May Riva, who will turn 93 in July, has led a life of active volunteerism. Up until last year she continued to drive and deliver for the local Meals on Wheels program. She is well-loved and regarded as an outstanding citizen of Canmore. The playground will be named May Riva Community Park and we will be honoured with her presence on Build Day!

"One great, strong, unselfish soul in every community could actually redeem the world."

- Elbert Hubbard

Local businesses rally around project!

Yesterday was a great day! Jodie M. Hurry / ATB Investor Services presented a donation to Principal Nancy Crosley at the school. Momentum has been building over the last couple of weeks as we get closer to the big day and there has been a great outpouring of support from local businesses, the community and beyond. We are so thrilled that this has indeed become more than a playground project and we are so close to reaching our goal!!

Dirty Dog Car Wash Fundraiser - this Saturday!

On Saturday May 8th all profits from the day's sales at the Dirty Dog Car & Truck Wash will be donated toward the new play structure! Located on Bow Meadows Crescent, the car wash is open from 6am to midnight.

Bottle Depot Playground Fund Set Up

The Canmore Bottle Depot now has a fund set up for the Elizabeth Rummel School & Community Playground Project. If you wish, simply take your bottles/cans to the depot and ask them to apply your refund to this fund! Every little bit helps!!!

ERS parents act now!

Dan Sparks & Associates and Garth Lyon of CML Mortgages are offering to match donations from ERS parents up to $5,000! A donation of 25$ or more is not only elegible for a tax recepit, but may be QUADRUPLED in terms of purchasing power through this generous offer and the grant from Let Them Be Kids!!

Your $25 + $25 (match) + $50 (Let Them Be Kids) -> $100

Your $50 + $50 (match) + $100 (Let Them Be Kids) -> $200

Stop by the school office today! Deadline for matching donation May14th! If you have already done so, thank you for your support in building a brighter today and a better tomorrow for our children and our community!

Two kindergarten students raise over $170!

In lieu of presents this year at their joint birthday party, Lauren Letourneau and Emmy Lan, accepted donations and generously awarded all the funds to the new playground! Way to go girls!

Summer weather in April? Lemonade stand!

Diego Perez de Camino (Gr.1) & his sister Gabi raised $39 for the playground, selling lemonade and popsicles on the river path, this past Saturday afternoon. They also gave out copies of playground project brochure; visitors and weekenders were excited to hear about our project! If you would like copies of the brochure to have at your own fundraiser, please contact Jen 678-7062.

Harvest joins fundraising effort!

For every Burger Special they sell from now until mid-May, Harvest will donate 50 cents to the Playground Project! This special is on offer afternoons from about 2 pm until 6 pm. So stop by and see Misha and the gang on 10th Street!

Preliminary design for new play structures!

The initial design was developed based on the kids’ votes and the space available. There are also plans to include a series of fitness stations around the periphery of the playground, new picnic tables, and benches, as well as the rejuvenation of the grounds, outdoor classroom, nature trail, and Memorial Garden. More details to follow soon!

Two Wolves Trading Co - Showing Great Initiative!

Two weeks ago, Michelle and Andrea, both ERS moms, began a fundraiser at their business Two Wolves Trading Company ! The concept is for people to bring in their clean, crushed milk cartons and jugs and drop them off in the colourful barrel in the kids section at the store (opposite Safeway). They will match the money collected from returning the jugs and cartons up to $1,000 and donate all the proceeds to the playground project! So stop by on the way to shopping - support the playground and help the environment! 

Bounce & Support the Playground!

Our fund development is getting underway!! Book the Dan Sparks & Associates’ Community Bouncy Castle for your next event between now and Build Day, and in lieu of a rental fee, make a donation to the Playground Project!! Two different sizes available! For more information, or to book the Bouncy Castle, please contact Debbie Hay at info@canmorehomes.com or (403) 688-3001. Thanks Dan!!

Dotmocracy - the kids vote!

The students were very excited to be able to participate in the selection of playground components. It was interesting to see how strongly they held their opinions. The energy and excitement are building! We are all looking forward to seeing the draft design!

- Principal Nancy Crosley

Reaching the wider community...

Spread the word!! One of our goals is to involve the whole community in this project and we need your  help! Please 'share' this website with and encourage friends, family, neighbours, colleagues, and visitors to volunteer now for Build Day by clicking on "Join the Effort" on the left!

Check out the great article in the Canmore Leader this week:

From LTBK-Public

Exciting school announcement!

Today at the school assembly, the students found out about the amazing Let Them Be Kids award and what it means for our school and our community. The Grade 4 student council announced the news through a series of "gifts" which were opened to much anticipation! When the pictures of possible playground components came up and they found out that they will get to vote, a real buzz ensued!! It was awesome!! The kids will be looking forward to their "Dotmocracy" event to be held on March 8th when they will be given the opportunity to vote on possible components for the new structure!! So....start spreading the word around town and getting people registered on this site!

Check out a Let Them Be Kids Video!

Elizabeth Rummel School, Canmore Awarded

We are proud to announce that Elizabeth Rummel School in Canmore, Alberta has been awarded a national Let Them Be Kids Helping Hands Award! This award gives us a 50/50 match for every fundraising dollar we raise towards the purchase of new equipment as well as a huge amount of moral and technical support. Stay tuned for more details to come!!!

Time to say goodbye

The time has come to bid a long time friend goodbye....The wooden play structure at the Elizabeth Rummel School & Community playground in Cougar Creek has reached the end of its life expectancy and is slated for removal by the end of this school year. As there no immediate funding from the province or through the Town of Canmore for its replacement, we are asking the community to come together and take action!