Soundslide: Volunteers ‘spread the luv’ at PCPS Build Day

The Pleasant Corners Public School (PCPS) Playground Enhancement Project has been a dream of Tara MacWhirter and her devoted committee for almost five years, and on Saturday, May 29, committee members and over 200 volunteers saw the culmination of their hard work transformed from a dream into reality.

(See below for a multimedia feature showcasing the hightlights of the Build Day.)

"Five years ago, it was brought to our attention that something really needed to be done in the backyard of the school. That's when this project started," said committee vice-chair Tammy Allen. "In the fall of 2008 we really started our fundraising push and we are truly overwhelmed with how the community has come out to support us. It's really incredible."

The new playground at PCPS is almost unrecognizable to anyone who was unable to attend the build day. It features a variety of new structures, swings, gardens, and even an outdoor classroom that will serve as a place for students to enjoy learning in a peaceful and serene environment. Countless new trees have been planted around the backyard of the school, many of them in memory of loved ones from the community.

Volunteers began showing up to the school at 7 a.m., well before most of the necessary equipment and supplies had even been delivered to the site.

"Many volunteers showed up well before our trees were delivered at 8 a.m.," said vice-principal Mary Leduc. "It seemed like they couldn't wait to get started. Once everyone was registered, the wheelbarrows started rolling and the shovels and rakes were steady all day long."

Volunteers were kept busy throughout the day lending a helping hand anywhere they could, whether shoveling mulch for the new gardens, hauling stone to the new structures, or painting a mural around the new kindergarten play area.

"Everyone who took part in the day truly left a permanent mark on the playground and our community is a better place because of it," said MacWhirter.

There were many touching moments throughout the day, some of which brought organizers and volunteers to tears. In the heart of the newly transformed backyard sits a marble bench in memory of fallen soldier Corporal Patrick Lormand.

The entire playground has been dedicated to Lormand, who was killed in action on September 13, 2009 in Afghanistan. The bench is surrounded by four trees, as a symbol of the four corners of our great nation, which Lormand died representing. Inside of the four corners sits a number of smaller trees, which serve the purpose of protecting the memory of Lormand.

Dirt taken from Afghanistan was also mixed in with the sand surrounding the bench.

"It's a pretty cool thing to have some dirt from Afghanistan sprinkled in with the sand on our new playground," said PCPS student Clay MacWhirter.

A painting by local artist Suzie Nantel was presented to the parents of the fallen hero, and Lormand's uncle captured the attention of the crowd when he spoke about his nephew and what the dedication of the playground meant to the Lormand family.

"Patrick's favourite saying was 'spread the luv,' and that is exactly what everyone has done here today at PCPS," he said. "Because of this new park, families will be brought together, friends will be brought together, the whole community will be brought together. Everyone here is working to achieve the same goal and Patrick would be so proud to see so many people spreading love."

The day was capped off by a moment that all of the children had been eagerly awaiting since news of the new playground first came to life. A crowd of children ran through a wall of paper hands, which represented every donation made towards the completion of the project. The hands were held together in unison, much like the efforts of the many dedicated community members, while the smiles on the children's faces as they climbed onto the new structures made all the hard work seem immediately worthwhile.

"I hope that the success of this project will inspire others in our community to come together for a common goal. The final product of this playground just goes to show that when you work together, anything is possible," concluded MacWhirter.