Students at a south Winnipeg elementary school will have a new playground to explore later this fall. The provincial government, St. Vital ward councillor, and Louis Riel School Division (LRSD) are all chipping in to replace the play structure at Lavallee School on St. Anne’s Road. The provincial government is shelling out $100,000 from its ‘Healthy Kids, Healthy Communities Play Structure Fund’ for the Lavallee School project. The fund was introduced in this spring’s provincial budget to reduce the financial strain on school divisions and parent advisory committees. “This is an important part of healthy connection, of community, of the fact that every child needs an opportunity to learn how to play and play to learn,” St. Vital MLA Jamie Moses said during a news conference Monday morning. “This is what children deserve right across Manitoba and right here in St. Vital as well.” The funding comes on the heels of a study commissioned by St. Vital councillor Brian Mayes into playground fund sharing. Mayes argued the financial burden should fall on provincial and municipal governments instead of parent-led committees. Mayes is contributing $50,000 from his ward allowance to the Lavallee School playground redevelopment. “The province is putting in this money as it should, but there is a role for school divisions, there’s a role for city councilors, [and] there’s a role for parents,” Mayes said during the news conference. “I really want to thank LRSD as well for stepping up here because the easy thing to do would have just been to say, ‘I’ll let the parents keep doing this.’ We’re not saying that. We’re saying it’s a new arrangement here, a new day in Manitoba for these school play structures.” The Louis Riel School Division is also spending $50,000 on the project, bringing the total funding announced Monday to $200,000. “When we invest in spaces where children can play, connect and be active together, we are investing in their overall well-being,” LRSD superintendent Jackie Connell said in a news release. “We are grateful that both Lavallee School and École Mazina-Giizhik will benefit from new play structures, creating opportunities for joy, inclusion and healthy development for years to come. We thank the Manitoba government for supporting our students, families and school communities through this important investment.” Lavallee School’s principal said the existing equipment will be removed in the coming weeks and the new play structure will be completed by the end of October.
