A local partnership has been working to help get youth in the town more active, by donating play equipment to schools.
Glenbow Elementary School and Holy Spirit Elementary School were the recent recipients of new play equipment last Friday, Feb. 26, when the Cochrane Fun Van dropped off approximately $1,500 worth of equipment.
Sport 4 Life Cochrane and Town of Cochrane Recreation, Culture & Arts launched a partnership between Canadian Tire and PLAY Cochrane last fall with the goal to get children and youth more active through physical literacy.
“We will be working to initiate physical activities in schools and see where it goes from there but this equipment was definitely a celebration of the momentum we started in schools,” said Tracy Brooker, manager of recreation, culture & arts for the town.
“I wasn’t there at all the drop offs but I do know they were very gracious and appreciative.”
Vice Principal Kirk Linton from Holy Spirit School said the students received lacrosse equipment, kin balls, and a circus kit with parachutes.
“We feel very fortunate to have the opportunity to work with the Town of Cochrane, Sport 4 Life Cochrane and Canadian Tire. It will help to provide more physical literacy to our kids and gives us the opportunity to have equipment that we would not normally be able to purchase,” Linton said.
Glenbow Elementary School principal Brendan Trinca said their school received a lot of equipment including medicine balls, and juggling and balancing materials.
“It is pretty special to be in a community that really supports schools. It is always great to get equipment and to have the connection with the community is equally as important,” Trinca said.
The program is focused on supporting local schools in their efforts to develop physical literacy as the gateway to physical activity, promoting more activity in school-age children in Cochrane.
“We know the benefits of getting 60 minutes of physical activity per day go far beyond improved health, focus, academic performance and overall wellbeing,” Brooker explained in an email.
Each Cochrane school will receive approximately $1,500 in play equipment, with help from the local Canadian Tire which invested up to $20,000 towards sporting equipment and school-based physical activity programs.
“We want to say a special thanks to Rob Hatch, the business owner of Canadian Tire, for his generous support to the PLAY Cochrane initiative,” Brooker said.
The Cochrane Fun Van will continue to deliver equipment to the other local schools over the next couple of weeks. To follow the deliveries, follow the Fun Van on Facebook and Twitter.
“We are meeting our mandate within our department to enrich the lives of Cochrane residents and enhance community spirit and to promote healthy lifestyles with events and programs inspired by fun,” Brooker said.
“Our Fun Van is the catalyst to get our programs and arts out in the community.”
For more information on the PLAY Cochrane initiative, contact organizers by email at [email protected] or by phone at 403-851-2534.
