Langton Lions donate $5,000 to playground revitalization

Langton Lions Club recently presented a $5,000 cheque to Sacred Heart School for playground equipment, with several Sacred Heart students in the front. From left Bryan Cairns, Langton Lions; Jaime Vanacker, Sacred Heart teacher; Art Vandendriessche, Langton Lions; and Heather Vanacker, Sacred Heart teacher. 

By Chris Abott

Editor

Langton Lions Club recently donated $5,000 to a playground equipment revitalization project for Sacred Heart Catholic Elementary School in Langton.

“Whatever they need, it goes toward that,” said Langton Lions’ treasurer Art Vandendriessche.

The school has been actively raising funds, said Bryan Cairns, Langton Lions president, noting that it will be a multi-year project.

“This is not only for the school,” said Cairns. “It’s for the Langton community, kids can use it all week long after school, evenings, and all summer. It’s for the whole community.”

It’s a continuation of the Lions support of the Sacred Heart school playground over the years. The Lions also donated $5,000 to the Langton Public School playground a few years ago.

The playground is important, said Sacred Heart teacher Jaime Vanacker, “because it’s an opportunity for kids to use their imagination, to build collaboration skills with one another, and to offer different types of movement-based opportunities.

“We’re also looking at a gathering space, too, for classrooms – for all classes to take advantage of with covered space and some shade.”

“We are hoping to do a lot before September, which I think is still doable,” said Candice Vanhie, Sacred Heart parent council at the April 23 cheque presentation. “We should know our gameplan within the next few weeks, we’re just waiting on some last-minute quotes to come in.”

Fundraising started for the playground project in 2016.

There has been talk of implementing the renovations in phases.

“This will be the first big revitalization,” said Sacred Heart teacher Heather Vanacker.

“You should see the first phase by fall, with planned additions over the next few years,” said Vanhie.

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The Langton Lions will be volunteering at the Schuster Car Show on August 23rd. In October, the Lions will hold their annual fundraising BBQ and Elimination Draw.

“We’re also giving $25,000 to Norfolk County over a five-year period for help with (recently completed) renovations at the Langton Community Centre,” said Cairns.

The community centre was last renovated in 93-94, said Vandendriessche.

“It’s a major upgrade, it really is,” said Vandendriessche, noting it included floor replacement and painting.

“It looks nice inside, we’re really pleased with how it turned out,” said Cairns.