Rink of dreams
Volunteers build outdoor rink for school, community use
BOULARDERIE — It’s a race every day as students race off the bus to check for the possibility of ice on Boularderie school’s new outdoor rink.
“When we have weather like Monday, it could take a while for them to get to use the rink, but they are certainly excited about the possibilities,” said school principal Stephen MacDougall. “The minute the kids got wind that we were going to build an outdoor rink, they were pumped. They can’t wait until it is ready.”
Just prior to building the rink, members of the Cape Breton Screaming Eagles visited the school to talk to students about fair play and the benefits of healthy, active living through diet and exercise.
“This was an ideal time to kick off the project,” said MacDougall.
The school was able to secure an activity grant through the Cape Breton-Victoria Regional School Board to help with the cost of materials in conjunction with Victoria County’s Naturally Active Physical Activity Strategy.
Staff and volunteers from the community got together to build the 50 by 50 rink on school grounds.
“I’m so impressed with the peo- ple that showed up to help,” MacDougall said. “We had 15 to 20 parents and they really did a lot of work. We also had volunteers from the Big Bras d’Or and Ross Ferry fire departments help out by flooding the rink.”
Now that the rink is in place, the next step is to try and secure additional funding to install lighting.
“One of the parents dropped off some snow fencing last week to put around the structure,” MacDougall said. “There is so much support from the parents, it is really something.”
School administration is working on a schedule so classes from Primary to Grade 6 get their fair share of ice time.
The rink will also be utilized as part of the school’s physical education and intramural programs.
“The rink is a great way to com- plement the programs already offered at the school,” MacDougall said. “The grounds around the school are an ideal recreation area, so our next task is to get snowshoes for the students.”
MacDougall said providing additional activities for the students outside the classroom is good for morale and boosts school spirit.
“These additional activities get the community involved and keeps everyone active and busy.”
Boularderie school also features an after school yoga program with instructor Patsy MacKenzie on Tuesdays from 1:30-2:15 p.m. followed by a healthy snack.
Students are also working together to put together a yearbook. Under the guidance of instructor Kristie MacLeod, students take photos and record biog- raphies of Boularderie students.
Another after school program to be offered is a knitting club. Members will meet on Tuesdays following the afternoon bell beginning in the new year with instructor Debbi Dinnan. All materials will be provided. First-time knitters will begin with a simple project. Students who know how to knit will choose one of three projects.
“We have members of the community coming in facilitating these programs and it’s the kids that benefit,” MacDougall said. “Not all kids are in to hockey and basketball, so this provides the students with options.”
He added that a major benefit is the students are learning lifelong skills.