Remember & Honour...

Facebook & Twitter...

Want to follow along with the Let Them Be Kids journey?? Join LTBK on Facebook & Twitter and see how they are continuing to spread joy & hope across our country...

Becoming A Community Builder...

Let Them Be Kids, with the support of the Campbellford/Seymour Community Foundation and The Changing Point has set out to proactively and holistically increase the leadership capacity of local community based organizations, non-profits, community groups and individuals across the country by offering "Becoming a Community Builder".


Register today for this FREE leadership development program and Become A Community Builder! Don't miss out on this great opportunity, all you need is a computer & high-speed internet!! Program starts Friday, October 19th...


 Free Program Includes...

1. 5 Live video stream workshops (one every three weeks)
2. Live video chat support coaching sessions
3. Weekly reinforcement and motivational emails
4. A Learning portal containing on-demand video archives of all sessions, all materials and support forum for the dynamic exchange of information.
5. The Learning Portal will be available for use after the initial 15 week program for on-going use  

  

CLICK HERE FOR MORE INFORMATION!

 CLICK HERE TO REGISTER!

Friends of the Orchard...

Check out the latest addition to the Elbow Community Park!!

These cute plaques have been placed throughout the entire park, naming the different tree varieties! Thank you so much to the Friends of the Orchard for this very "special touch"...

PCCU Members - Vote For The Park...

 

 Vote For Your Favourite Community Builder Project

from October 1 – 12, 2012

 

 

Prairie Centre Credit Union is awarding $4,000 to a community group, non-profit or local charity! The money will go towards a Community Builder Project that will benefit a significant number of people in the community, or for “seed money” to help raise additional funding to an existing project. If you are a PCCU member, come into the branch and ask the staff for a ballot to place your vote. One Member - One Vote!

All Community Builder Award recipients will be announced at NOON on October 16, 2012.

Help Our Local Rink...

Hello LTBK Friends and Family... it's time to give back!! Our next door neighbours in Loreburn, SK need our help!! The Loreburn Rink (our area's main rink) has been selected as 1 of 5 rinks across Canada to take part in the MARS® PLAY YOUR PART™ Promotion, which is partnered with Hockey Canada. 

There has NEVER been a better time to eat chocolate!! Yum Yum Yum...

How to participate in the MARS^® PLAY YOUR PART^TM Promotion?

• 1. Grab a specially marked participating MARS^® Bar!
• 2. Enjoy every second of eating it.
• 3. Find your PIN code printed inside the wrapper.
• 4. Visit marsbar.ca
• 5. Review the 5 selected rinks & their community stories
• 6. Click the “activate my PIN” button on the homepage
• 7. Enter your contact information and activate your PIN code to make your $5 contribution
• 8. Click to enter to see if you are a winner!

The contributions will benefit the five local community rinks & arenas selected by the makers of MARS^® and will be used for the purpose of assisting and/or completing hockey related improvements or renovations at each location. 

"Loreburn is a small community with a population of 100 people, located in Central Saskatchewan. There are 3 towns that use the rink there, along Highway 19.This community loves the winter months at the rink and it has actually proven to be the “hub of entertainment” for those who visit. It’s the place where young and old come together to watch a great game of hockey and to catch up with old friends.This centre has recently undergone some improvements in the form of the addition of two new dressing rooms for its arena. This is only the beginning as the floors in these new rooms still need completion. As well, painting and the addition of stick racks and door closures would complete the renovated dressing room area.

This is a small but special community that comes together every time they are asked. Not only do they rally around big projects but also when benches need to be built or when ice care-taking needs arise. The community has proven over and over again how important this centre is to them."

Our friends in Loreburn were a huge part of the Elbow Community Park Build Day, and now we need to give back! So grab some Mars Bars, ENJOY and support our local rink!! Go Loreburn Go!!!  

For more information please visit marsbar.ca

Peace Tower Update...

The Peace Tower plans are coming along beautifully thanks to nationally and internationally acclaimed artist, Joe Fafard... and now we have a sneak peek for you!! This is going to be such an amazing addition to our new community park!! We are sooooooo excited...

Become an Agent of Hope...

If you have a vision or know of a project that needs to happen in your local neighborhood, town or community, Let Them Be Kids wants to help! LTBK has just launched a first of its kind Knowledge and Mentor Centre. This on-line learning portal will have all the training, tools, and templates you will need to plan, organize, launch and complete a Community Action Project! Follow this link and let LTBK know what you have in mind so they can get you on the list of potential projects that they will be supporting...

 

For more information click HERE!

 

Our Playground...

What Do You Do?

“How wonderful it is that nobody need wait a single moment before starting to improve the world.”

~ Anne Frank

Tipi Building Demonstration

Please join us at the Elbow Community Park on Tuesday, July 31, 2012 at 3:00 p.m. for a descriptive Tipi raising demonstration...  

Alternate weather day (wind or rain) will be:

 August 1st at 3 p.m.

Build Day Memories...

National Action Campaign...

The Let Them Be Kids National Action Campaign is based on belief that regular people can change their world for the better and that the people closest to the challenges are the best resource to improve those challenges. 

So if our belief is true, why is it that so often things don’t change for the better? Simply put… a lack of hope. It is a lack of the belief that tomorrow can be better than yesterday and a lack of that hope turning into tangible action. 

We have set out to do something about that "lack of hope"! We believe that with the proper amount of hope, knowledge, tools and support, regular people can change their world ,and the world around them for the better.

We know that hope is created when we hear or see someone else do something that we thought was implausible, improbable or seemingly impossible. However, hearing or seeing someone else do something awesome only creates a “spark” of hope which is often extinguished in the first few moments or days of seeing or hearing. The grind of life can and often does snuff out the embers of hope. Those embers must be kindled in some way. We believe that kindling can come through information and education. When we learn how those people did that seemingly improbable thing, then we have a chance to do it as well. Regrettably, this is still not enough to take that spark of hope and create tangible action. The final step to taking that spark of hope and translating it into meaningful improvement is support. When we are supported with guidance, advice or just a listening ear, the spark of hope that was kindled with knowledge turns into a raging fire! It is that raging fire of equipped and supported hope that changes things for the better. 

The most beautiful thing about this cycle is that it self-perpetuates and impacts exponentially. As this cycle of hope is completed someone else hears of the implausible or improbable thing that has been done and if those hearers are equipped with knowledge and supported in their endeavor they too will do the seemingly impossible! Our plan is to take our Hope Strategy and deploy it across Canada to help make the world a better place. 

Click HERE for more information on how YOU can become an "agent of hope"...

A Place For Everyone...

Big thanks to Joel Van Der Veen for the great write up on our community park, in the June 27th issue of FYi - A Moose Jaw Times Herald Publication... Our story "A Place For Everyone"  is featured on page 17, and can been viewed online. We have also attached a picture of the article... YAY!

Thanks...

Thanks so much to everyone who helped "polish the park" on Sunday... Thank you for remembering that improving our park & community didn't just start and end with Build Day... But will continue well into the future! What's that saying?? Oh yes...

 "You never get to retire from being a citizen..."

Thank You Helping Hands!! 

Saskatchewan Urban Voice...

The Elbow Community Park is featured in the latest issue of the Urban Voice ... Yahoo! 

Check out the full Summer 2012 issue... 
Just click HERE!! 

Southwest TV News...

Check out the coverage from our Build Day last month... Special thanks to Southwest TV News for joining us in Elbow on May 12th and for spreading the word about our awesome Saskatchewan event!!

Date Change...

Please note the date change for the park clean-up:

 Due to torrential rains, we will be postponing it until Sunday June 24, 2012

Thanks so much for your cooperation and patience!!

Thanks RBC...

A huge shout out to all 120 golfers from The Royal Bank of Canada! They had their golf tournament in Elbow yesterday, with a great fundraiser on hole #8 - the players paid $5 and had to hit the green for a chance to win a "Saskatchewan Roughrider Package"... all the proceeds were donated to the Elbow Community Park Project! Yahoo! Thanks so much RBC!!! $535.25 was raised in total!! Special thanks to Maureen and Laverne Bialowas who volunteered to represent our park, and worked hole #8 - in the rain, all day!!

Polish The Park...

What's Next?

Can you believe it has been almost 3 weeks since Build Day? Hopefully you are all hanging on to the awesome and inspiring memories from that day... and better yet - hopefully you are getting outdoors and enjoying our amazing new community park!! We again would like to thank our MANY supporters... as donations continue to roll in... THANK YOU - because guess what - we are not done yet!! We have some EXCITING news regarding our Peace Pole - nationally and internationally acclaimed artist, Joe Fafard is designing it for us!!! How lucky are we?? We are also still working on the performance shelter - these will be amazing additions to our park, our community and Saskatchewan!! 

About Joe Fafard...

Joe Fafard was born September 2, 1942 in Saint Marthe, Saskatchewan. His interest in drawing and sculpting began at home where he often retreated from his large family to quietly nurture his artistic talent. Following high school, Joe attended the University of Manitoba where he received his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in 1966. He then moved to the United States where he attended Pennsylvania State College and received his Master of Fine Arts degree in 1968. Joe returned to Canada and taught sculpture for six years at the University of Saskatchewan in Regina. In 1974, Joe Fafard began to sculpt full time in a studio in Pense, Saskatchewan. It was here that he portrayed many of the towns folk and put this little town and himself on the contemporary Canadian art map. Joe currently resides in Regina and continues to be a prolific and highly successful artist.

Joe has exhibited his work widely in Canada, the United States and in Europe, and is included in many private, public and corporate collections. Joe Fafard has received many awards, including the Order of Canada in 1981 and the Royal Architectural Institute of Canada Allied Arts Award in 1987.

Please continue to watch for highlights and more information...

Archive of LIVE Broadcast...

Please check out some of the video of the LIVE Broadcast from Build Day - May 12, 2012!

CLICK HERE!! 

On behalf of the Let Them Be Kids organization, and the local Elbow playground committee, I would like thank you for helping with the outstanding effort on Saturday, May 12.Your community was absolutely amazing! I would suggest that your collective efforts sent out a ripple of hope, that will affect your community for years to come, I encourage you to remember the spirit and sense of community you felt that day and draw upon that as you all work together to build a thriving community for the kids and families of today and for the generation to come. 

 - Ian Hill

THANK YOU...

There really are no words... Thank you to everyone for making this one of the BEST projects Elbow has ever, ever been involved in!! Over 320 volunteers... in our little town of just 300!! We still can't believe it... It was soooo AMAZING!! LTBK could not have picked a better community to be the first in Saskatchewan!! Thank you to Ian Hill and everyone at LTBK for BELIEVING in Elbow!! 

And thank you to all the volunteers and everyone who made it happen - that is an extreme makeover if I have ever seen one!!!! UNBELIEVABLE!!!

WE DID IT... TOGETHER!!!

HAPPY BUILD DAY CANADA!!!!

One More Sleep...

Yahoooooo - Tomorrow is BUILD DAY!!!!!!

Don't Forget...

Please print the wavier form that was attached to your volunteer email you received yesterday - and bring it filled out, but unsigned, to the registration table tomorrow, this is the only way you will be able to work. By having it filled out in advance it will make the process of registration smooth and easy…

Other News...

Don't forget that there will be a Pancake Breakfast at the Elbow Civic Centre on tomorrow morning starting at 6:30am. The Lunch and Supper will be served at the park!!

Registration will be set and ready to go at 8:00am tomorrow (May 12th) at the Elbow Elevator - feel free to come a bit early so that you can get to work right at 8am!! The forecast still looks great - but as we all know, that can change at any moment in Saskatchewan... so don't forget to pack some extra clothes - just in case! Please don’t forget to bring your wheelbarrows, spades, rakes, pails and garden tools! And bring your work gloves too...  save your hands! Oooo and guess what - there will be a great children's area in the park (arranged supervision starts at 10am) so that kids can play and have fun throughout Build Day!! Opening Ceremonies are set for around 3:00 or 3:30 if all goes well - you will not want to miss that - or the volunteer group photo!!

This has been quite the journey... we thank you so much for all of your commitment to this project, and for believing that projects like this, really can change the world. Thank you for giving back to our community, and for donating your time, talent and treasure to make this dream, become a reality!

The greatest accomplishments in life are not achieved by individuals alone, but by proactive people pulling together for a common good. Our mission in life is to offer our gifts to benefit one another, to create mutual gain in the world.

That quote says it all - and we will prove it tomorrow, when we join together to do something amazing for our kids and our community!!

THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS OF THE PARK!!!

ELBOW - BROADCAST...

ELBOW - BROADCAST LIVE AROUND THE WORLD

Our project will be broadcast live around the world! As a Let Them Be Kids community our project is being featured online! Tell your family and friends to watch the action and celebrate with us, just have them go to www.ltbk.ca to see our exciting work, LIVE!

Have You Heard...

Playground Prep...

Getting Ready...

Our Happy Welder!!

Hard Work Paying Off...

Boys Working...

Time For Some Fun!!

The Equipment Is Here...

 Great news park friends... the playground equipment arrived today! Thanks to the many wonderful helping hands - the inventory was completed and all the pieces are here!! Yahooo! 

 

 

Amazing...

 Our Memorial & Peace Garden is going to be amazing! Here is a little sneak peek of some of the inspiring plaques that will be displayed in our park... So many people are being remembered & honoured!! 
Our community is so blessed!

Memorial Benches Are Sold Out...

Thank you to everyone who purchased a Memorial Bench for our new community park - the response was incredible and we are now sold out!! But don't worry, we will continue selling Memory Stones even after May 12th - so you still have plenty of time to leave a legacy in the park!!

LTBK Featured Project...

Ian Hill Visits Elbow...

It was such an honour and a privilege to have Ian Hill - the founder of Let Them Be Kids, visit Elbow last weekend. Ian has inspired so many people in our community, and getting to thank him personally is something many of us will never forget.

The Wilm Family & Ian Hill

We were also so blessed to have Ian say a few words at our Gala Dinner... it was such an inspirational evening!! We can't thank Ian enough, for all he (and his organization - LTBK) has done for our community!!

"You never get to retire from being a citizen..."

Gala Weekend...

The Countdown Finale Gala Weekend was a HUGE success... the sold out Gala Dinner & Auction on Saturday night featured a fantastic meal, great entertainment and a top of the line auction. The weekend raised over $10,000 for our project... The community support was truly inspiring! Thank you to everyone who helped make the weekend so wonderful - thanks to the auction sponsors, the amazing cooks, the servers, the people who made the Civic Centre look so fantastic, the kids who volunteered from LCS, the entertainers, and to the citizens who came out to enjoy the evening!! Special thanks to Ian Hill - who made the special trip to celebrate the wonderful event with us! It really was a true community event!!

Elbow Community Park Info...

The Civic Centre looked beautiful...

Dessert Auction Items...

Dinner Time...

Magician - Chester McBain with the kids on Sunday afternoon...

Pennies For The Park...

Huge thanks to EVERYONE who helped with our Pennies For The Park campaign!! With just a few penny jars placed around the community - we raised $801.04... 

 Making each and every penny count!!

Thanks RRR Cadets...

The 155 RRR Royal Canadian Army Cadet Corps are sending a bus load of hard working volunteers to Elbow on Build Day! Yahooo - Remember something amazing happens when people help others, especially those they have never met. Thanks Cadets!! May we all be so willing to help others throughout our community & our country!! People helping people... Some great life lessons can be learned from this project - it really is MORE than "just" a playground!!!

 

Thanks Ryan...

 

Great News!! A welder has been found. Huge thanks to Ryan McGillivray (RJM Fabrication) of Central Butte!! Ryan will be our ticketed welder for next weeks playground build!! Yahooo! 

Thank You...

Huge thanks to Pre-Con Limited in Saskatoon for donating our bench ends for the park!! So many people are giving what they can... $$ or in-kind, to make this project possible! Thank You!!