Elbow Community Park

Pennies For The Park...

2012-02-29T05:55:00.001-08:00

Wondering what to do with all those extra pennies? Look for collection jars around town....and donate the pennies to the Elbow Community Park Project!

Never think that one penny can't make a difference - because when that one little penny is added to another, it makes a tremendous impact! That one penny becomes ten pennies, and then a dollar...and so on!

Just one little penny has the ability to change the world!

Lunch & Skate A Huge Success...

2012-02-27T19:04:00.002-08:00

The Lunch & Skate held at the Elbow Rink yesterday was a huge success! Over 60 people came out for a hearty bowl of homemade soup and a few even strapped on the skates....proving that we truly are a "community in motion!" Thank you to EVERYONE who helped to make the event such a success!! Thanks to all who donated food, helped work, came out to eat and skate, and to those who graciously stopped by - just to drop off a donation....together we raised $478.00 for The Elbow Community Park Project....Yahoooo! Your kindness will NOT be forgotten!

Thank you again for your help and willingness to build a brighter today and better tomorrow for our kids and our community…

It's More Than A Playground...

2012-02-24T08:54:00.000-08:00

The Elbow Community Park Project is a project aimed at providing a safe place for our citizens to keep active. A place to honour our pioneer families and heroic veterans while embracing our heritage! The community park will feature a modern children's playground, walking paths, picnic tables, BBQ pits, a performance shelter, an authentic tipi (being made right in Elbow) and a peace pole-memorial garden. Our new park will give our citizens and visitors a place to gather, a place to make new memories and a place to reflect...

The project is already helping to develop a more united community.... we are instilling HOPE in places across Saskatchewan and Canada...proving that by working together, ANYTHING is possible!

Please Join Our Effort!! Become A Volunteer Today!!

Making The World A Better Place....

2012-02-22T06:47:00.000-08:00

Movie Launch... June 2, 2012

Lunch & Skate

2012-02-17T06:15:00.000-08:00

LUNCH & SKATE

Elbow Rink

February 26, 2012

12:00pm – 2:00pm

$5.00 Soup, Bun and Beverage

$2.50 – 6 & Under

BRING YOUR SKATES & SMILES AND JOIN US FOR SOME FAMILY FUN!

Proceeds to the Elbow Community Park Project

In The News...

2012-02-09T11:59:00.000-08:00

Elbow Wins $10,000 Grant

By Joel van der Veen
Feb. 6, 2012

ELBOW—The citizens of Elbow are another $10,000 closer to the fundraising goal for their community park project after winning Saskatchewan in motion's Community Pledge Challenge at the end of January.

The village of 300 finished first among six finalists in an online vote, after pledging to devote the $10,000 prize to keeping local children and youth more physically active.

Village administrator Yvonne Jess accepted the prize at the Saskatchewan Urban Municipalities Association convention in Regina on Jan. 30.

Elbow was one of 23 communities to register for the challenge, and one of 11 to move on to the second round by outlining how they would spend the prize money.

A panel of judges narrowed the group down to six communities—Craven, Elbow, James Smith Cree Nation, Leader, Swift Current and Unity—and visitors to Saskatchewan in motion's website voted to determine the final winner. Elbow received a total of 25,392 votes.

Adding the prize money to the funds already raised by the town gives the park project a total of $45,804 gathered so far, said organizer Sarah Wilm.

"We're pretty excited," she said, explaining that while the goal is to raise at least $75,000, the park committee would be happy to top that. "The more money we raise, the more (equipment) we can get."

Cathie Kryzanowski, general manager of Saskatchewan in motion, said she was thrilled with the number of people that became involved in the Community Pledge Challenge.

"All the participating communities have identified innovative ways to increase physical activity opportunities for children and youth," she said. "We look forward to supporting each community in their efforts to achieve their goals over the next few months."

Statistics provided by Saskatchewan in motion indicate that less than 15 per cent of children in Saskatchewan get the minimum 60 minutes of physical activity needed each day, but Wilm said organizers are confident the park will encourage both kids and adults to be more active.

Besides a children's playground, there are plans to install a veterans' memorial, a peace pole garden, a gazebo for hosting performances, an authentic First Nations tipi, a picnic and barbecue area, a walking path and even outdoor exercise equipment suitable for adults.

"It's more than a playground," explained Wilm, who lives in the village with her husband Lee and their two sons. "We want to make it a place that everybody can use."

Elbow is partnering with Let Them Be Kids (LTBK), a non-profit organization that has helped communities across Canada to build play areas for children. LTBK has pledged to match all the funds raised by the village, including the $10,000 contributed by Saskatchewan in motion.

May 12 has been designated the construction date for the playground itself. The community intends to build all the equipment in one day with the assistance of dozens of local volunteers.

From the beginning, organizers said they would consult closely with the community to determine what equipment would be featured in the park.

This included a unique surveying method called "Dotmocracy." Primary students in nearby Loreburn were shown large posters of different playground equipment, including slides, play structures and other items.

They were then given four stickers each, which they used to mark the structures they wanted for the Elbow park. Children visiting the fall trade and hobby show also had the same opportunity.

"The playground is actually what the kids wanted," explained Wilm, "which is what it's all about."

Wilm said the formal fundraising campaign has yet to begin, but proceeds from a number of recent events have been donated towards the project, including the Lakeshore Stampede supper, a fall supper, a New Year's Eve party, the fall trade and hobby show and a silent auction.

The committee has also received personal donations, including a generous $20,000 contribution from Rick and Laurie Hopkinson of Saskatoon. Some local residents and businesses have organized their own small-scale fundraisers, added Wilm.

"The whole point of this project was to get people involved on their own," she said. "People are getting involved and doing whatever they can."

As the construction date approaches, Wilm said, the committee is having more meetings and conference calls with LTBK, allowing them to provide updates on their fundraising campaign and to consult with other communities across Canada for ideas and inspiration.

The leaderonline is a division of The Davidson Leader, Davidson, Saskatchewan, Canada.

Brier Playoff Package...

2012-02-07T13:50:00.000-08:00

Thanks to everyone who bought tickets for the 2012 Brier Playoff Package!! Greg Bristow is the lucky winner! Thanks to Denise Ganes for organizing the ticket sales!!

Our New Playground Design!

2012-02-03T10:16:00.000-08:00

Our new playground design features more of what our children asked for...and 4 pieces of adult fitness equipment!!

ELBOW WINS!!!

2012-01-30T20:06:00.000-08:00

ELBOW WINS THE $10,000 SASKATCHEWAN IN MOTION COMMUNITY PLEDGE CHALLENGE!!

Our small community of under 300 people, won with an amazing 25392 votes! Thank you to everyone, near and far...literally around the world....for supporting the Elbow Community Park Project! Thank you for believing!!! Without YOU....it would not have been possible! From the bottom of our hearts, we thank, thank, thank you!!!

KEEP VOTING....

2012-01-27T08:03:00.000-08:00

Just a heads up...Saskatchewan In Motion has tossed in a little something to add to the suspense...

Please note: To keep you all in suspense, vote totals will be removed from the site at noon January 27. Your votes will continue to be tallied until 12 a.m. CST January 29 (that's midnight Saturday). The winner will be announced January 30, 2012.

Thank you for all your continued support and votes!! Please keep voting!!! Let's win this for our kids!!

VOTE FOR ELBOW!!
www.jumpin.ca

We Need Help From LTBK Communities Across Canada!!

2012-01-23T06:13:00.000-08:00

We need our LTBK extended family from Providence Bay, Brockville, Chelmsford and Cape St. George to help us out and VOTE FOR ELBOW!!

Elbow is one of the smallest communities left in the Community Pledge Challenge, having under 300 residents...so we need ALL the help we can get!! We have been competing against much larger towns - and are still managing to stay in either 1st or 2nd place!!

There are now only 6 days left to vote, the contest ends at 12am on January 29, 2012...you can vote once a day...and up to 6 family members can have accounts, per computer....help us win the $10,000 for our children!! Visit www.jumpin.ca today!! Make your votes count!!

Thank you so much!!

VOTE FOR ELBOW!

2012-01-17T10:02:00.000-08:00

Revealed at last...Elbow has been selected as one of the top communities in the in motion Community Pledge Challenge! Yahooo! Judges based their decision on the strength of Elbow's written submission, and the 372 pledges collected. THANK YOU FOR PLEDGING!! Now we need your VOTES! The winning community will be selected through an online public vote which takes place January 17 - 29, 2012. Please visit www.jumpin.ca and vote for Elbow! Help us win $10,000 so that our kids can move more! You can vote once a day from your account...please send this information on to all of your contacts...we need as many votes as possible, and $10,000 would get us one step closer to our $75,000 goal!!

PLEASE VOTE EVERYDAY FOR THE NEXT 2 WEEKS!!!

Thanks!

2012-01-14T16:07:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Tom and June Wilson at Pelican Landing & The Jelly Bean, for donating the proceeds of their "Stocking Stuffer" sales to the Elbow Community Park Project! Over the holidays, $175 was made...which will be matched by LTBK for a total of $350! Awesome!

Special thanks to Bill Nike for donating a Fluidity Machine to help raise money for the community park! The silent auction raised $150 which will also be doubled by LTBK!

It is so wonderful to have community members getting involved - planning and organizing their own fundraisers!! This truly is a community project!

Thanks!

THANK YOU!

2012-01-11T10:01:00.000-08:00

Thank you to Rick and Laurie Hopkinson for their gracious donation of $20,000 to the Elbow Community Park Project! There are no words to express our gratitude...

Thank you for believing in our project!!

Thank you for inspiring hope!!

THANK YOU - this donation will make our dreams become reality!

Great Start To 2012....

2012-01-09T08:10:00.000-08:00

Thank you to EVERYONE who helped make the NYE Party For The Park such a huge success!! The sold out event raised $3320 for the community park project....what an awesome start to 2012! Special thanks to Joel and everyone at the Elbow Hotel!! Thanks to all who helped prepare food, and for helping serve and clean up! Huge thanks to everyone who donated items for the Silent Auction: Paul & Denise Ganes, R&J Lakeside, Elbow Hotel, Back Home Bakery, Lorne & Joanne Wilm, Jessica Daniluk, Mark Patterson, Garmac Management & Real Estate, Michelle Babiarz, Heather Jeanneau & Sarah Wilm, Douglas Provincial Park, Rick & Claudia Diederich, Linda Kennedy, Photography By Colleen Niska, and Pelican Landing! It was a great example of community spirit...good food, good friends and good times!

Cheers & Happy New Year!!

Help Elbow Win $10,000 in the Saskatchewan Community Pledge Challenge!

2011-12-21T06:51:00.000-08:00

Help Elbow win $10,000.... so far we have had 351 pledges made!! It is easy and FREE!

Less than 15% of Saskatchewan kids get the minimum 60 minutes of physical activity they need every day. Working together, we can make a difference for the kids in our community. Saskatchewan in motion is giving away $10,000 to help one lucky community make physical activity the easy choice for kids.

The in motion Community Pledge Challenge asks residents to pledge to do just one thing to make physical activity the easy choice for kids – simple things like walking your kids to school or being an active role model.

Every pledge from our community puts us one step closer to winning $10,000 for our Elbow Community Park Project.

A panel of judges will choose five finalist communities based on the number of pledges they collect and the strength and creativity of their entry. The winning community will be chosen through an online public vote.

Here’s how you can help:

Make a pledge at Saskatchewan In Motion to do just one thing to make sure our kids can move more!

Not only will you be helping our community to win $10,000, but you’ll be helping yourself earn a chance to win too! Saskatchewan in motion is awarding $500 toward an active vacation experience to one lucky pledger!

There’s $10,000 on the line and our kids are counting on us.
So get pledging!

Our Future Playground!

2011-12-16T10:50:00.000-08:00

Take a look at the first initial playground design for the Elbow Community Park!

Give A Gift That Counts...

2011-12-05T18:13:00.000-08:00

Do you want to make a donation to the Elbow Community Park Project in honour or in memory of someone special? Give a gift that keeps on giving, to our children and to our community...

This Christmas, give a gift that counts!

For more information please contact Sarah ... s_book@hotmail.com

Thank You Elbow Art Society!

2011-11-13T18:52:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the Elbow Art Society for hosting a fantastic Silent Art Auction! $1100.00 was raised...after matching that with LTBK... it gives us $2200 in buying power! Wow! Thank you to all the members of the Elbow Art Society for donating the wonderful pieces of art...and to the Elbow Library, Elbow Service Club and Elbow Village Office for making the auction possible. And of course, a special thank you to all the lucky buyers!

Dotmocracy Day #2

2011-11-12T09:16:00.000-08:00

Thank you to the K-5 children from Loreburn Central School for helping design the playground for our community park!

We look forward to making the kid's playground dreams come true...

Help Elbow Win $10,000 in the Saskatchewan Community Pledge Challenge!

2011-11-10T09:22:00.000-08:00

Help Elbow Win $10,000....

Less than 15% of Saskatchewan kids get the minimum 60 minutes of physical activity they need every day. Working together, we can make a difference for the kids in our community. Saskatchewan in motion is giving away $10,000 to help one lucky community make physical activity the easy choice for kids.

The in motion Community Pledge Challenge asks residents to pledge to do just one thing to make physical activity the easy choice for kids – simple things like walking your kids to school or being an active role model.

Every pledge from our community puts us one step closer to winning $10,000 for our Elbow Community Park Project.

A panel of judges will choose five finalist communities based on the number of pledges they collect and the strength and creativity of their entry. The winning community will be chosen through an online public vote.

Here’s how you can help:

Make a pledge at www.saskatchewaninmotion.ca to do just one thing to make sure our kids can move more!

Not only will you be helping our community to win $10,000, but you’ll be helping yourself earn a chance to win too! Saskatchewan in motion is awarding $500 toward an active vacation experience to one lucky pledger!

Why not get started today?
There’s $10,000 on the line and our kids are counting on us.
So get pledging!

Dotmocracy Day #1

2011-11-07T12:21:00.001-08:00

Thank you to all the kids who came out to the Dotmocracy on Saturday!! It was a great day, and gave the kids a chance to vote on their favorite playground components!! It was also a great opportunity for people in the community to get a better look at what this project is all about...THE KIDS!!!

Thank you to Sylvia Harms for donating the proceeds from her table at the Elbow Hobby & Trade Show on Saturday to the Elbow Community Park Project!! Sylvia raised $40.00 ... and since Let Them Be Kids matches that, it is now $80.00! Yahooo!! Thanks Sylvia!!

Thank you also to Joe and Isabella Parent for baking up some delicious cookies for a "Guessing Game" at the Hobby Show...for $1.00 you could guess how many cookies were in the jar...and the closest guess won the jar full of cookies. $100.00 was raised, and with the match...that equals $200.00!! Yippee!!!

We are looking forward to meeting with the kids from Loreburn Central School on November 10, 2011 for Dotmocracy Day #2...

Fall Supper Success!

2011-11-07T12:15:00.000-08:00

Thank you to EVERYONE who came out to the Elbow Fall Supper last night!! We fed over 215 people and raised over $2000 for our Elbow Community Park Project. Yippeee! Special thanks to the Service Club for hosting and organizing an excellent meal and to all the people who supplied and donated the delicious food! And thank you to Lucyna Pettigrew and Cindy Rude of "The Nut Man" for donating the gift basket and raising funds through a 50/50 draw! Bert Bramble was the lucky winner of the 50/50 draw, winning $210!!

Thank you to the many people who were also bidding at the Silent Art Auction that was on display last night! The original pieces can also be seen at the Elbow Village Office and at the upcoming Elbow Library Hobby & Trade Show on November 5th. Bids will be accepted until November 12th, and the highest bidder will be notified by phone. All proceeds from the auction will go to the Elbow Community Park Project! Many thanks to the Elbow Art Society for organizing this wonderful auction in support of our community and our kids!!

After last nights supper we brought our total number of registered volunteers to 65!! Please continue to encourage your family, friends and neighbours to join the effort!!

IN THE NEWS...

2011-10-21T22:38:00.000-07:00

Elbow To Begin Fundraising For New Playground

By Joel van der Veen - Davidson

Oct. 17, 2011

ELBOW — As Elbow Mayor David Cross put it, the announcements made at his village's annual ratepayers meeting Thursday night weren't quite as impressive as Regina hosting the Grey Cup or Saskatoon hosting the Memorial Cup, but they were still pretty good.

"I think we can almost match those," he told the crowd of approximately 75 packed into the basement of the Elbow Civic Centre.

But the biggest news of all was saved for last.

Members of the Service Club and the Orchard Committee announced plans to build a new playground through a partnership between the village and Let Them Be Kids (LTBK), a non-profit organization that has assisted communities across Canada in creating new play areas for children.

The group helps by engaging citizens in the fundraising and design process. In the case of Elbow, they have pledged to match all funds raised by the community, giving the village a significant boost in buying power.

The committee has already set May 12, 2012 as the date for the construction of the new playground, which will be located within the community orchard site. The plan is to build all the equipment in one day, with the help of a veritable army of volunteers from the community.

Between now and then, they will embark on a massive fundraising effort; the amount of money raised will determine how much equipment can be purchased. For instance, money raised at the Service Club's fall supper will go towards the playground, as will the $1,300 raised at the rodeo supper this summer.

Display tables will be set up at the upcoming hobby show to give local kids a chance to help design the park and decide what equipment or play structures they'd like to see in it.

"Everybody is going to be included in this," said Carol Patterson, "from the kids right on up to the senior citizens."

Besides play equipment, the village also has the option of including a gazebo, benches, waste receptacles and other park staples.

Sarah Wilm told the crowd how she learned about LTBK online and filled out an application on behalf of the town. The crowd was then shown a video featuring LTBK founder Ian Hill, who introduced the project and gave a brief explanation. While LTBK has collaborated with hundreds of communities in Canada, Hill said the Elbow playground is their first-ever project in Saskatchewan. The video also included a slide show of pictures from a recent project completed in Pincher Creek, Alta.

Committee member Grace McTavish said building this playground is the current step in a multi-phase plan that has also included the development of the community orchard and the purchase of Elbow's last remaining grain elevator. The village intends to designate the elevator as a heritage site and then apply for a matching grant to clean the building, allowing them to open it to visitors and redevelop it as a revenue source, possibly as a museum, restaurant or other attraction.

The group also discussed the development of the four-acre community orchard over the past year. The park now boasts a walking path and will soon be lit. About 200 trees were planted this year, in addition to the 1,000 trees and shrubs that already lined the park.

"We are very proud of this success and the progress that we have made," said Joe Parent.

_________________________________

Maybe not as impressive as Regina hosting the 2013 Grey Cup to some...but being the FIRST EVER COMMUNITY IN SASKATCHEWAN to win a LTBK award sure does feel good!! The memories that we will make on May 12, 2012...and for all the days that follow once our park is complete...will leave a legacy for our children and for everyone who visits Elbow!

Check out the new Elbow website "What's New" section, for information on our project!

And please don't forget to "JOIN THE EFFORT" and help make a difference in Elbow...After you register you will receive regular email updates on all of the progress, from now until May 2012!!

TOGETHER WE WILL SUCCEED!

CONGRATULATIONS ELBOW!!!

2011-10-12T07:12:00.001-07:00

YAHOOO, we did it!! Elbow has won a Helping Hands National Award and we could not be more PROUD! Please check out our awesome announcement video to learn more about this exciting award!

Join the effort and make this one of the BEST things you have ever done...for yourself, your family and your community!!

At the end of the day, we want to be able to say ….

“WE DID IT TOGETHER!”