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Vol. 52 No. 51
FRIDAY, JUNE 28, 2019
Home is where the heart is Mark Brett Western News Staff
For a special group of children, falling down in the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre playground doesn’t have to hurt as much any more. That’s thanks to a generous $150,000 donation from Penticton’s NHL hockey great Duncan Keith of the Chicago Black Hawks. Keith joined parents, kids and OSNS staff for the ribbon cutting at the grand opening for phase two of the Duncan Keith Adventure Playground outside Kinderplace Preschool. Keith, through his charity Keith Relief and the Chicago Black Hawk Charities, which do a lot of work helping others in the Windy City, announced in the summer of 2017 they were partnering with OSNS over the next three years. Keith has also committed funds to helping families in financial crisis throughout the year at the centre. “We have helped a lot of families there (Chicago) but Penticton is my home town and obviously everybody here is near and dear to my heart,” said Keith at the opening. “I just feel grateful and fortunate and privileged to be in a position to help give back. “When I found out that they (OSNS) needed some help I thought it was just a great opportunity, so that’s been the biggest sense of
NHL’er Duncan Keith gives five-year-old Garrett Laverdure a push on the swing at the new Duncan Keith Adventure Playground at the OSNS Child and Youth Development Centre. (Mark Brett - Western News) joy for myself is just to see lars for OSNS, is a special harder for you than it is and know that it’s helping design. for other kids, so you fall families and most imporThe artificial turf area a lot,” said OSNS executive tantly the children.” is a surrounded by a soft director Manisha Willms. The new playground, rubber track and also fea- “If you were a three-yearconstructed mainly by tures a swing set, climbing old and fell on a surface the Wildstone Group of equipment and wooden that was hard. How moCompanies, a long time accessories like a boat and tivated would you be to supporter of the centre, table. stand up again and try it “Imagine you’re a three- again with your physiotherand sponsor of the annual Colours4Kids run that year-old and you’re just apist? On a surface like this generates thousands of dol- learning to walk and it’s there is a big layer of foam
under here; that comes at a price that we’re only able to [afford] because of donations.” Added the centre’s Meg Dimma: “The even surface also makes it a better learning area for practicing activities that require balance and co-ordination. The children love to use the track around the playground to practice riding on their bikes. At OSNS disguising hard work with play is what our programs are all about.” Wildstone president Mark Melissen and project manager Marcel Olsthoorn were at the official opening. The centre also has an extra special place in Keith’s heart, his son Colton, who is now six, also attended OSNS, so over the past two years he has made many visits to the facility. “He was very at home with the kids, he just sat right down and had a mud tea party and enjoyed being around the kids and hanging out,” Willms said previously. “Duncan was a very engaged visitor and wanted to know more and about the value of pediatric care and quality programming. It was very special to have that energy in our centre.” The first phase of the program was a playground on the centre’s lower level and the final next year will be the installation of costly and unique nature-inspired equipment.
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