Lamont’s new park will include accessibility equipment for children with mobility issues

BY JANA SEMENIUK

Lamont’s new inclusive Tawaw Park will have the added benefit of equipment which is inclusive to the communities’ most vulnerable little residents; children with disabilities.

Part of the park design includes equipment able to accommodate children with disabilities which has one local family very excited.

Lamont resident Sylvia McDonald, whose 11year-old son Julian was born with a chromosomal disorder that renders him non-verbal with partial mobility issues, said it’s frustrating to have limited access to parks that can accommodate Julian’s disability.

“I can’t take him to the park at all right now. I’ll go to the city or Vegreville or Bruderhieim because our parks only have regulations for able kids, or for a baby. But not for Julian. His favourite thing in the world is to swing,” she said, adding that due to Julian’s low muscle-tone he cannot hold himself up to use a regular swing.

“I literally live across the street from one park and two blocks away from another and I can’t use either one because as soon as I go there, he wants to swing and he can’t.”

Lamont Mayor Kirk Perrin confirmed the new Tawaw Park will have accessibility equipment for children with mobility issues, in addition to a new accessibility swing being installed at Hillside Park. Perrin said the new inclusive initiatives are meant to help all residents feel included in using the town’s outdoor spaces.

“It’s a wonderful initiative that the community has taken on. The (Town) council and parks and recreation committee. It’s really amazing we are able to transform our outdoor spaces so everyone can be able to access the environment,” he said.

“When I was growing up, we didn’t think about how everyone would participate in the spaces and feel included.

It’s more than encompassing it for children,

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but also making it for them so they feel included no matter what physical limitations they may have.”

Perrin added that he hopes the new park additions will help Lamont attract new residents.

“We hope that this is something Lamont will be recognized for in terms of making Lamont more of a community of choice for people coming to the area,” he said. “This was a great opportunity for us to showcase what Lamont is trying to become for the residents.”

Perrin also confirmed that all of the accessibility in both parks will have rubberized pathways leading to them.

RCMP Fort Sask. are Investigation an obduction which to date reveals that a 6-year-old victim was playing outside when a delivery driver offered to bring him to the 7-11 for candy and a “Slurpee”.

The suspect took the victim to a 7-11 purchasing several items and

Obituary Collie, Kenneth David

With saddened hearts we announce the passing of Kenneth David Collie of Lamont, Alberta. Born November 30th, 1941 in Meadowlake, Saskatchewan. Died July 4th, 2023 at the age of 81.

brought the victim back home where the victim told his parent.

Fort Saskatchewan RCMP were able to quickly identify and locate the suspect.

A 29-year-old resident of Edmonton was arrested and is currently in custody with charges pending.

led him to study and become an Aircraft Maintenance Engineer. A career he held from 1964 until his retirement at the age of 65 in 2006. His love of aircraft never wavered.

11-year-old Julian McDonald enjoys a swing at Heritage Park Historical Village in Calgary this past May with his family. The McDonalds are excited about a new park being built in Lamont that will encompass accessibility equipment for children like Julian who live with mobility issues.

Ground breaking for Tawaw Park is expected in the fall to coincide with the national Truth and Reconciliation Day Sept. 30.