mytiletown.ca W E D N E S D AY , O C T O B E R 2 8 , 2 0 1 5
Mom wants girl honoured
What’s inside:
‘This really is a no-brainer, Richmond council:’ Supporter of family ALANCAMPBELL
Staff Reporter
ACAMPBELLRICHMONDNEWS.COM
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Townsend said the city apprecimother is blaming city hall red ates Bostik’s efforts in fundraising tape for an apparent delay for the playground, adding that in getting her wheelchair-bound the family’s contributions will be daughter’s name associated with acknowledged in a “prominent a $230,000 playpark she helped way in permanent signage” at the create and fund. Amanda Bostik is beside herself playpark, along with others who made significant contributions. with frustration after claiming the That signage may be on a City of Richmond’s parks departboulder, which has not yet been ment has reneged on a promise purchased, but no in the spring to final decision has name the new, allbeen made, he said. access park at McI don’t know why In a bid to light a Neely elementary the city is making fire under city buafter her daughter Gemma, 5, who this so complicated. reaucrats and council, Bostik last week has a life-limiting – A B launched an online condition. petition to have “I hoped to honGemma’s name our her by placing recognized at the her little mark on park. The petition, this world,” said Bostick, who is hoping at the very on ipetitions.com, has garnered 587 signatures and provoked 159 least a boulder at the Cambie comments supporting Bostik. neighbourhood park will have “This playground would never “Gemma’s Place” etched on it. have existed without the hard “This playground exists bework and urging from Gemma’s cause of her.” mom,” wrote Jeanette Dyck, of Standing in the way of namRichmond, on the ipetition page. ing the park after Gemma is an “It was through community efofficial city naming policy, which fort for Gemma that raised funddiscourages the naming of civic ing. This really is a no brainer facilities for living persons, with a Richmond council.” very few exceptions for “extraorWhile Richmond’s Patto Colton dinary circumstances,” accordpenned, “I, too, have a disabled ing to city spokesperson Ted son and can understand the Townsend. importance of this park and so “Historically, it’s very rare that appreciate “Gemma’s Park”…she we name public facilities for should be recognized for making individuals. When we have, it’s usually been for people who have sure so many children can have access now to this special park... a lengthy history of contributions/ thank you Gemma.” service to the city and is usually Bostik said she appreciates the done in memoriam…”
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COMMUNITY: First Shift ensures more kids get ice time 16 A d Bostik B tik and dh ght G l b t th i g off a ffully ll ! Amanda her d daughter Gemma celebrate the opening
accessible playpark at McNeely elementary. Celebration has since turned to frustration as she fights to have Gemma’s name inscribed at the park. Photo submitted
work the city’s parks department has done but laments the “long, tedious process that we just assumed would be an automatic gesture by the city. “I just hope they do the right thing, I don’t want our family name recognized, I just want my little girl honoured. I don’t know why the city is making this so complicated. Name the boulder, not the playground.” Several years ago, after discovering a lack of accessibility at
Richmond parks, Bostik decided to change it up, with the sentiment that no child should sit on the sidelines and watch play. Gemma was her driving force in spending four years working towards building an accessible playground in order to provide inclusive play for children of all abilities. Bostik raised $31,000 and another $27,000 came from the BC Tire Stewardship Foundation. The City of Richmond contributed $160,000.
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