Regina, Saskatchewan – A safer, fully accessible and therapeutic Wascana Rehabilitation Centre (WRC) playground was officially opened today.  Regina-Lumsden-Lake Centre Member of Parliament Tom Lukiwski, the Honourable Bill Hutchinson, Minister of Tourism, Parks, Culture and Sport, Regina City Councillor Mike O’Donnell and the volunteer leaders Meghan Cross, Carmen Danyluk and Laura Stark, cut the ribbon at the playground in Wascana Centre. The playground was significantly upgraded this summer thanks to investments from the federal and provincial governments, the City of Regina as well as the Canadian Progress Club Regina Centre, several businesses, individuals and many volunteers.

“Our government is proud to have supported the accessible playground project at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre, which will help to improve our community’s recreational infrastructure and strengthen the local economy,” said MP Tom Lukiwski, on behalf of the Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification.

“The Government of Saskatchewan understands the importance of providing increased opportunities for children to play and learn in a safe and engaging setting,” said Minister Hutchinson.  “This playground will contribute to a better quality of life for the residents, the children and visitors alike.”

“Rejuvenating the recreation area and playground at the Wascana Rehabilitation Centre has been a dream of ours for two years and now it is finally a reality” remarked Meghan, Carmen and Laura, the young women who formed Playground Rehab @ Wascana Inc. (PR@W) for the sole purpose of raising funds and completing this project.  “We have worked hard, learned a lot and thank all those who donated and volunteered – we are grateful for the support.”

Playground Rehab @ Wascana Inc. is a non-profit organization dedicated to the rehabilitation of the children’s play area at Wascana Rehabilitation Centre.  In 2008, Carmen Danyluk and Laura Stark, former Wascana Centre seasonal employees, and Meghan Cross a former volunteer at the WRC recognized the deterioration of the play area and had the passion and vision to initiate the project. They created PR@W, gathered donations, enlisted volunteers and made this miracle happen.

Wascana Centre Authority (WCA), in partnership with the three levels of government and Playground Rehab @ Wascana Inc., has upgraded two playgrounds through the Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program, one at Candy Cane Park and this fully accessible site at WRC.  The federal and provincial governments provided $190,000 each for work at both of the playgrounds. PR@W and WCA, working with the City, and many donors and volunteers provided $280,000.

PR@W lead the WRC play area project garnering support from private donors, businesses, the Canadian Progress Club Regina Centre, the Hospitals of Regina Foundation, friends and family.  Donations were in the form of cash, in-kind, volunteer labour and morale support.

“Thanks to these wonderful young women, the donors, volunteers and all three levels of Government for their generous support, which resulted in another reinvigorated playground within Wascana Centre,” said Wascana Centre Authority CEO Bernadette McIntyre.

Created in 1962, Wascana Centre is Saskatchewan's largest multi-function outdoor recreational facility, a 930-hectare (2,300 acre) parkland development surrounding a 120-hectare lake, located in the heart of the City of Regina.  Wascana Centre is governed by a board of directors with representatives from the Government of Saskatchewan, University of Regina and City of Regina.

The Recreational Infrastructure Canada (RInC) program will invest $500 million in recreational facilities across Canada over a two-year period. In total, Western Economic Diversification Canada has approved 718 RInC projects that will use all of the funding available in the West. These projects are helping provide a temporary economic stimulus that will help reduce the impacts of the global downturn while renewing, upgrading and expanding recreational infrastructure in Canadian communities.