Focused Funding Grant

The key objectives of this project are to strengthen student belonging, safety, and engagement by creating an accessible outdoor learning and gathering space. The project aims to increase participation in positive school activities, provide a supervised lunch-hour connection area, and support reconciliation through Indigenous-centered cultural teachings and community use. It will also enhance school–community partnerships and youth leadership opportunities.

This project is powerful and meaningful in both student well-being and community connection. By creating an accessible outdoor learning and gathering space, the students can come together during break time to recharge, build connections and feel grounded in indigenous culture. This space allows students to learn, reflect and engage in culture that will leave a lasting impact on them.

This project advances the schoolyard transformation at Parc La Salle School through three connected features that support outdoor learning, active play, and community use. The Gathering Area will be an outdoor learning circle designed for land based education, cultural learning, and community connection. It will include 6 natural logs for seating, 6 decorative rocks, 13 native trees, and a fire pit for storytelling and cultural teachings. The space will serve 150–180 students and be co created with students, staff, families, the Parent Advisory Council, and a divisional Elder.

This space will provide outdoor learning, cultural teaching and community connection. The inclusion of natural features helps bring a sense of peace and belonging to the area. This project was co-created with students, teachers, families and an Elder which brings so much meaning to this space.

We are focused on improving use and accessibility of our outdoor play and learning spaces for students and the community. Our three-phase plan includes a shade structure (currently there is no shade available on the grounds), an accessible swing set and new slide and climbing structure to replace a broken and inaccessible structure.

The accessible outdoor learning and play space is a meaningful investment in both education and community well-being. This three phase project is inclusive and will extend the classroom outdoors. The elements they have incorporated provides a welcoming space for students, families and educators.

The project’s objective is to enhance the wellbeing of École Taché’s students, staff, and broader community by creating a wheelchair accessible shaded outdoor classroom and picnic area. The school’s Parents Advisory Council has been working to improve the schoolyard and has, in the last two years, secured two grants to support the planting of several on and around the property.

This grant, generously offered by Access Credit Union, would enable us to continue enhancing the outdoor spaces by adding a new installation that encourages students and personnel to make greater use of the outdoor space.

This project provides a flexible, open-air environment where students can engage in hands-on activities and experience the outdoor class setting. Beyond school use, the addition of a welcoming picnic area creates a shared space for families and community member to gather.

The goal of this project is to create a nature‑based playground that encourages outdoor learning, physical activity, and creative play. The space will provide students with a safe, inclusive, and engaging environment that supports hands‑on exploration, social interaction, and connection to the natural world. Our school community faces a critical lack of safe, accessible play and green spaces. The majority of our students are Indigenous (approximately 90%), and many come from low‑income, high‑needs households. There is no public playground in town, making the schoolyard the only place where children can gather, socialize, and play outside of school hours. Currently, the yard lacks natural features, shade, and varied play opportunities. The absence of enriching outdoor spaces limits physical activity, social development, and opportunities to connect with land--something that is deeply meaningful and culturally relevant to our students.

The development of this project reflects the unique environment in this community. The space would encourage outdoor learning through interactions with natural elements while promoting physical activity. These durable nature elements provide creative play in all seasons.

The Lowe Farm School PTA is raising funds to upgrade and resurface the existing blacktop and basketball court at the Lowe Farm School to include components to make it a multi-sport court to provide a wider variety of activity options. The goal is to provide a space that is safe and encourages play and recreation amongst the students and members of the Lowe Farm Community.

This multi-sport court will significantly enhance both physical activity and student engagement. Repairing and upgrading surfaces also helps prevent injury and extends the lifespan of the space. This court goes beyond school use and adds an accessible play option to the entire community.

This project aims to create an engaging fitness space that uses technology, such as interactive games and movement-based systems, to encourage physical activity among youth. It focuses on reducing sedentary behavior by making exercise fun, accessible, and appealing. Students will track and document their progress to build accountability, measure success, and promote long-term healthy habits.

This project is innovative and forward-thinking. Using technology and interactive games encourages physical activity and engages students in a modern way. This also appeals to students who may not participate in traditional sports and is fully accessible.

The Play-for-All-Project at École Dugald is driven by a simple goal: ensuring that no child is ever left on the sidelines. École Dugald School now serves over 550 students, and our current play area is being stretched to its limits. This project ensures our outdoor space finally matches the needs of our rapidly expanding school classrooms and families, while also creating a vibrant heart for all children in the community regardless of social or developmental abilities can finally play, grow and belong together.

This project provides additional play space to this growing school. The current structure is beyond capacity and limits sensory and accessibility components. This Play-For-All project promotes movement, outdoor play and brings a unique space to the community.

The goal of this project is to continue the work of providing recreation for our middle and high school students. Our plan is the development of a combined traditional play structure and adventure-style course and beach volleyball area. This area will feature climbing components and obstacle elements, offering students a wider variety of physical challenges. The addition of this play structure will provide students with greater choice in the types of activities they can participate in and encourage active, creative play.

This project targets two age groups with appropriate activities rather than a one-size-all approach. They surveyed students and designed two areas that encourages outdoor activities that are appealing to middle and high school aged students. This investment also provides a great space for the community.