SANIRAJAK/HALL BEACH
Children spend a lot of time on playground structures every day in communities across Nunavut, but Hall Beach is about to lose theirs.

"The playground has to come out this summer regardless of whether we have something to replace it," said Hall Beach resident Jennifer Currie who, together with senior administrative officer Kimberley Young, is hard at work securing funding to ensure the children have a new playground.

"It's the only outdoor designated area for children to play in this community. Kids are outside playing all the time. If they didn't have the playground, I guess they'd be scattered all over the community. Playgrounds are a safe way to experiment with risk, so the kids would not be able to have those kinds of experiences without one."

In an announcement in Iqaluit Feb. 29, Nunavut MP Hunter Tootoo announced federal government funding to the tune of just less than $1.3 million for playgrounds across the territory. The Government of Nunavut topped it off with $425,000 in 75/25 percent agreement as per the Small Community Building Fund for communities with less than 100,000 people.

Education Minister Paul Quassa agrees with Currie on the importance of playground structures.

"Playgrounds are an important aspect of our school and community infrastructure," he told Nunavut News/North. "As a part of (the Department of) Education's mandate, physical activity for our students is part of our daily program. To ensure we have a good range of outdoor activities, we install and maintain playgrounds on our school sites to ensure all young students have access to a safe outdoor physical activity environment.

"The availability of safe playgrounds gives children a chance to engage in physical activity, burn some energy and develop their physical abilities. Also, importantly, it provides opportunity for children to play and have fun with their peers."

Quassa notes that many school playgrounds are more than 20 years old.

"Some are newer, yet there are other communities with schools without playgrounds." he said.

To that end, the department applied for federal funding last year, with the help of the Department of Community and Government Services.

In Hall Beach, a wood play structure is owned by the school and is on school land, while a metal structure is hamlet-owned on hamlet land. They are side by side, next to the school, both serving as a recess-time play zone and as a community play area.

After the inspection by a GN environmental health officer in October, during which both structures were critically assessed, the playground was deemed unsafe.

"I did learn that the school put in an application in the last year or two to replace their playground," said Young.

"They never did get a response, is my understanding. I'm guessing they expected (the report). The report came in shortly after I came in as SAO."

Currie and Young were already discussing how to replace the play structures, and worked on a plan and an estimate.

"The hamlet received minor capital block funding and the council agreed to put that aside specifically for the playground, for a deposit on the playground - up to $30,000."

The full cost is expected to be $125,000 to replace both structures.

Shortly before Tootoo's infrastructure funding announcement, the pair started a GoFundMe page, having run out of funding options.

"(We've) applied for and researched many grants, 50-plus grants have been looked in to, to cover the remaining costs. However, we have run into many barriers due to our location, lack of businesses in our area and short timeline," they say on the page.

Quassa said "Hall Beach is being assessed within the priority listing," along with 10 other communities. The department is "currently looking at the condition of all playgrounds to ensure the highest needs are met first."

"This funding does not cover all existing needs with respect to playgrounds. It is, however, a great opportunity to address the needs for many communities," Quassa said.

Currie received more good news after the initial federal announcement.

"Through all my e-mailing, I have also found a potential grant via the GN sports and rec. They said that they would cover up to 75 per cent of the cost of a hamlet-owned playground, but won't be looking at applications until after April 1. So if we are able to get that grant and the school one, then we need to look at replacing each playground separately. It may take some time but it sounds like the kids up here will have a safe place to play at some point."

The department of education notes playground structures in need of replacement are located at: Arctic Bay, Arviat, Baker Lake, Chesterfield Inlet, Coral Harbour, Gjoa Haven, Hall Beach, Kugaaruk, Kugluktuk, Pond Inlet and Qikiqtarjuaq

We welcome your opinions. Click here to e-mail a letter to the editor.