June 14, 2024

From June 4-6, 2024, over 100 dedicated volunteers joined forces to build a modern and accessible playground at St. Dominic Catholic Elementary School in the community of McLeod. This new, inclusive play area promises to be a vibrant hub of activity and joy for students and families in the neighbouring communities. 

The school’s previous playground had outlived its lifespan and will be donated overseas, extending its life and bringing joy to children in another part of the world. Playquest will provide guidance and expertise during the three-day build, and the final playground will be ready for students before the school year ends.  

Completing a project of this magnitude would not be possible without the dedication of the volunteers and the community's support. Volunteers included staff from Edmonton Catholic Schools and students from the University of Alberta’s Engineering Youth Alumni Council (ENGGYAC).

Supporting Outdoor Spaces 

Edmonton Catholic Schools (ECSD) is on track to surpass its goal of having all school playgrounds inclusive and accessible by 2030 by expanding its efforts to include some playgrounds owned by the City of Edmonton. Twenty-six playgrounds have been upgraded or rebuilt since 2018. There are five more projects to complete in order to reach the 2030 goal.

The St. Dominic initiative marks the fourth time ECSD has participated in a volunteer playground build in the past six years, highlighting our commitment to enhancing outdoor learning environments for our students.  

Previous volunteer playground builds include: 

• St. Teresa of Calcutta Catholic Elementary School (July 2022)  
• St. Francis of Assisi Catholic Elementary/Junior High School (July 2021)
• St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary/Junior High School (July 2018 )