Photo: Michael Oleksyn/Daily Herald Representative from the province, Prince Albert Catholic School Division, Ecole St. Anne School and Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association posed for a photo on the new playground at Ecole St. Anne School on Wednesday. The province announced the opening of the second year of the Playground Equipment Grant in Saskatchewan. / Michael Oleksyn, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
By: Michael Oleksyn
Local Journalism Initiative Reporter
Prince Albert Daily Herald
A celebration marking the opening of another round of School Playground Equipment Grant applications was held at Ecole St. Anne School on Wednesday.
Representatives from the Prince Albert Catholic School Division, Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association, and Ecole St. Anne School joined Parks, Culture and Sport Minister Alana Ross to announce the opening of the second year of the grant.
“Today is also an opportunity to celebrate how the program has made a difference after just one year,” Ross said in her speech.
“94 schools throughout our province have received funding, benefiting more than 25,000 students in total. Thousands of children now have better places to be active, to build friendships and to enjoy outdoor recreation.”
All six elementary schools in the Prince Albert Catholic School Division have received grants since the program was introduced.
The funds were used to upgrade playground equipment at Ecole St Anne, Ecole Holy Cross, St. Catherine Community School, St. John Community School, St. Francis School and St. Michael Community School.
Introduced in 2025, schools can receive up to $50,000 in matched funding to build new playgrounds or update existing equipment. The government is providing $3.75 million each year for four years to the program, which has already helped 94 schools throughout the province.
Ross said that the application process is dependent on the schools that apply.
“So whatever money has been raised, they apply for a matching grant and they can apply more than once. Some people apply and it helps get them over the final hurdle to be able to get their playground equipment like we talked about here, it was that last piece they needed. and some might split their project into pieces and they’ll apply for some here or some there and the maximum grant at one time though is $50,000,” Ross said.
The school received $50,000 through the program to develop their new playground which benefits more than 700 students, as well as a daycare and community league that share the space.
Prince Albert Catholic School Division director of education Lorel Trumier said that the division is grateful for the opportunity of these grants. She said that the projects really could not have moved some of these projects forward unless there was this opportunity. Ecole St. Anne was one of the first to jump on the opportunity in 2025.
“What had happened with our school division is a school such as Ecole St. Ann School had been doing some fundraising and getting some of the visioning in place and some of the dollars in place with the fundraising,” Trumier said.
The Prince Albert Catholic School Division had already initiated a Request for Proposals (RFP) for the playground when the announcement was made in January 2025.
“We contacted right away the office and said, ‘Can we capitalize on this grant? Even though we’ve started the RFP process, we hadn’t broken ground, we had been doing fundraising, this helped us move this over the finish line.’ And that’s what happened here at Ecole St. Anne,” Trumier explained.
At the time a project at Ecole Holy Cross was in a similar position and also benefitted from the program.
“We were very fortunate and each one of our six schools actually benefitted from a project application under very different circumstances,” Trumier said.
The grant covers part of the upgrade cost. The rest comes from School Community Councils (SCC), school fundraisers, and donations from parents, guardians, staff, anonymous donors, and First Student bus contractor services.
“We had some donations that were made, some businesses that had helped us move those projects over the finish line as well. Again, we’re very grateful. I know our board chair, Suzanne Stubbs, and our entire board are very supportive of this kind of initiative,” Trumier said.
“It helps our children grow. I love what our principal ( Gisèle Stalwick) said, that this really is an investment in our children, and you can’t do that with the province of Saskatchewan and the Government of Saskatchewan. So happy that this is happening now, and we’re looking forward to round two, hopefully,” Trumier said.
Trumier explained that the division was so quick to apply the first time to help get the projects over the finish line.
“And I’ve had very great school community councils and principals in our schools and staff who want to make this happen.” Trumier said.
Trumier noted that during her speech Board Chair Suzanne Stubbs noted that she had been a trustee for 18 years and had never seen an opportunity like the grant program.
“This is wonderful for our communities and even what happens in the evenings and it happens after school And on weekends, our children get to benefit from this. So a great investment. Thank you to the government of Saskatchewan and our playground grant opportunities that come. And thank you again.”
Ross said that the 94 in the first round of grants was a great number and used 90 per cent of the $3.5 million that was available last year.
“Once that maximizes, then we’ll just roll them over into the next year,” Ross said.
Ross agreed with Trumier on the importance of the program.
“It’s so important for so many of our schools and our communities and the fundraising committees that they access this,” Ross said.
“And we want all the schools to access this and to be able to get them to that next step and complete the projects or finish something they weren’t able to do, previously. It’s really important for our children,” Ross said.
The new playground structure at École St. Anne School cost in the neighbourhood of $140,000, according to the chair of Prince Albert’s School Community, Jeanette Murphy. They had already begun fundraising by the time the grant became available last year.
“Today is a very special day for our children at our school and our community. As a parent and a board representative, it is truly heartwarming to see the playground become a reality,” Murphy said in her speech,”
During her post-speech interview Murphy encouraged schools in Prince Albert to take advantage of the program, no matter what school division.
“It is more than just a place to play. It is a place for our children to laugh, to make memories, to build confidence and create memories that they will carry with them. I’m so grateful to everyone who helped make this possible. Thank you for investing in our children and in our community,” Murphy said.
Murphy said that it was most importantly a playground for the children.
“May this playground benefit with laughter, joy and many wonderful memories for years to come,” Murphy said.
Speakers at the event included Ross, Stubbs, Stalwick, Murphy and SPRA representative Chelsea Corrigan. The application period runs from Sep 16, 2026, to Jan. 29, 2027.