Since last Friday, they’ve been counting the sleep.
For the members of the committee who’ve been fundraising to build toboggan slides in Binscarth and Russell, it’s been like counting down the days to Christmas. Because the lumber is on the ground in Binscarth and Darcy VanDamme and his crew from DVD Construction are hard at work, looking to complete the slide in time to use this season.
In a project funded entirely by donations (with no municipal funds) money for the Binscarth slide came in relatively quickly.
Months ago, the engineers plans for the slides were drawn up. Modelled after slides in Winnipeg and Headingley, they’ll be sixteen feet high with stairs running up the sides. The slide itself will run 24 feet and meet the ground with a flooded out section, allowing sliders to venture out safely onto the flooded out ice path. The slide itself will be covered in durable and weatherproof puck board with large curved walls to keep sliders tucked safely inside. While crazy carpets are ideal, (they’ve been donated by Marg and Gerry Fraser and will be left on site) the puck board allows for sliders to take part with just a snowsuit or ski pants.
There have been a few hitches along the way as Covid shut downs saw both an increase in the price of lumber and a lack of available supply, but as the contractor, DVD Construction has secured all the materials and supplies within budget and with all the bills paid, the build began this week.
“Darcy has been fantastic to work with,” Marg Fraser, chair of the committee said. “He’s been consulting with the engineers and now has all the materials on site so it’s pretty exciting to finally see it take shape.”
But factors out of everyone’s control made for slow going at times, she said.
“First we were in red Covid restrictions, then in January, the weather was too warm to flood the ice surface at the location behind the curling rink in Binscarth,” Fraser said. “Then the really cold weather hit and it was too cold to work outside.”
Now, with the weather cooperating and all hands on deck, the first of the two planned slides will be operational in time for a few runs before the season ends.
“This has been a dream of mine for a long time,” Fraser said. “I’m a huge advocate for outdoor physical activity and having used the ones in Headingley with my grandkids for years, I know that this is a great way for people of all ages to get outside and have fun together.”
“And it’s Covid safe too,” she said with a laugh.
The Russell slides are still fundraising and looking for donations as well as the perfect spot to place the structure.
“We’ve had wonderful community support and some really fantastic fundraisers like the Haunted Rink in Binscarth and the Wine Survivor campaign where both groups from Russell and Binscarth have worked together to make this a reality for both communities,” Fraser said. “And we’ll be continuing that again with all the proceeds going toward the Russell slides so keep and eye out for what we come up with next.”
By: Terrie Welwood