Making a splash park

Invermere, B.C., won $25,000 from the Kraft Celebration Tour to help build a splash park on the beach

by Marie Milner — August 22, 2013

Three children display a large cheque in the amount of $25,000

1 of 7Kraft Canada and TSN presented the town of Invermere with $25,000 towards creation of a splash park on the beach. — Marie Milner photo

Two women, one holding a toddler, and two men, standing in front of lush greenery

2 of 7Panorama Foundation directors (l-r) Laurie Ruault, Administrator; Stephanie Van de Kemp, director, with daughter Eden; Rick Jensen, chairman; Scott Morgan, treasurer. Missing: Neil Carey, Catrien Dainard, Melissa Altmann, Pete Bourke. — Photo courtesy Panorama Foundation

3 of 7Darrell Smith of the Invermere Rotary Club is co-ordinating the fundraising efforts for the splash park project. — Marie Milner photo

Densely packed crowd outdoors, mountains in the background

4 of 7Well over 1,000 people attended the presentation of $25,000 to the town of Invermere by Kraft Canada and TSN. — Marie Milner photo

Two men and a woman in summer clothing, outdoors, pose together

5 of 7David Wilks, MP for Kootenay/Columbia; Kerri-Anne Thomas, Invermere Rotarian and co-ordinator, Splash Park Committee; and Invermere Mayor Gerry Taft were wearing their happy faces at the Kraft/TSN presentation of $25,000 to the town of Invermere. — Marie Milner photo

Two men and a woman holding a microphone; all wearing dark blue TSN/Kraft T-shirts

6 of 7This cheerful trio is part of the production team for the Kraft/TSN celebration tour that visited Invermere, B.C. — Marie Milner photo

Two smiling young women in red t-shirts displaying Kraft Peanut Butter coupons

7 of 7Fairmont Hot Springs Resort representatives, Colleen and Larissa, volunteered at one of the Kraft booths during the celebration. — Marie Milner photo

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The price tag for a new splash park on Kinsmen Beach in Invermere, B.C., is around $320,000—a hefty amount to be procured from this community of fewer than 4,000 permanent residents and a summer population of almost 10 times that number.

The merits of a splash park on the beach justify the considerable cost: it’s a safe, free, family-oriented outdoor amenity that encourages physical activity. The convenient location on the beach makes it attractive and easily accessible to visitors as well as residents of the area.

Seed money from Panorama Foundation

When news of the project reached the Panorama Foundation in the spring of 2013, the foundation stepped forward with a generous donation of $50,000. The Rotary Club of Invermere is spearheading the drive for funds, and committed a matching $50,000; the club has raised an additional $65,000 for the cause as well.

“We are very grateful to Panorama Foundation for their generosity, and we want people to know that this local group has been a wonderful example of civic pride and support,” said Darrell Smith of Invermere Rotary.

Reaching out to Kraft

Invermere Rotarian Kerri-Anne Thomas heard about funds available from the Kraft Canada Celebration Tour, and was inspired to apply to the tour for a chance to win $25,000 toward the cost of the park. She did the necessary paperwork—including an explanatory essay—and submitted it. On July 1, the Rotary Club learned that Invermere was one of 20 semi-finalists, and that it would be pitted against Pemberton in a vote-off.

Smith volunteered to rally the voters, and enlisted help from other Rotary members to prepare for the 24 hours of online voting on July 11 and 12.

“We got to use the College of the Rockies’ computer lab during the voting, and seven Rotarians and their spouses worked those computers for 24 hours,” Smith said. “Some of the businesses here in town—AG Foods, Gerry’s Gelati, Sobeys and Kicking Horse Coffee—showed great initiative and support in getting votes.”

On the day of the vote, Brett Wilson (former dragon on CBC’s Dragons’ Den) tweeted a promise that if Invermere won, he would donate $5,000 to the fund.

Celebrating the win

TSN crew members visited Invermere on July 14—two days after the vote finished—to look over the site and make their plans. The celebration on August 19, when Kraft presented the $25,000 cheque to the town of Invermere, concluded with a one-hour live broadcast by TSN from a stage on the shore of Lake Windermere. Well over a thousand people turned out for the event, which included a barbecue, music and rampant community spirit.

With the encouragement of Invermere mayor Gerry Taft, guests at the event dug into their pockets and donated almost $3,000. The Invermere Rotary Club is planning further fundraising to acquire the final $100,000 plus.