Cannington community raises $110,000 to build a new playground for local school
A story eight years in the making, what began with an aging playground and a question from the School Community Council has turned into an extraordinary community success story at McCaskill’s Mills Public School, where families, businesses, organizations, staff and neighbours raised $110,000 to give students a brand-new playground.
The journey began in 2018, when the school’s School Community Council (SCC) learned that more than $5,000 in playground repairs had already been required and that the structure was nearing the end of its expected life. Over the next several years, the playground was repeatedly closed, repaired, and eventually dismantled. The big slide came down in 2023, the remaining structure with slides was removed after failing inspection in 2024, and the monkey bars were removed in 2025.
At the same time, the SCC was trying to figure out how a small school community could possibly raise the estimated $80,000 needed for a new playground.
Then the community stepped in.
In early 2025, the Cannington Lions Club provided the campaign's first major donation of $5,000. From September 2025 through February 2026, families, local businesses, community organizations, school staff, students, and neighbours responded with donations, fundraisers, sponsorships, and matching gifts. Together, they raised $110,000, $30,000 more than the original goal.
After eight years of planning, grant applications, meetings, fundraising and setbacks, the new playground officially opened in July 2026.
“This playground is a symbol of what can happen when an entire community decides that something matters,” said Shirley Ostertag, Chair of McCaskill’s Mills Public School, School Community Council. “Our students watched their old playground disappear piece by piece. To now see them playing on a brand-new playground is incredibly special. This truly is a win for the whole community.”
The project was driven by a simple goal: to give the children of McCaskill’s Mills Public School a safe, welcoming place to play for years to come.
But the impact extends beyond the playground itself. The campaign brought together generations of people from across Cannington and the surrounding community, with each contribution helping move the project closer to reality.
“What started in 2018 as a conversation about an aging playground became an eight-year journey that showed us what a small community can accomplish when it comes together,” said Peter Bozanis, Principal of McCaskill Mills Public School.
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