Your news this week: Preschool may close down - 8 4-H holds achievement night - 9 Firefighters promoted - 12 OPINION: Apology predictably lame - 4
Proud to be an Independent CANADIAN Publication
FREE
Vol. 18, No. 45, Wednesday, October 4, 2023 www.LamontLeader.com
Grand opening celebrates Lamont’s new Tawaw Park while also recognizing Truth and Reconciliation Day BY JANA SEMENIUK Indigenous elders along with elected town and county officials gathered with approximately 50 residents to officially open the newly built Tawaw Park while also commemorating the third annual national Truth and Reconciliation Day Sept. 30. Tawaw Park was announced at Lamont’s Summer Fest celebrations in July as a community park that includes a play structure, pavilion and walking trails, aimed at promoting inclusivity while contributing to the town’s goals towards indigenous reconciliation. During the summer announcement, Perrin explained the name chosen for the park. “(The name) ’Tawaw’ is Cree for ‘come in, you are welcome’ or ‘there is room’ or ‘there is always room for one more’,” he said. “(It’s) an inclusive natural fitness supportive space that embodies the Town of Lamont and its
partners’ commitment to indigenous reconciliation.” Keeping with the theme of inclusivity, Tawaw Park has swings to accommodate those with mobility issues. Additionally, a rubberized surface, scheduled to be installed in the spring, will accommodate wheelchairs. Lamont resident Olivia Chasse, 75, who attended the grand opening, has mobility issues and lives in the town’s Morley Young Manor. She said she loves the name of the park and while she can’t make use of the equipment, she is happy to see that young people who have wheelchairs will be able to access it. “I’ve lived 75 years. I’ve had opportunities to go down slides and play ball. But it’s the children coming up (who need it),” she said. “My understanding is (the name) means ‘everybody welcome’. I love the name of the park and I love what it stands for.”
Lamont town councillor Linda Sieker said she was overjoyed with the opening of the park and happy to see kids already using the new facility. “It's very exciting. When I walked by this morning at 10:30 there were (already) two dozen children here,” she said. “It's a great central location and it's honouring the indigenous community. It's wonderful.” Tawaw Park sits between the Campbell and Edna subdivisions at 46 Street and 54 Avenue. Meanwhile, Lamont Mayor Kirk Perrin opened the ceremony by introducing special guests Vyna Fluney, elder and knowledge keeper for the Metis nation of Alberta zone two, Evelyn Day who works for local schools in addition to the indigenous United Church, and Colleen Dollfusz, president of the Indigenous Society of Fort Saskatchewan. Continued on Page 18
Lamont mayor Kirk Perrin addresses the crowd at the grand opening of Lamont's Tawaw Park on Sept. 30 while also acknowledging national Truth and Reconciliation Day. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
Volunteer numbers exceed expectations to build Lamont’s new Tawaw Park BY JANA SEMENIUK A call for volunteers to come out and help build Lamont’s new inclusive playground exceeded expectations when nearly 50 people registered and showed up ready to work between Sept. 28 and 29th. Lamont Chief Administrative Officer Rick Bastow said the number was far more than expected. “The turnout was amazing. We had just shy of 50 people participate (and) Thursday was the beehive of activity,” he said. “A great proportion was done on Thursday (28th) and then we finished strong (Friday the 29th with) volunteers putting in a total of just about 20 hours per person that participated. That was fantastic.” In addition to the group of volunteers to build the park, Bastow said
staff and students of both Lamont Elementary and Lamont High Schools decorated large rocks around the new pavilion with painted hand prints. Bastow said the build was scheduled to take place over two days with a min-
imum of 15 people per day required. He said with so many people there to help, it made the work load lighter for everyone. “Because there were so many people, we were able to give people shifts,
Nearly 50 people came out to help build Lamont's new inclusive Tawaw Park on Sept. 28 and 29th. Organizers were hoping for at least 30. Photo: Jana Semeniuk
and they were able to have some break time, which is great, too, because you don't want people to feel like they have to work every single minute of the project,” he said. “They get a chance to stand back, observe as things are being constructed, and see as things unfold. That many people just meant we weren't worried at any point in time for lack of volunteers and we were able to get this done in time.” While the majority of the park is now built, Bastow said two more items are still to come; one additional piece of replacement playground equipment and another item, the rubber surfacing, which can’t be installed until the spring due to the current dropping temperature. Continued on Page 18