OLDS — One of the more spectacular events on Canada Day happened in the Olds Bank of Montreal parking lot -- the competition to build two playhouses and climbing walls – all part of a fundraiser for the Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society’s Kirsten’s Place emergency shelter.
The all-day event, the culmination of a six-week ticket selling campaign, brought in a total of $53,010.
Bank of Montreal staff were named the top ticket sellers. The title of top ticket sales overall went to the League of Extraordinary Builders, one of two teams in the playhouse building competition.
The other team in that competition, the Build Avengers, won the playhouse build competition for their Candyland-themed playhouse.
The Build Avengers also won the leadership challenge (the climbing wall competition). Both climbing walls constructed were donated to Kirsten’s Place.
Town of Olds Mayor Judy Dahl was on the Build Avengers team and newly elected Olds-Didsbury-Three Hills MLA Tara Sawyer was on the League of Extraordinary Builders.
Braeden Anderson of Olds won the Candyland playhouse. Gary Poynter of Dogpound won the Pink Palace.
The MineCraft Playhouse, complete with swing set, furniture, sandbox and picnic table, went to Kirsten's Place.
Children from the BGC Olds and Area judged the competitions and declared the winners.
Coordinator Debora Rice-Salomons was pleased with how the finale of the fundraiser went, although funds raised fell short of the initial $88,000 goal.
“The Playhouse build itself, and the project, beyond compare; like it was just wonderful,” Rice-Salomons said during an interview with the Albertan.
She said more than 50 businesses and organizations sold tickets and were on hand for the build competition.
The scores of volunteers involved included representatives of local businesses and organizations, also the Men’s Shed of Olds and residents of the Seasons Encore seniors facility.
People and businesses in communities not only in the Mountain View County area but as far as Rocky View County and Airdrie sold tickets. Even the Lions Club of Irricana came to help out.
“It was absolutely fantastic,” Rice- Salomons said, noting the day kicked off with a pancake breakfast. Other businesses provided coffee and lunch.
“We had the weekly competitions of ticket selling. The League of Extraordinary Builders won five of the six of the weeks, and they actually were the top ticket sellers,” Rice-Salomons said. “But the build Avengers came back strong, and they won crowd favourite with their Candyland Playhouse.”
It was a long, hot day and as in other playhouse building competitions, the two teams played tricks on each other.
There was a big water fight in the afternoon and an RCMP officer handcuffed one of the carpenters to a tent.
“It was an amazing day, great for the community,” Rice- Salomons said. “Tons of community support. Board members from the Mountain View Emergency Shelter Society were there helping out.
“But the real star was the community and the support and the fun that they had building. In the end, they were absolutely stunning, stunning playhouses.”
