AUNDECK OMNI KANING—A new watery playground has been installed in Aundeck Omni Kaning First Nation, just in time for the hot weather to arrive, and the sounds of happy children could be heard reverberating through the band’s park and across the waters of the North Channel during the opening ceremonies.
The splashpad has been years in the planning and Chief Patsy Corbiere credited the work of former Economic Development Officer Kathy Bebamash for the groundwork and application for funding, and the new economic development officer Kelly Esquimaux for seeing the project through.
“The project has been in the making for almost four years,” said Chief Corbiere. “So, it was a request from our community members to have a splash pad like neighbouring communities such as Little Current and M’Chigeeng. We have a young and growing population so the band council invested and with the funding proposal in place we are able to have a splashpad here in Aundeck Omni Kaning.”
Northern Ontario development advisor Kristin Luoma with the Ministry of Northern Development and Mines was on hand for the opening and noted the ministry is always pleased to see its investments in Northern communities come to fruition.
“Fantastic!” was the response of Ms. Esquimaux when asked about how she felt about seeing the water flow through the new recreational playground.
The water for the splashpad comes from the community’s water treatment plant, but a system filters and screens the water for recycling to save energy and conserve water, explained Chief Corbiere. “There is a switch, a button, that turns the water on for a while and then it will shut down if it is not being used,” she said.
Accompanying the grand opening were a host of displays from local agencies, a community feast and plenty of prizes and awards.
