A new playground for all at the Mackay Centre and PEL Schools
September 25 marked the inauguration of Mackay Centre and Philip E. Layton schools’ new fully adapted playground. A VIP welcome along with a tour of the playground gave donors, special guests, English Montreal School Board (EMSB officials and media the opportunity to walk around and look at (and play on!) the dozen different structures. Some 100 people gathered in the gym afterwards to hear from a special panel involved in the project. Radio and TV personality Kim Sullivan asked questions of the panelists, which included Mackay Grade 5 student Avi and his mother Alana Geller and twin brother Eli, who shared “I am happy for my twin brother. He’s finally going to be able to play on the swings now, which he’s been dreaming about forever.” The Habilitas Foundation partnered with the EMSB and the CIUSSS West-Central Montreal on the project, along with guidance from Lethbridge-Layton-Mackay Rehabilitation Centre.
Joe Ortona, Mehrnoosh Mohaved, Nick Katalifos and Keiko Shikako-Thomas at the playground inauguration. Mehrnoosh and Keiko began research for this 'dream inclusive playground' some eight years ago.
View of the playground from above.