STENEN — The little village of Stenen kicked off Canada Day in grand style by serving pancakes and sausage to many hungry community and area members.
The village has a population of approximately 90 residents and is located about 25 kilometres east of the town of Preeceville along Highway 49.
The community volunteer fire department, assisted by many other community volunteers, was responsible for preparing and serving the breakfast. The proceeds went toward fundraising efforts for the new playground equipment recently installed at the community’s park.
The playground project became a reality with the purchase and installation of new equipment that replaced the older, outdated structures in the park.
The new structure includes two slides, a climbing apparatus, swings and an overhead climbing frame.
“How it all got started was some concerned parents approached the Stenen Rec Board in the fall of 2023 about replacing the older aging wooden playground structure,” stated Elenore Prekaski, board member. “We started looking into grants, and fundraising efforts began.”
The new structure was installed in June with a projected cost of approximately $35,000 to $40,000. It was put in place by many volunteers under the guidance of a professional playground installation supervisor.
“This undertaking has been a labour of love, driven by our passion for community, family, friends and neighbours,” stated Stacy Anaka, one of the organizers.
“We extend our sincerest gratitude to the numerous individuals and businesses that have contributed to the realization of our goal: a new park for the children of the Village of Stenen and surrounding areas. Your unwavering support has been instrumental in making this project a success.
“We want to express our deepest appreciation to Elenore Prekaski, whose tireless efforts have been the driving force behind this initiative. We also extend our thanks to Madera Playscapes for providing exceptional equipment and to Andrew and Jamie for their invaluable assistance in ensuring a seamless process.
“Furthermore, we are grateful to the Village of Stenen Rec Board for their financial support, which has enabled us to expedite the completion of this project. We would also like to acknowledge the generosity of the individuals who donated, whether financially, in-kind, or in the form of volunteer labour, or have been instrumental in bringing this project to fruition.
“As we continue to seek funding to cover the costs associated with the playground, we invite those who wish to contribute to contact us directly or reach out to the town office,” concluded Anaka.
