2003 “Let‘s Play, Canada!”
Evergreen Grant Recipients Announced
Evergreen, Troubadour Music and Universal Music are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2003 “Let’s Play, Canada!” healthy playgrounds grant.
March 10, 2003 – Evergreen, Troubadour Music and Universal Music are pleased to announce the recipients of the 2003 “Let’s Play, Canada!” healthy playgrounds grant. Celebrating Raffi’s latest release, “Let’s Play,” his 25-year career, and his dedication to children and the earth, the grant is geared to help create healthful, more natural play environments for preschool and primary age children.
“Play is the thing,” said Raffi, children’s troubadour and President of Troubadour Music. “On healthy playgrounds, children have the best chance to play and learn about their world.”
Twenty-five grant applications were selected from over eighty received. Grant recipients (see attached list) will receive a cheque for $1000.00 to assist in the implementation of their healthy playground design. Selected designs incorporate improvements such as the planting of native species of shade trees, shrubs and vines; heritage vegetable and annual seeds, and the purchase of child-sized hand tools and select materials for seating, play and container gardens. All grant applications had to incorporate natural settings, meet CSA safety standards, not use pressure-treated wood and be pesticide free.
“Children spend an average of 25 per cent of the school day outdoors, yet school grounds are seldom designed to promote learning or even simple enjoyment of the environment,” said Geoff Cape, executive director of Evergreen. “By replacing concrete and asphalt with native trees, shrubs and wildflowers, meadows or ponds, vegetable or butterfly gardens, Evergreen Learning Grounds provide children with close-up, hands-on opportunities to experience and learn about the environment.”
Universal has distributed Raffi’s incomparable catalogue of children’s music in Canada since 1990. Proud of their relationship with Raffi and his quality recordings, and eager to support his efforts to improve the lives of children and the environment in which they grow, this grant marks the record company’s first partnership with Evergreen.
“As Raffi’s label partners, we’ve always admired his energy and attention with many of the world’s issues,” said Randy Lennox, President and CEO of Universal Music. “This is a wonderful grant that will be enjoyed by many young children across Canada.”
2003 “Let’s Play, Canada!” Evergreen Grant Recipients
| Gleneagles Elementary School | West Vancouver | British Columbia |
| McBride Child Care Centre | McBride | British Columbia |
| Parkgate Community Centre | North Vancouver | British Columbia |
| Covenant Kids Christian Daycare | Langley | British Columbia |
| Bambi Day Care | North Battleford | Saskatchewan |
| Normanview Daycare Corporation | Regina | Saskatchewan |
| Saskatoon Student Child Care Services | Saskatoon | Saskatchewan |
| Little Lambs Christian Preschool | Winnipeg | Manitoba |
| Little Teaching Lodge | Brandon | Manitoba |
| Assiniboine Kiddie College Day Care | Brandon | Manitoba |
| Russell’s Lots-A-Tots | Russell | Manitoba |
| Stanley Knowles Preschool Centre | Winnipeg | Manitoba |
| Westgrove Children’s Centre | Winnipeg | Manitoba |
| Beaver Valley Community School | Thornbury | Ontario |
| Ecole Champlain | Welland | Ontario |
| Ecole Rose des Vents | Cornwall | Ontario |
| Faywood Arts-Based Curriculum School | Toronto | Ontario |
| H.S. McLellan Preschool | Sault St. Marie | Ontario |
| Circle of Friends Children’s Centre | Kenora | Ontario |
| Lakefield Child Care Centre | Lakefield | Ontario |
| Palisades Centre for Early Learning | Toronto | Ontario |
| Parkwood Hills Public School | Nepean | Ontario |
| Pinecrest-Queensway Nursery School | Ottawa | Ontario |
| Sixteenth Avenue Children’s Academy | Richmond Hill | Ontario |
| Sir Charles Tupper School | Halifax | Nova Scotia |