Three B.C. communities win playground revitalizations totalling $300,000

BCAA Play Here: British Columbians’ votes choose Cache Creek, Ladysmith and Mackenzie

June 21, 2018, Burnaby, BC

Communities in Cache Creek, Ladysmith and Mackenzie will soon have exciting new play spaces for their children, after getting the most votes from British Columbians in this year’s BCAA Play Here initiative—a community investment program that delivers rejuvenated play spaces to B.C. communities in need.

Over a three week period, British Columbians cast their votes to decide which three of 10 community finalists would each receive a $100,000 play space revitalization.

“Now in BCAA Play Here’s third year, we’ve learned that winning communities are the ones that get fully involved, collaborate and have fun,” says Shawn Pettipas, BCAA’s director of Community Engagement. “The passion that our finalists have for their communities really shows that great play spaces aren’t just for kids, they impact entire communities and we’re excited to deliver amazing play areas for families, kids and future generations to enjoy.”

The three $100,000 BCAA Play Here winners:

BCAA Play Here and its partners will deliver three, $100,000 play space revitalizations to:

• Cache Creek Elementary School, Cache Creek
• École North Oyster, Ladysmith
• Mackenzie Recreation Centre/John Dahl Park, Mackenzie

The three winners are among hundreds of play space nominations from across B.C. Ten finalists were shortlisted by a panel of judges and then the province was asked to vote. The public cast over 300,000 votes to decide which of 10 finalists would receive $100,000 play space revitalizations.

In the next few months, BCAA will work closely with each winning finalist on customized designs and plans that will give each community their own unique play area. BCAA will then deliver and create vibrant, brand new play spaces to the winners.

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Media enquiries:

Niela Melanio
BCAA Communication Specialist
Office: 604-268-5342
Cell: 778-228-8859
niela.melanio@bcaa.com

About BCAA Play Here

A multi-year, community investment initiative, BCAA Play Here protects kids in B.C. communities by rejuvenating play areas to make them better places to play. BCAA recognizes that play spaces are for kids and entire communities to enjoy and a place to bring people together. Through its play space revitalization initiative, BCAA is able to deliver play areas that will have a positive impact on kids in B.C. and everyone in the community, now and for future generations.

About BCAA’s Community Impact Programs

Part of BCAA's mandate is to protect kids throughout British Columbia. We do this by:

• Keeping children safer in school zones, with student School Safety Patrollers across the province.
• Providing Members with 'Slow Down, Kids Playing' signs to encourage safer driving in residential areas.
• Educating thousands of people a year across B.C. on the proper use and installation of child car seats and donating thousands of new child car seats over the last five years to reach families in need.

About BCAA

The most trusted organization in British Columbia by its Members, BCAA serves 1 in 3 B.C. households with industry-leading products including home, auto and travel insurance, roadside assistance, Evo Car Share and full auto service at BCAA’s Auto Service Centres. BCAA has a long history focused on keeping kids safe on the road and at play through community programs such as its School Safety Patrol, Community Child Car Seat Program and BCAA Play Here. Please visit bcaa.com.