The rain clouds couldn't dampen the golden celebration at Glendon School.
Students, teachers, local dignitaries, and families gathered for the ground breaking ceremony of the Glendon Outdoor Leisure Development, also known as the Green and G.O.L.D. project, on Tuesday, June 18.
For Daryn Galatiuk, the school's athletics director and one of the driving forces behind the project, it's been a two-decade wait for the facility to become a reality for the Village of Glendon.
"It's been about a 20-year field of dreams going on," he expressed.
Northern Lights Public Schools (NLPS) board trustee Garry Kissel, a former student and teacher at Glendon School, recalled playing in the field when it wasn't developed. He was a second-year administrator with the school when Galatiuk first proposed the idea.
"He spent about a year with us, and he said, 'you know we need to do something about these grounds. We need a track.' Of course, it was a pipe dream... He wore out a few principals, a few board members, and here we are," said Kissel.
During the event, students had the chance to throw a pie in their teacher's face or dunk them in the water tank for a small fee that went toward fundraising for the Green and G.O.L.D. project. Attendees could also get their faces painted, buy food from the barbecue, and bid on items at the silent auction with all the proceeds going towards fundraising.
According to Wanda Marsh, administrative assistant at Glendon School, they've raised just over $800,000 toward the $1.2-million total cost.
"We have a little ways to go, but we do have enough to start our project. We will be starting it, but in order to finish all the phases, that's what our end goal will be," she said, adding construction will officially begin on June 28.
If they secure all of their funding, the initiative is estimated to be finished by the end of the year.
The design will include an eight-lane shale track, two baseball diamonds, a soccer and football feild, outdoor baseball, beach volleyball, and pickeball court, among others located, behind the school.
It will significantly improve on the school's one gym, and should eliminate issues they currently face when it comes to offering programming, such as extracurricular and physical education options.
One of the most significant impacts will be felt by Glendon's track and field team, who have been running on the road.
"I'm pretty happy for my school," noted Grade 9 student Jayman Chitura. "I'm passionate about (track). It's cool that our school and everyone in our community can come, help out so much, and get so much towards something that we're all passionate about."
The fact that the outdoor leisure area will be available to everyone in the community is another important factor.
"We have a couple of parks, but they're geared toward younger ages. This will be for our youth, our seniors, and our teenagers. It will allow every family to be able to come out and have an active lifestyle," Marsh explained.
The project is being designed by Cold Lake-based firm SE Design and Consulting Inc. Joshua Holman, project manager for the company, grew up in a area similar to the village and understands how important the facility will be.
"I know Glendon has a terrific track and field program that you should be proud of, and we're looking forward to providing (a track) that can serve not only the the school, but the community as well."
Along with fundraising done by the school and the Glendon Parent Advisory Committee, the Village of Glendon set aside $309,000 as their contribution to the project, and the MD of Bonnyville approved providing up to $500,000 for construction through their Legacy Fund late last year.
"Our council is very pro-recreation," Reeve Greg Sawchuk said. "We're big on the kids getting them out there, getting them active, and giving them something to do. It's our great pleasure to be involved with the project, and we look forward to its completion."
For anyone interested in being part of the Green and G.O.L.D. plan, can call Glendon School at 780-635-3881.
