The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
One man's motivation for making a playground a little bit safer: "the children." Fire chief Jim Petrie says he wanted to make the play area in Channing a safe place for kids. "The teeter-totter was in total disrepair. There was metal down and it needed to be repainted." And he adds "when you have 30 or 40 kids running around playing, it's nice to have something safe for them to utilize." Although Petrie didn't do the deed for recognition, Flin Flon recreation director Brenda Russell says "it's really nice when someone from the community offers to improve something that needs improving." Russell says people who are interested in helping to make a park a nicer place for the kids can talk to her and have some supplies donated from the city. "We have to make sure everything is in regulation and is safe." And she adds, "for example, if someone wanted to repaint a swing structure, we could give them the paint." As for the Channing playground, some of the supplies were given to Petrie, but he says "I also donated some of the things myself." The work itself took about a week, as he says "there was a lot to do." Petrie says now "it's a lot better for kids." But he adds "there is still some work to be done, but it's better than it was." Years ago, according to Petrie, the park was a lot nicer then it is now. "Improvements can be done in the future, but it's getting there," adds the fire chief. Petrie says "manpower is free. If you want the parks and areas to look nice you have to help out." And he adds "you can't just complain about it and not do anything." Russell also says "there are improvements to be made, and if we work together, we can get them done." Petrie says it's important to feel safe, especially to know your kids are safe. "I've always followed the rule of 'if you see something wrong, do something about it,'" he says. And that's just what he did.
