News release - The City of Barrie
In celebration of Canadian Tire’s 100th anniversary, Canadian Tire’s nearly 500 store owners across the country are funding the development of the largest Jumpstart Inclusive Playground to date in partnership with Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities (Jumpstart) and the City of Barrie.
The new inclusive play space will be named the Muriel and A.J. Billes Family Playground in honour of Canadian Tire Corporation’s founding family.
It will be built in Painswick Park as part of Jumpstart’s Inclusive Play Project, which focuses on removing accessibility barriers to sport and play.
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At over 21,000 square feet, the playground will host a variety of imaginative and inclusive features that accommodate sensory, physical, and cognitive disabilities, enabling kids of all abilities to play side-by-side. A 3D rendering of the Muriel and A.J. Billes Family Playground can be seen here.
“On behalf of our 500 Associate Dealers, the Canadian Tire Dealers’ Association (CTDA) is honoured to present the Muriel and A.J. Billes Family Playground to the City of Barrie as a tribute to the Billes family and Martha Billes, specifically, as the Founder of Jumpstart, which has given over 3 million kids access to sport and play since 2005,” said Doug Waldie, President of the CTDA.
“Everything about this playground is special, starting with its location in south Barrie, which, in addition to being a significant place for the Billes family, is a community that will benefit from having access to this inclusive play space.”
“We’re grateful to the Canadian Tire Dealers’ Association and Jumpstart in helping establish this project in our community and being able to provide a safe and inclusive space for children to play,” said Alex Nuttall, Mayor of Barrie. “It’s crucial to ensure that everyone feels included, and this new playground provides amazing opportunities for kids of all abilities to play together.”
“The Muriel and A.J. Billes Family Playground was made possible thanks to the generous contributions of the Canadian Tire Dealers’ Association,” said Marco Di Buono, President of Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities. “We are proud to honour and advance Martha’s vision, creating an inclusive playground that enables all members of the community to experience the power of play, regardless of age or ability.”
“Jumpstart and the CTDA’s generous contributions complement the park improvements the City started earlier this summer, allowing us to build out a robust, accessible park in south-east Barrie that keeps all residents active and healthy at all stages of life,” said Sergio Morales, Councillor of Ward 9.
Already a community hub for recreation, Painswick Park is home to baseball, soccer, and tennis facilities and is currently being redeveloped by the City of Barrie to add pickleball courts, among other improvements.
Construction of the Muriel and A.J. Billes Family Playground and the other enhancements at Painswick Park are expected to be complete in the summer of 2023.
About Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities
Canadian Tire Jumpstart Charities is a national charity committed to ensuring kids in need have equal access to sport and recreation.
With an extensive, national network of more than 1,000 grantees and 289 local chapters, Jumpstart helps eligible families cover the costs of registration, transportation, and equipment, and provides funding to selected organizations for recreational infrastructure and programming.
Supported by Canadian Tire Corporation, Jumpstart has provided more than 3 million opportunities for Canadian kids to get in the game since 2005. For more information, visit jumpstart.canadiantire.ca.
Follow Jumpstart on Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook to learn how they are making sport and play more inclusive for kids across Canada.
Banner image via The City of Barrie
