Holmes Makes It Right - Episode 2 Preview

If you're Canadian, don't miss the next new episode of Holmes Makes It Right! The preview is already up, and will cover the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground rebuild, which took place in July of this year. If I'm lucky, a friend of mine who was actually there with her family during the community build day will give us some behind the scenes insight into what it was like to be there building with Mike and his crew!

See also:

Jamie Bell Adventure Park Rebuild Comes To A Close With Community Build Day
Mike Holmes Helps to Rebuild Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in Toronto
Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park Grand Re-Opening
Mike on The Morning Show - "Holmes Makes It Right in High Park"
Now THAT'S A Castle!
Picture Time! Yesterday's Build at the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park
Jamie Bell Adventure Playground Community Build - YouTube Videos

Mike Holmes... I Think?

Oh child, you have so much to learn. That dude... Mike Holmes, I think? Out of the mouth of babes :)

As you can tell, there's not much going on today, and I'm VERY busy working on my Mike Holmes birthday present surprise thingie. For more information on that, scroll down the page a little. Until something new happens, enjoy this cute little video of a child's perspective on the newly rebuilt Jamie Bell Playground and Castle Park.

More videos from the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground Grand Re-Opening, July 13

More media content from the grand re-opening of the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground, which took place July 13, 2012:




And another video from the Community Build Day last week on July 7th:

Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park Grand Re-Opening

It's been several months since Mike and his crew got involved in the rebuilding of the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in Toronto. All of the hard work they've invested over the last couple of days and weeks paid off with plenty of "hugs and love" yesterday, July 13, 2012, as it reopened to an endless stream of grateful children, parents, and community members. This article and video from the Toronto Sun goes into details:

High Park playground replaces one destroyed by arson

visit the Toronto Sun website to view the video

By Kevin Connor, Toronto Sun

First posted: Friday, July 13, 2012 06:28 PM EDT | Updated: Friday, July 13, 2012 06:42 PM EDT

TORONTO - High Park’s Jamie Bell Adventure Playground reopened Friday with a brand new castle after the old one was destroyed by arson.

After the park was torched in March plans to rebuild began immediately spearheaded by HGTV celebrity Mike Holmes with the help of Toronto fire and police and members of the community.

At the opening Holmes was being repaid with hugs from the dozens of kids in attendance.

“I’m just listening to the kids scream as they come down the slide. This is all about the kids. This was a little bit of work and a lot of sweat, but it was well worth it,” Holmes said.

Michael Ogle was one of the 40 Toronto firefighters who volunteered to rebuild the park.

“Our involvement was a perfect fit for us. We responded to this fire so we wanted to be involved in rebuilding the park,” Ogle said.

The Youth Policing Students program for at risk children put some of their kids to work rebuilding the park.

“It was good. It taught me more about what work is and how hard it can be to keep going,” said 15-year-old Remington Latanville.

Kiera Walsh-Lopez, 12, has been coming to the park all her life.

“It was devastating when it burnt down. I am so glad they built it again,” Walsh-Lopez said.

The inspiration for the playground came from the community who designed and built it, said Coun. Sarah Doucette.

“This rebuild is an amazing example of how the public and private sectors can collaborate with the community to create something of value and wonder for everyone in this city,” Doucette said.

The park was able to be rebuilt after $80,000 was raised by the community and corporations.

“That this playground has been rebuilt in less than four months, entirely from the work and donations of sponsors and the community, shows how important this space is,” said Coun. Norm Kelly, chairman of the city’s Parks and Environment Committee.

“Now, due to their efforts, this playground is bigger and better than ever and will continue to inspire people in the future.”

Here's another article from InsideToronto.com:

Children run screaming with delight into new Jaime Bell playground

Children run screaming with delight into new Jaime Bell playground. The childrens Adventure Playground in High Park finally officially opened on Friday after Mike Holmes and volunteers came together to build the new castle. Children await the opening. Staff photo/IAN KELSO

LISA RAINFORD
July 13, 2012
Held back behind yellow police tape, a crowd of children waited impatiently for a chance to climb the new castle and to go down the new slides.
They watched as HGTV contractor Mike Holmes and his crew put the finishing touches on the rejuvenated Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park and listened as Parkdale-High Park Councillor Sarah Doucette thanked the long list of people who made its reconstruction possible. Even though Doucette promised to keep her speech much shorter at the second grand re-opening on Friday, July 13 than that of her speech on the community build day, July 7, the children's patience waned.
"When are we allowed in?" several kids were overheard asking.
And then, for the moment they had been waiting for - for the past four months, Holmes asked, "Are you ready?"
To which the crowd cheered and applauded: "Yeah!"
"We're going to have a countdown," he told them.
From five to one they counted - followed by absolute chaos. Children ran screaming in delight as they descended upon the new structure, climbing into the castle and onto the swings and down the two slides.
"I think it's fun when the light shines on the slide making it glow red on the inside," said seven-year-old Sofia moments after she came out of the new winding slide.
Tilden, 5, called the new castle "good".
Even Holmes and his team, wearing their trademark black T-shirts, got a chance to try out the playground they had worked tirelessly on for almost two weeks. Since Tuesday, July 3, they endured sweltering temperatures and 12-hour days to get the playground rebuilt as soon as possible.
Jamie Bell's son, Adam and his niece Margot were given the honours of trying out the slides first. Landscape architect Janet Rosenberg was gifted with her own City of Toronto park plaque in appreciation for her support and talents.
In four months, the City of Toronto, financial donors and the community rallied to get the playground rebuilt.
"I think that's a record," said Doucette.
Doucette thanked Toronto Fire Services for all its support from the firefighters who came to the rescue of several members of Holmes' crew, who collapsed because of the heat a week ago to those who kept the construction site lit so they could work after dark. Firefighters were also instrumental in cutting 500 shields, which were decorated by the community - they will be installed on the playground at a later date.
'Our spirit is fire proof,' reads one of them.
On March 17, around 3 a.m. a vandal set fire to the castle turret. The community rallied, raising money and joining efforts to help rebuild within four short months.
People arrived from across the city to see the new playground.

From Mike's Facebook yesterday:

Thanks to everyone who made the Jamie Bell Playground rebuild happen. My incredible crew, all of the volunteers, Janet Rosenburg, the sponsors, the city and many many more. A special thanks goes out to the community. This was such an inspiring community project. What a great place to live. I hope everyone enjoys a new chapter in Jamie Bell's Adventure Playground.

There's a wall of kids ready to rush the castle!

It's the kids castle now! What a reveal.

The countdown is on! Just a few minutes until the kids get to play!!

And finally, here's some photos and videos from around the web about today's re-opening:

Jamie Bell Adventure Playground Community Build - YouTube Videos

You've seen the pictures. Here's some video to go along with all the wonderful photos of last weekend's (July 7) Community Build Day in High Park, where hundreds of volunteers pitched in to rebuild the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in Toronto under the direction of Mike Holmes.

Ribbon cutting ceremony with Sarah Doucette:


The crew posing on the castle:


Build day, Saturday, July 7:


Painting shields to put around the playground:



Awesome videos! Thanks to the person who filmed them and took the time to upload them on YouTube!

More Pictures and Video From The Jamie Bell Adventure Playground Community Build

More photos from the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground community build this weekend. Happy Monday, and enjoy!

Picture Time! Yesterday's Build at the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park.

Yesterday's successful build in High Park at the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground is now history, and all that remains is the pictures... LOTS and LOTS of pictures! Here's some interesting one I've found whilst poking around the internet. More to be added soon, for sure.

Now THAT'S A Castle!

From Mike's Facebook Page 30 minutes ago:

Now THAT'S a castle! The kids asked for slides - and they got them! Should be finished in the next few days.

Related Holmes Spot Blog Posts:
Jamie Bell Adventure Park Rebuild Comes To A Close With Community Build Day
Making It Right While Soaked With Sweat -- Jamie Bell Park Deadline Met
Mike on The Morning Show - "Holmes Makes It Right in High Park"
Mike and Crew Down To The Wire On Jamie Bell Playground Rebuild
The Build Begins For the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground
Jamie Bell Playground To Rise From Ashes
Mike Holmes Pitches In To Rebuild Torched Playground
Mike Holmes To Help Rebuild High Park Playground - Video and Article
Mike Holmes Helps to Rebuild Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in Toronto

Jamie Bell Adventure Park Rebuild Comes To A Close With Community Build Day

The rebuild of the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park, Toronto has come to a happy end, although there's still more work to be done, according to Mike a few hours ago. Residents of High Park came out in droves to help Mike and the crew of his new show set to air this fall on HGTV, Holmes Makes It Right, finish the playground, which was partially destroyed by an arsonist earlier this year. Community Build Day was today, July 7.


From Mike's Facebook Page a couple hours ago:

What an amazing turn out today in High Park! Thanks to everyone who made it out. Still have work to do on the castle - but the wait will be worth it!!

Here's an article about the rebuild today from CBC News:

Volunteers work to rebuild High Park playground

TV handyman Mike Holmes leading revamp of popular Toronto park

CBC News

Posted: Jul 7, 2012 11:22 AM ET

Last Updated: Jul 7, 2012 1:46 PM ET

 Volunteers work on Saturday to rebuild the playground in High Park. (Submitted by Chris New)

Raw video: High Park fire

About 100 volunteers wearing "I love High Park" T-shirts are working to rebuild the popular Toronto playground that was destroyed by arson earlier this year.
On March 17 a fire gutted much of the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park.
The project is being led by TV handyman Mike Holmes and landscape architect Janet Rosenberg, and will be featured in a fall episode of the Holmes Makes It Right show.
"I haven’t been this excited since I went to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina,” Holmes said in late May.
The new park includes more seating, slides and cutting-edge building technology.
Corporate donors, including Canadian Tire, Lowes and TD Bank, have all pitched in with contributions of money and materials.
The playground, near the park entrance off High Park Boulevard and Parkside Drive, was originally built in 1998 by a group of community volunteers.

Some more new pics from around the web:

 

Making It Right While Soaked With Sweat -- Jamie Bell Park Deadline Met

Mike posted this on his Facebook page yesterday:

Another VERY hot day rebuilding the Jamie Bell Playground in High Park. Thanks to all the volunteers who braved the heat with us! If you're in the area tomorrow (July 7) stop by for the Community Build Day. For more info visit www.ward13.com

(I think Mike posted an incorrect website. I think it's suppose to be  http://www.ward13.ca/)

As far as the heat goes, yesterday was suppose to be a record setting pretty hot day in Toronto. Here's the weather conditions, according to the CTVnews website:

Toronto broke its previous high temperature record for July 6, after the mercury hit 35 C at Pearson Airport around 3 p.m.

Previously, the hottest July 6 on record in Toronto was in 1988, when the temperature reached a sweltering 34.7 C. The lowest recorded temperature of 5.6 C was recorded in 1965.

An extreme heat alert was issued in Toronto for the third-consecutive day as a heat wave continued to wash across the city.

 

35 degrees C is about 95 degrees F. Not too terribly bad I guess, considering it was over 100 degrees today where I live. 95 is a nice mild summer day in my part of the world. Of course, I got to sit inside an air conditioned house all day, and Mike and crew didn't. The high humidity probably didn't make for pleasant working conditions either.

Glad they made their deadline!


Here's an article from The Globe and Mail (interesting title by the way):

Making it right while soaked with sweat

JANE SWITZER

The Globe and Mail

Published Friday, Jul. 06 2012, 10:18 PM EDT
Last updated Friday, Jul. 06 2012, 10:21 PM EDT

Scorching heat didn’t keep Mike Holmes from rallying his staff to finish a rebuild of a beloved Toronto playground, but record-breaking temperatures did slow the process.
As the mercury climbed above 35 on Friday in Toronto, the celebrity contractor said about half of his 50-person crew was sidelined from working on the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park, which was destroyed by arson in March. One worker was hospitalized for a heat-related illness.

Watch

http://www.theglobeandmail.com/news/news-video/video-mike-holmes-and-crew-brave-scorching-heat-to-rebuild-playground/article4396449/

“I’m telling everyone to pay attention and to look at the other guys around you, make sure they stop after 20 minutes and get some water,” said Mr. Holmes, the host of HGTV’s Holmes Makes It Right. “If we don’t do that, I’m going to be losing more guys.”
Toronto smashed its July 6, 1988, record temperature of 34.7 by midday Friday, but the humidex made it feel more like a scorching 42.
“We’ve had in Toronto, counting today, 12 days where the temperature has been above 30. Normally for an entire year you’d get 14 of those,” said Environment Canada senior climatologist Dave Phillips, who said the past year has been the city’s warmest on record.
Toronto EMS received six heat-related calls on Friday, two of which came from construction sites. However, a chance of thunderstorms this weekend could bring some relief: Environment Canada is forecasting sunny skies and temperatures in the high-20s for next week.
The stifling heat also caused two separate blackouts in Scarborough’s Guildwood neighbourhood, leaving roughly 3,400 homes without electricity for a few hours on Friday afternoon.
As Toronto baked under an extreme heat alert between Wednesday and Friday, Mr. Holmes and his crew worked upward of 14 hours a day to complete the castle’s reconstruction by the July 7 deadline.
After the fire, community members offered to contribute free labour and volunteer to rebuild. As well, more than $100,000 has been donated. When local councillor Sarah Doucette sent Mr. Holmes a video asking for his help, he immediately said yes.
A community rebuild and ribbon-cutting ceremony is scheduled for Saturday, but Ms. Doucette said the playground cannot be officially opened until it’s been examined and deemed safe.
Most likely, the construction site around the new castle structure will be contained, while the old playground area will be opened up for the community to repaint. But it won’t be all work and no play – a barbecue, bouncy castle and water activities are also on tap for the day-long event.
“We had obviously wanted to be completely open and approved and everything by the end of [Saturday], and we definitely need the community here to help us do what we can do,” Ms. Doucette said. “But if we need Holmes’s group to come in next week to finish off the castle, they’re not going to leave us half-finished.”
By Friday afternoon, the castle’s wooden shell was erected. About a dozen off-duty firefighters were cutting out shield-shaped wooden panels for children to decorate and place on the new castle.
More than 300 people are expected to turn up for Saturday’s event.
Area resident Pierre Perron said his family will be among the first to arrive. When he first laid eyes on the burned-out castle, Mr. Perron said he choked up.
“All the time that I spent here with my kids was just running through my head,” he said. “I felt really sad. We spent countless hours here.”
Mr. Perron said he was impressed with the progress at the park.
“They’ve done an amazing job.”

Mike on The Morning Show - "Holmes Makes It Right in High Park"

A GREAT video clip released today about Mike and crew rebuilding the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground.

From Mike's Facebook page:

The Morning Show visited the Jamie Bell Playground rebuild in High Park. Watch the video at the link below!

My favorite part of the video -- this letter was left on Mike's car. How sweet :) Shows the gratitude of the community to Mike and all the other guys who are working hard to rebuild a small but important part of their community. "Thank you guys for rebuilding our favorite park. Words cannot express how greatful we are. Isaiah (4 years old) + his mama"

Friday July 6th: 11am

VIDEO: Global TV/The Morning Show - "Holmes Makes It Right in High Park"

07/06/12 - Global TV/The Morning Show - "Holmes Makes It Right in High Park"

Daru Dhillon from Global TV's "The Morning Show" visited our High Park site yesterday for an interview with Mike. The segment aired on July 6th.

Mike and Crew Down To The Wire On Jamie Bell Playground Rebuild

Mike and crew are working like busy little bees trying to get the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground, which burnt down in March of this year, rebuilt and ready for reopening this Saturday, July 7, 2012. Fighting record summer heat and tough time constraints, they're racing towards the finish line, full speed ahead. The question stands, will they meet their deadline? I guess we'll all find out for sure on Saturday! But experience tells me that even if it comes down to the wire, Mike and crew will pull through. They always do, and with the support of the community behind them, there's no way they can fail. The build is being filmed for Mike's new show, HGTV's Holmes Makes it Right, set to air this fall.

From Mike's Facebook page yesterday (he seems quite optimistic):

On site rebuilding the Jamie Bell Playground in High Park. The structure is up - but we have lots to do. Its huge! The kids are going to love it. The clock is ticking...

 

 

You can read more about Mike's latest work on the Jamie Bell Adventure playground in this article from thestar.com.

High Park’s Jamie Bell Playground rebuild goes down to the wire

Published on Thursday July 05, 2012

                              

Stephanie Law/Toronto Star                   

The Jamie Bell Playground in High Park is being rebuilt for a scheduled reopening on Saturday. Mike Holmes from HGTV is orchestrating the reconstruction while his film crew shoots the process.

Stephanie Law
Staff Reporter

Celebrity home renovator Mike Holmes is used to working under extreme pressure and time crunches. But reconstruction of the burnt-down playground in High Park is proving to be a challenge, even for this maestro of construction.
“I’m trying to do it by Saturday, even though tomorrow’s supposed to hit a record-breaking degree,” the host of HGTV’s Holmes Makes it Right said Thursday.
“Will we make it work? Well, it won’t have anything to do with not trying.”
The reopening of the Jamie Bell Playground is scheduled for Saturday, when hundreds of children and their parents will help with the finishing touches. The community rebuild will see dragons and fairies painted all over the playground’s castles, among other activities.
The popular playground, built in 1999, was torched by vandals in March. The community wanted it back for the summer.
Holmes and his crew — which includes people filming the rebuild — started work last week, beginning at 6:30 a.m. daily. Very late nights are expected to meet the deadline.
On Thursday, the “supercastle” was starting to come together. It was still hard to tell what to expect, but at least two of the towers were already complete. The design includes a drawbridge and climbing wall, features that children told Holmes and landscape architect Janet Rosenberg they wanted.
“You climb to a certain height, and you can crawl through a window and then you’re into another castle, and then you can walk across the planks to another place,” said Rosenberg, referring to the climbing wall.
Throughout the design process, the team has heard from parents, kids and the community — sometimes, parents and kids had different ideas. In the end, Rosenberg said, “that the sense of adventure was very much informed by the kids.”
So far, those involved in the project have kept mum about what the supercastle will look like.
“Wait till you see it,” said Holmes. “You won’t believe it.”



_____________________________________________

The Ward 13 official website also contains a message from City Councillor Sarah Doucette and some information about the build, geared for volunteers wanting to help:


Friends and Constituents,
I would like to thank you for visiting my website. On December 1, I celebrated the one year mark as your City Councillor for Ward 13. Please share your thoughts with me through my Contact Page so I can hear your ideas on how we can work together to continue to improve our ward and our city.
Best regards,



THE JAMIE BELL PLAYGROUND

Rebuild this Saturday, July 7!

Update: My office has recived hundreds of phone calls and emails with offers to volunteer at the Jamie Bell Playground Community Build Day. As you know, a fire at the playground on March 17 destroyed a large portion of the structure. Since then, Parks, Forestry and Recreation staff have worked with the community, my office, and donors such as Canadian Tire, Lowe's, TD Canada Trust, Mike Holmes' Make it Right and Janet Rosenberg Landscape Architects to develop and design a new castle playground structure to replace the portion that was destroyed. I am also very pleased to be working with our Community Volunteer Co-ordinator, Robin Sorys, in organizing your participation at the event.

The Community Build Day is Saturday, July 7 between 9 a.m. and 5 p.m. (registration begins at 8:30 a.m.). We have divided the day into shifts:


Shift A 9 am - 11 am

Shift B 11 am - 1 pm - at 12:00 we will be unveiling the castle

Shift C 1 pm - 3 pm

Shift D 3 pm to 5 pm or when finished - the ribbon cutting ceremony and speeches will take place at 5 pm (Then back to work if construction is not finished!)

If you are able to join us at any of these times:

· Please RSVP by Wednesday, June 27 to jamie.bell@highpark.org by cutting and pasting this section into your email with your answers beside each question.

· Please tell us how many will be coming to volunteer: how many children (under 16) and how many adults

· Tell us which shift you would like to volunteer for A, B, C or D.

· Please also indicate if you have any skills that may help us place you at work areas.

Here are some tips to help you enjoy the day:

· If you wish to volunteer on the playground site you must wear closed toed shoes as no open-toed shoes will be allowed.

· There will be limited parking so we encourage everyone to walk, bike or take TTC. If you do drive please enter off Parkside Drive. Volunteers who have registered will be given priority for parking near the site. Other parking can be found throughout the park and along Lake Shore Blvd W.

· The City's H2O TO GO will be on site so bring your reusable water bottles, they'll be easy to refill.

· There will also be children's activities and a barbecue throughout the day.

· The City as well as the producers of Mike Holmes' Make it Right have requested that clothing with logos not be worn that day. We will be providing t-shirts – hopefully for everyone and that's why we need to know who is attending. They also suggest not wearing white that day.

Finally, please carefully review the attached documents which are the Personal Release for the TV production and the Volunteer Placement Agreement Release and Waiver. Print off and sign both for each person volunteering and bring the forms with you to be handed in at the registration table when you arrive. Please remember that registration begins at 8:30 a.m.

For the volunteer agreement, please click here.

For the Make It Right release form, please click here.

The Build Begins For the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground

From Mike's Facebook page yesterday:

On site at the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park. The plans are in - and we're getting ready for the week long build next week. It's going to be a lot of work - but we're working with a great team from the city and looking forward to the community getting involved on Saturday July 7th! Stay Tuned.

Mike and crew are getting geared up to revamp the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground, which was attacked by an arsonist in March of this year. From what I read earlier, the build should be featured on Mike's new show Mike Holmes Makes It Right set to hit the airwaves across Canada (and hopefully the US too) this fall.

For more information on the Jamie Bell Park project, refer to related Holmes Spot blog entries:
Jamie Bell Playground to Rise From Ashes
Mike Holmes Pitches In To Rebuild Torched Playground
Mike Holmes To Help Rebuild High Park Playground - Video and Article
Mike Holmes Helps to Rebuild Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in Toronto

Here's another recent article from MyTownCrier.ca pertaining to the Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park and Mike Holmes' involvement in rebuilding it. In March of this year, a part of the park was purposely set ablaze, and apparently a suspect has been arrested. On May 18, 2012, a groundbreaking ceremony was held with several public officials and Mike Holmes in attendance.

Jamie Bell playground to rise from ashes

Mike Holmes part of team set to rebuild park

By Omar Mosleh

May 29, 2012
Neighbourhoods: High Park

Originally published in our Bloor West print edition(s).

FRANCIS CRESCIA/TOWN CRIER A NEW BLUEPRINT: Contracting guru Mike Holmes, left, looks over several kid’s drawings of Jamie Bell Adventure Playground with architect Janet Rosenberg. The new play structure is expected to be completed by July 7. The torched Jamie Bell Adventure Playground in High Park is receiving a helping hand from one of Canada’s most famous handymen. Mike Holmes, the host of Holmes Makes it Right on Home and Garden Television Canada will be leading the reconstruction effort. The wooden playground, originally built in 1998, was severely damaged in March in an act of arson. Toronto Police have arrested 19-year-old Christian Kupiecki and he has been charged with one count each of arson and attempting to obstruct justice. But the mood was jubilant and celebratory at the May 18 groundbreaking, said local resident Robin Sorys, who initially helped build the park as a member of the High Park Citizens Advisory Committee the first time around. “I’m just happy that this is all going to work out,” she said. “It’s very exciting.” Although the community will not be physically constructing the playground as they did with the original park, they will still be involved in the design. “I know some of the people are a little upset that it’s not going to be community built back like it was in 1998, but here’s a great opportunity and it’ll be done by July 7,” said Sorys. “So I’m very happy with the fact we’ve been able to do this.” While the new playground will stay true to the original concept, complete with a wooden castle and big slide, there could be some improvements. There has been talk of adding seating, as well as moving the slide to the south side to eliminate a perceived blind spot. There is also currently a problem with water drainage that Holmes is looking into. Sorys said they are looking into treating that water so it could be used to create a recreational area, which was part of the original playground’s plan. “Part of our phase three, if Jamie had still been with us, was some kind of splash pad for the kids,” she said. “There’s no water at all at that end of the park.” Discussion on adding lighting is in the preliminary stages, but that may be limited by funds. Monies for the reconstruction effort are coming entirely from donations, from organizations such as Canadian Tire, Lowe’s and TD Bank Group. All together more than $80,000 was donated. The Sprott Foundation is also matching donations made to the Toronto Parks and Trees Foundation until June 30 up to a maximum of $30,000. For Ward 13 councillor Sarah Doucette, who was a friend of High Park Adventure Committee coordinator Jamie Bell, the most important aspect is staying true to Bell’s original vision. “For me personally, it’s amazing to be able to help lead the charge to rebuild the playground because I knew Jamie and I know his family,” said Doucette. “It’s not just a name on a plaque in a playground.” Doucette said the arson sparked to the same community spirit as when the playground was first built. “The playground was planned and built by volunteers, it wasn’t just choose a playground out of the catalogue and throw it in,” Doucette said. “There was a lot of passion and dedication. “Now we can rebuild this playground in a way that Jamie would be proud,” she added. “And that means a lot to me.”