The Lantzville community will soon build a new playground in memory of two boys who died in a house fire last year.
The Seaview School parent advisory committee will start building its $50,000 memorial playground at the local elementary school in April, thanks to wide-spread community support.
The PAC had anticipated the playground would be built within three years, but after six months they had already raised $40,000. The Lantzville Rotary Club and the District of Lantzville topped up the fund with $10,000 this month.
“The community has been so supportive of this, it just brings tears to my eyes,” said Cherie Alyward, PAC president.
“So many people have been affected by the loss of the two boys.”
The playground will stand in memory of two former students, Jordan Drake, 9, and Devon Drake, 6, who were killed in an early morning fire on Snaw-Naw-As reserve January 2012.
The play structure was chosen by students and the boys’ parents, James Drake and Lara Edwards, and is meant to recognize the boys’ love of the outdoors.
The groundbreaking will happen on April 19 with a community ceremony the next day. Alyward said everyone is welcome to the event.
