Picture (L-R) – Chelsea Johnston (PAC member and Playground Committee member), Kim Lebrun (Insurance Broker, BSI Insurance), Renae Hildebrand (Pine Ridge Elementary School Principal), and Kara Wieler (Playground Committee and School Liaison).
WINKLER, MB – In September of 2019, the new Pine Ridge Elementary School in Winkler welcomed their students for the first time. While every school year is different, and there are always adjustments to be made or challenges to overcome, no one could have predicted what the future would hold for the staff and students at Pine Ridge Elementary School.
When the pandemic started there was a lot of uncertainty with schools closed and classes going virtual. A brand-new school was now empty and many projects had come to a halt including fundraising for the school’s playground. As we all started to figure out how to live with the virus, things slowly resumed and the staff and students were so happy to get back to their school routine in September.
The current play structure looks a little different, as students are currently playing in the school parking lot, dreaming of the day they get to climb, swing and slide on a new play structure. Because We Care, BSI Insurance has donated $2000 from the BWC initiative towards the playground project. We encourage others to donate if they can, or help in any way, by visiting the playground website at https://www.pineridgeplayground.com/.
Play. Laugh. Grow.
Because We Care – Because we care about our customers, employees, and the communities we operate in, we created the Because We Care Initiative. Through this initiative, we donate roughly $25,000 annually to communities we operate in and around. This initiative allows us to contribute to individual and community causes as well as larger community projects. For more information about the BWC Initiative, visit our website www.bsimb.com/bwc
About Pine Ridge School Playground – The Pine Ridge Playground Committee formed in Spring of 2019, when parents of future Pine Ridge Elementary students realized that the school would not open with a playground. Provincial school budgets do not include outdoor play spaces for students, leaving our children to play in the parking lot. This group of parents got to work, researching the many playground companies, codes, and grants, polling children, parents, and teachers, and finally choosing our final design.
About BSI Insurance – BSI Insurance was founded in Manitoba in the early ’60s. Our consistent dedication to customer service has allowed us to grow 16 brokerages strong across Southern Manitoba. As a broker, our main priority is providing insurance products and services that give our customers choice, convenience, and customizable coverage.
