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Canfor presents KCDC with Building Block Playhouse
It’s makes perfect sense for a playground, because kids tend to play with the box more than toy, especially when the box has some size.
This box has some size.
It’s actually boxes – a whole whack of them stacked together– and it’s now part of the Kootenay Child Development Centre’s (KCDC) outside play area.
On Sept. 14, a host of Canfor and Finning executives and Cranbrook dignitaries took part in an official presentation of a unique playhouse (Building Block Playhouse) to the KCDC through the Canfor Playhouse Challenge. 
While the adults posed for photos, a couple of young boys squirreled about inside the playhouse, pausing now and then to peek out of one of the many small holes in the sides.
Canfor’s president and CEO Don Kayne attended the event, as did Kootenay East MLA and newly minted Minister of Community, Sport and Cultural Development, Bill Bennett, and City of Cranbrook Mayor Wayne Stetski.
“Earlier this year, Canfor reached out to our colleagues in the B.C. forest industry and challenged them to join us in a project to build children’s playhouses for charity. It was an exciting project,” Kayne said.
“Each company that participated (seven did in total) was partnered with a leading B.C. architect and builder. Students from BCIT’s School of Construction also joined us to design and build one of the Canfor playhouses. The seven elaborate, creative playhouses that resulted were displayed at the PNE and visited by thousands of children,” he said, adding, “The Building Blocks House really was a show favourite with children.”
The structure now located at the KCDC was designed by Hughes Condon Marler and built by The Haebler Group.
“Finning Canada joined us as the corporate sponsor for this structure, and Peter Miller and some of his staff are here with us today,” stated Kayne. “On behalf of Canfor and Finning – as well as the architects and builders that participated in this playhouse design and construction, I am very pleased to donate this playhouse today.”
Kayne thanked Gwen Noble and the KCDC “for helping us to arrange this location. Canfore is very pleased to support your organization, and provide this small contribution toward the programming that you deliver from across the East and West Kootenay region,” he said, adding it was Bill Bennett who informed the KCDC of the opportunity with Canfor.
Noble said the playhouse was much larger than they anticipated it being.
Ian Cobb/e-KNOW
