MLAs Kevin Kasun and Alana Ross, as well as representatives from École St. Anne School, Prince Albert Catholic School Division, and Saskatchewan Parks and Recreation Association gather in front of the new play structure at École St. Anne School. (Image Credit: paNOW Staff/Nick Nielsen)

By Nick Nielsen

Funding initatives

Year two for School Playground Equipment Grant officially underway

Sep 16, 2026 | 2:13 PM

Applications for the 2026-27 School Playground Equipment Grant are officially open once again.

A contingent of officials led by Prince Albert MLAs Kevin Kasun and Alana Ross made the announcement at École St. Anne School in Prince Albert on Wednesday morning in front of the new play structure the school built in part with money from the grant.

“Today is also an opportunity to celebrate how the program has made a difference after just one year,” said Ross. “94 schools throughout our province have received funding, benefiting more than 25,000 students in total. Thousands of children now have better places to be active, to build friendships and to enjoy outdoor recreation.”

Originally introduced in 2025, the School Playground Equipment Grant allows schools in the province to apply for up to $50,000 in provincial funding as long as a school has raised the same amount towards their own projects. The provincial government has set aside a total of $3.75 million each year for the program.

The new playground structure at École St. Anne School cost in the neighbourhood of $140,000, according to the chair of Prince Albert’s School Community, Jeanette Murphy. They had already begun fundraising by the time the grant became available last year.

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Director of Education for Prince Albert Catholic Schools Lorel Trumier said that without the provincial government’s help, École St. Anne School and other schools in the area would be waiting a long time for any improvements.

“We really couldn’t have moved some of these projects forward unless there was that last little piece of funding that had become available. So what had happened with our school division is a school such as École St. Anne School had been doing some fundraising and getting some of the visioning in place and some of the dollars in place with the fundraising.”

After last year’s successful application, Murphy encouraged more schools in the city to apply for this year’s round of funding.

“Absolutely, it’s very beneficial and if all of our schools in our division got it, it doesn’t hurt for the other divisions to go and try and apply for the grant as well. I know lots of schools need new playground equipment, especially on the West Flat and East Flat areas, they definitely do.”

Ross said that last year’s grant was around 90 per cent utilized. Once it’s closer to the full amount available, any applicable projects will be rolled into next year’s list of projects.

This is year two of four the Saskatchewan government has committed funding towards the School Playground Equipment Grant.

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by Nick Nielsen

Year two for School Playground Equipment Grant officially underway

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