The playground didn't stand a chance. It was willing prey for hundreds of kids who had never seen a site or sight like this one. It appeared like a phoenix of fun in an empty, run down lot. When we arrived at eight Sunday morning, the red tape that we put up to kept them out until the grand opening was still up, but heeded like a suggestion rather than a rule. Some kids came before 7 a.m. for a chance to go down a fireman's pole for a first time or climb the jungle gym.
The ribbon cutting was really just a formality as the playground had already served its first 200 customers. The locals then gave back to us, kids performed. Dressed in tutus, boys and girls in colourful make up danced for us. Then, a little girl read from her Hello Kitty booklet and assured all of us that the playground was in safe hands. That they would be stewards of the place dubbed "The Canadian Playground" for years to come and keep it fresh for their kids.
Yes, I cried. If you watch CTV Morning Live then you probably know it doesn't take much to evoke tears when it comes to kids but this day was pure loveliness. The deafening laughter, the smiles, the hilarious horseplay. It was overwhelming for the volunteers too. This is why they came. This is what they worked so hard for. This is it.
We did not bring world peace. We did not feed a village. We did not cure the sick. We brought a playground to a group of kids who live a simple life of marbles and yo-yos, whose parents work two maybe three jobs to keep the family fed and clothed. We made this little corner, this empty field in Hoi An, Vietnam a little bit better. We brought smiles. We brought a future gathering place. A place for forts, a place for tag, a playground they don't have to pay for, like many in this city. That was our goal. And that's what we did. And I am so proud of the volunteers for bringing this Canadian Playground to people who needed it
