October 30, 2026(Lyndhurst, ON) - Much like a great bowl of chili, a playground is all about the ingredients. Some students come for the slides, others for the monkey bars, and a few are determined to try everything. Thanks to annual chili fundraisers and generous community donations, Kindergarten students at Sweet's Corners Elementary School are enjoying a brand-new play structure built with a little extra community flavour.

The idea for a new Kindergarten play structure began in 2023 as parents and school staff explored ways to enhance outdoor play opportunities for the school's youngest students. For Sweet's Corners parent Chrissy Valkenborg, the discussion started after a conversation with her son about the Kindergarten yard and how it didn't have a dedicated play structure like the one used by older students.

Interested in becoming more involved at the school, Valkenborg joined the school council, where then-principal Lyndsay Pilling and council members were already discussing ways to enhance the kindergarten yard.

"Lyndsay did some research and discovered a new play structure would cost at least $20,000," she said.

The school's annual chili night was an established fundraiser, and Valkenborg saw an opportunity to expand it through additional sponsorship opportunities for local businesses.

"Instead of having an entry fee, we asked businesses to sponsor each classroom. In return, students created art for the fundraiser," Valkenborg said. "People could donate to the food bank, make a monetary donation, or simply come and enjoy the event. That really opened it up to the whole community."

More than 25 local businesses jumped on board, helping to sponsor the chili night from 2023 to 2025 and raising the $20,000 needed for the project.

"We had businesses and individuals asking us 'How can we help? What can we do?'" Valkenborg said. "Anonymous donors also made substantial contributions, which were very much appreciated."

Installed this past summer, the new play structure is now a centrepiece of the Kindergarten yard, with students lining up for their turn to use it.

"The slide - that is my favourite part," said Jr. Kindergarten student Augie. "It's so much fun."

Valkenborg says the project could not have been done without the support of the entire school council and current Principal Chris Boston, who took over for Pilling in 2024.

"We're incredibly fortunate to have a community that sees the value in investing in our children," Boston said. Play is such an important part of growing up. It's where children learn to take risks, solve problems, build friendships and figure things out for themselves."

"Thanks to the generosity of our community, our youngest students now have a wonderful space to do just that," Boston said.

Valkenborg said the fundraisers raised more than was needed for the play structure, with the remaining funds earmarked for future improvements to the schoolyard.

"Our community is everything here. We wouldn't be the same without them," she said.

Three years, countless bowls of chili, and the support of an entire community later, the verdict from students is already in. Unlike the annual chili competition, there is no debate about the winner: the new play structure is a hit.

The project was made possible through the support of the following businesses, donors and community partners:

• Bastard Coffee House
• CC Weddings and Events
• Corn Acre Farms
• Doug's Kitchen
• Fishermans Hardware and Auto Shop
• Forman Farms
• Freshmart, Elgin and Seeley's Bay
• Gather and Go Adventures
• Gordland Farms
• Home Building (Lyndhurst)
• JoVery Naturals
• KevCon Construction
• Kingston Athletic Therapy Centre
• Lalas Grill
• Leeds and the Thousand Islands Public Library
• Lyndhurst Turkey Fair
• MCX Excavation
• Pittsburg Packers
• Rideau Fit Co.
• Ridgway Confections
• Scentsy - Rena Taylor
• Seeley's Bay Chiropractic
• Seeley's Bay Lions Club
• Simpson Carpentry
• The Junction Family Restaurant
• The Green Gecko
• Votary's Small Farm Fresh
• Wendy's Country Market
• Wing's Live Bait & Tackle