Rotary WaterWorks project

 On Thursday, April 14^th I had the pleasure to join members of the RC of Tsawwassen at the ground breaking of the Rotary WaterWorks project. I joined Delta Council representatives and Rotary club members at the ceremony.

The RC of Tsawwassen, in partnership with the Corporation of Delta, plans to build a children's water play area, wading pond, meandering stream with bridge and pathways to enhance the existing facilities at Diefenbaker Park in Tsawwassen at 56 St. and 1^st Ave. This natural area will be one to be enjoyed by all ages, whilst reflecting on the history of the site and the effects of Rotary's worldwide commitment to clean water for all. The club hopes to complete this project in the summer of 2011.

The club has raised $200,000 in cash and donations in kind. Included is a $10,000 Rotary Foundation District Grant.

Their vision is to not only provide a wonderful new addition to Diefenbaker Park in the form of a stream and children's water play area, but also to incorporate aspects of Rotary and it's participation in World Water programs, particularly in third world countries, as an educational component of the project.

They intend to include a working model of a hand pump commonly found in underdeveloped nations and a working model of a BioSand water filter, invented in Calgary and used extensively throughout the third world by Rotary and other humanitarian organizations in order to provide clean filtered water to the people. Photos of women & children carrying water in plastic jerry cans will correspond to an actual jerry can attached to the display, enabling all to fill it and experience the heavy weight that people have to carry and walk long distances each day. Storyboards relating to these endeavours will be featured in the Rotary WaterWorks project. They plan to include some historical information about the park site as well, using photos from the Delta Museum & Archives which relate to the park components.