Island generosity puts newcomers on skates for the 1st time

Some students at P.E.I.'s Stratford Elementary School will try skating for the first time Friday, thanks to community donations.

All 500 students at the school have a skate at the Pownal Sports Centre Friday, but principal Kenny MacDougall said about 30 students mainly children who are new to Canada didn'thave skates or helmets.

The school has been collecting equipment for a few years, but was still short 12 to 15 pairs of skates.

'A little fun trying something new'

MacDougall said families, a local sporting goods store and the rink all contributed equipment for this year's skate.

"For some of these students it's going to be their first time skating, and they're really looking forward to that experience," he said.

"We, as a school obviously want to be as inclusionary as possible, are going out of our way to make sure that they have an opportunity to skate with their classmates and have a little fun trying something new."

They are still short a few pieces of equipment, MacDougallsaid, but he's confident everyone will be able to skate Friday.

The school is still taking donations. If it ends up with more than it needs this week, excess equipment will be saved for next year's skate.

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