Pancake Breakfast Fundraiser Brings Strong Support for New Twin Toboggan Slide

By Don Woodstock, Community Journalist

WINNIPEG — A pancake breakfast fundraiser held today delivered a strong show of community support, raising funds to replace an aging toboggan slide in Charleswood that has served local families for many years.

The slide has reached the point where it has become unsafe and needs to be replaced, and the plan is to upgrade it with two new slides instead of one. It is a practical improvement, but it is also the kind of project that carries real meaning for families who spend their winters outdoors with their kids, making the most of the season and the space that’s right in their own neighborhood.

Today’s fundraiser brought out a steady stream of residents who came to have breakfast and take part in another community event. The atmosphere was exactly what you hope for at an event like this. It was friendly, it was busy, and it was focused on a goal everyone could get behind. People were not only supporting the fundraiser itself, they were supporting the idea that local spaces for kids matter and are worth investing in.

The morning also came with an unexpected boost, as the fundraiser received a donation from the City of Winnipeg’s mayor, along with support from the current sitting councillor, Evan Duncan. Duncan has been championing the need for this replacement for some time, and it was encouraging to see that advocacy translate into direct support. Moments like that matter, because they help turn a community goal into a project that can actually move forward.

At its core, this fundraiser is about kids. I have always said youth are the future, and it is hard to think of a better example of that than creating outdoor spaces that keep children active and connected. A new twin slide is the kind of upgrade that will pay off in simple but important ways. It gets kids outside. It gets them moving. It gives them a reason to meet up with friends, burn off energy, and have fun in the winter the way it should be enjoyed, out in the fresh air and away from screens for a while.

What makes this effort especially impressive is the way the Roblin Park Community Centre is run. Every single position is voluntary. You do not see that often anymore. Most places have at least a couple paid roles just to keep operations steady, but here it is entirely driven by volunteers who care enough to do the work and keep it going. That kind of commitment says a lot, because a building can only do so much on its own. It is the people behind it who make it feel alive, welcoming, and worth coming back to.

That volunteer spirit showed throughout the pancake breakfast. The event was organized, smooth, and welcoming, and it was clear that a lot of effort went into making sure everything ran properly. It did not feel staged or overproduced. It felt real, the way community events should. People were there to help, to contribute, and to be part of something that benefits local families.

With the success of today’s fundraiser and the added support from City Councillor Evan Duncan, the community is in a stronger position to move ahead with the new twin slide. It is a straightforward project, but it will have a lasting impact. It is something kids will use, families will appreciate, and volunteers will take pride in knowing they helped make it happen.

Days like today are a reminder that when people come together with a shared goal, the results speak for themselves.