After a temporary pandemic-related leave of absence in 2020, the KidSport Playhouse project is back, thanks to a volunteer carpenter in Martensville.
Marty Goertzen is taking on the task of completing the playhouse structure begun by Martensville High School (MHS) students last year. He expects to have it finished by the end of April. The playhouse is the grand prize in a raffle to raise funds for the Martensville and Warman KidSport charities.
“I’m really looking forward to working on this,” said Goertzen in an interview February 24. “I know exactly what I want it to look like. I love creative work, and this will be something that will really catch people’s attention.
“Plus, it’s for a good cause. I’m glad to be a part of it.”
KidSport provides funding to cover registration fees for organized sports and recreational activities to families who could otherwise not afford to enroll their children. The funds raised through the raffle stay in Martensville and Warman to fund local families.
Tickets for the raffle are expected to go on sale in early May after the completed playhouse is put on display in front of the Martensville A&W restaurant.
This marks the fifth edition of the popular fundraising project, first initiated in 2016 by Martensville A&W owners Brian and Bernice Buffin. Corporate sponsorships have provided materials for the 100-square-foot playhouse, which also doubles as a handy backyard storage shed; while labour was supplied by high school students in Martensville and Warman. The playhouses are completely finished including drywall and interior wiring.
MHS shop teacher David Fossum provided guidance to students on several of the projects since 2016. Last year, Fossum decided to add a special ‘Old West’ twist to the design, adding a false front to make it look like a general store in a frontier town.
The project was started by MHS students, but when the pandemic shut down classes last year, the playhouse remained only partially completed.
Earlier this winter, Brian Buffin approached Goertzen to see if he would take on the project. Goertzen, who began his career in carpentry in the 1970s, was at first reluctant to commit.
“I’m pretty busy,” he said. “At first I said I just couldn’t squeeze it in. I’m booked solid right up till next summer.
“But then I thought about it for a week, and told Brian, ‘okay, let’s go and take a look at it.’
“We went over to the school and took pictures of it, and Brian filled me in on all the good work that KidSport does in the community, and by the time I got back to my shop, I had talked myself into it.
“Now, I can’t wait to get started.”
The partially-completed playhouse was slated to be moved from MHS to Geortzen’s back yard in Martensville in early March. Goertzen plans to work on the project during mornings and evenings.
“I’m an early-bird,” he said. “I usually can get in a couple hours or so before leaving for work. And after I get home, I always have time in the evenings.”
At 68, an age when many people are comfortably retired, Goertzen is anything but. Co-workers half his age have trouble keeping up with him on the job site.
Goertzen estimates it will take him at least 100 hours of labour, including building and installing his own custom window frames and doors as well as intricate cabinet work on the interior.
“I have to wire and insulate and finish the inside,” said Goertzen. “I want to make it look authentically antique both inside and out.
“I’ve done a lot of renovations over the years on older homes so I’m very familiar with the antique looks. I think it will really increase the appeal of the playhouse, and that will help sell tickets.”
Despite its antique look, the playhouse will be low-maintenance and able to stand up to both the weather and whatever children can throw at it, said Goertzen.
“It’s a very worthwhile project, and I’m excited to help in whatever way I can,” said Goertzen. “Hopefully it raises a lot of money for KidSport.”