Programming at the Alex Robertson Public Library moved online. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

Free Programming

Summer programming in La Ronge adapting to coronavirus concerns

Jul 7, 2020 | 5:00 PM

Two free summer programs in La Ronge are going ahead, although there will be major changes due to coronavirus concerns.

For the first time, the TD Summer Reading Club hosted by the Alex Robertson Public Library is moving online. Every week for seven weeks programming packages will be sent home and Administrator Sean Stares noted daily videos will be uploaded to Facebook and YouTube.

“Supplies are going to cost a lot of money and we’re going to have to send all the crafting supplies to them,” he said. “They will get pencil crayons, scissors and glue. For videos where we will have games, they will actually get the game items. We’re doing a kickball challenge this week, so they’ll actually get a ball.”

The reading club began July 6 and will run until the end of August with a maximum of 15 children. The club is for children between the ages of five to 11 and those interested in registering should contact the library.

Stares mentioned it’s been a big change moving programming online, adding he would be happy to see it occur in the library, but that’s not expected to happen soon.

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“Once we’re allowed to, we will start doing programming in-person again,” he said.

The Summer Youth Program at the Kikinahk Friendship Centre is also expected to begin in the next week or so. Director Kaylee Waite explained it will run until the end of August and occur at the facility Monday to Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. with the kids sent home during noon hour.

There will also be changes to the program due to coronavirus concerns. Waite said there likely won’t be as many outings, there will be a cap on the number of participants and there won’t be as much space to utilize. She noted some parents were also concerned about the coronavirus testing happening in the parking lot.

“We usually try to take them out and about as much as we can like Nut Point, splash parks, hiking, but I’m not even sure if the splash parks are going to be open this year,” Waite said. “We’re thinking about the risk factor with this virus going around. We’re hoping we can get them around and do as much as we can with them out of the building rather than keeping them in here. We don’t want to be stuck in one spot for two months.”

There’s still room to register in the program before it starts and those interested should go to the Kikinahk to do so. The program is for children between six to 12.

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derek.cornet@jpbg.ca

Twitter: @saskjourno