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By Nigel Maxwell
Wiping away tears, Chelsey Erickson recalled how her friend Wes was all about the community and would have loved seeing the kids play on a new playground.
Wes Petterson was among the people stabbed and killed by Myles Sanderson in September 2022.
To pay tribute to the man well known in the small community of Weldon, a group of residents has launched a fundraising campaign to build a new playground. The goal is to raise $150,000 and possibly have the big play structure in place by the end of this summer.
“We might be a little optimistic with that one, but we are a great group of people and we are going to do what we can,” Erickson said, adding plans include both a playground and some benches for people to sit on.
While a site has not yet been finalized, the group aims to build it somewhere in the area near the care home, so seniors can watch the kids play. Erickson believes this is what Petterson would have wanted.
“He was all about bringing the community together,” she said.
Erickson grew up in Weldon and has memories of the playground that used to occupy the site decades ago before being torn down.
Reflecting on her experiences with Petterson, Erickson explained she had known him her whole life, adding her grandmother was close friends with Wes and his wife.
“If we’d forget to bring our garbage can in, he would be there to bring it in or if we forgot to put it out, he’d put it out for us,” she said.
Fellow board member Jeanette Dubois said she’s doing this for her grandkids and knows how much Petterson would have supported the project.
“He loved kids and he would do anything for them he could,” she said.
Dubois recalled when she was involved with a local sports club and needed volunteers to run Bingo, Petterson was always there. He was also heavily involved at the local rink.
“He deserves something because he was a well-liked man and he would do anything for you if he was able to,” she said.
Jamie Petrie and her family moved from Vermillion, Alta., to Weldon in 2021 and while it was a big change, she said the community welcomed her with open arms.
“Their slogan is ‘Where neighbours are friends,’ and it’s literally the truth,” she said.
Petrie lives across the street from the seniors’ home and said her children like to visit the seniors and play on the broken-down swing set.
“They love playing with all the neighbours’ kids and it’s just going to be a nice place for them to all come together,” she said.
Petrie has fond memories of working with Petterson during the last federal election. She, like many others in the community, was accustomed to seeing Petterson drive through town in his white Nissan, waving to the kids as he passed by.
“It’s nothing special or anything, but you know when you are waving at somebody every day and you talk to somebody every day and then suddenly they are just gone, it’s kind of a big shock,” she said.
The community’s first fundraising event is coming up on April 13 and will be a pancake breakfast. The cost for adults is $12 and $8 for seniors and kids.
Future plans include a bottle drive the following weekend and a special drop-and-go deal has been worked out with SARCAN. The line to use is Weldon Kids Play.
A barbecue is planned for June and possibly a dance in the fall.
Donations can also be made through the fundraising committee’s social media page.
