Elmwood’s inclusive slip ‘n slide brings summer joy to Saskatoon

Under the golden sun in Saskatoon, a quiet corner of the city exploded with laughter, splashes and pure, unfiltered joy on Wednesday.

The smell of sunscreen mixed with the unmistakable scent of dish soap — a sign that something fun, messy and unforgettable was about to happen.

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The day was filled with laughter, water fights, and long-overdue firsts. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

At Elmwood, an organization that supports people living with intellectual disabilities, summer fun was in full swing.

At the top of a long, glistening plastic slide, a hose sprayed arcs of water into the air. Staff members shouted joyfully. Firefighters stood ready with ropes in hand. The cheers started to swell.

And at the centre of it all was Tiernan — living out a boyhood dream that had once seemed impossible.

Listen to Tiernan’s conversation with Brittany Caffet:

“We are here for slip ‘n slide, and we get together for a fun day outside,” said 22-year-old Tiernan, grinning from ear to ear.

In the midst of a heatwave, this summer event was the perfect way for Elmwood residents, staff and other community members to cool down! (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Tiernan moved into an Elmwood residence in 2023. The following year, he experienced something many people take for granted: going on a slip ’n slide. This year, he was excited to try it again.

“I was sad, because I was in the wheelchair,” he shared as he reflected on his childhood. “I was born like that.”

Growing up, summer rites of passage like this weren’t options for him. But Elmwood changed that.

Tiernan said he had a blast on the accessible slip ‘n slide. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Thanks to careful planning and a strong sense of community, Elmwood’s team created an accessible, inclusive annual summer event.

Using a specialized lift, participants in wheelchairs were gently transferred onto inflatable tubes.

Cadets from the Saskatoon Fire Department — ropes in hand — then sprinted down the course, pulling the tubes across the slick, soapy plastic, while water from hoses sprayed like fountains on either side.

Elmwood resident Kevin said he enjoyed the slip ‘n slide, even though he “got real wet!” (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Tiernan couldn’t get enough of this year’s event.

“I like getting wet! It is so much fun,” he said, beaming after a particularly fast ride down the slide. “Yes, I like it!”

But beneath the excitement was something more meaningful: an understanding that not everyone gets the chance to experience this kind of joy.

“If we don’t have this, we cannot come out and enjoy outside and the water,” he said, his words a simple but powerful reminder of what inclusion really means.

Jannah Nicholson, Elmwood’s manager of community inclusion, knows exactly how powerful events like this can be.

Jannah Nicholson, Elmwood’s manager of community inclusion, made sure to take a turn sitting at the dunk tank. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

“Some people have never actually been on one, because they have not been accessible,” she explained. “So this is just breaking down barriers, opening it up so that everybody can be included in their community.”

And the joy was unmistakable.

“They’re loving it. They’re happy. They’re screaming with delight,” Nicholson said. “The best is when they sneak up with water guns and spray you. They think that is the best of the best.”

Elmwood’s recreation team worked tirelessly to ensure the event went off without a hitch. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Beyond the slip ’n slide, the event also featured water balloons and a wildly popular dunk tank — complete with Elmwood directors taking the plunge.

“All our directors at Elmwood take turns in the dunk tank, and all the staff and residents can dunk them,” Nicholson said with a smile.

Kevin, another Elmwood resident, was especially proud of his dunk tank skills — and he wasn’t shy about it.

“I liked the dunk tank! I got a person 10 times,” he said with a grin. His secret? “Just throw the ball and hit the target.”

Kevin was an all-star at the dunk tank! (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

Kevin braved the slip ’n slide too.

“Good,” he laughed when asked how it was. “But I got real wet.”

Elmwood resident Kevin said his favourite part of the event was the dunk tank. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

For Elmwood, days like this aren’t just about fun. They’re about belonging.

“I love making things inclusive and making sure everybody’s part of our community,” said Nicholson.

The joy at the event was unmistakable. Elmwood resident Susan has been with the organization for 37 years. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)

And on a day filled with laughter, water fights, and long-overdue firsts, that sense of belonging was everywhere.

Tiernan summed it up best: “This day is so much fun, and I like it really, really much.”

Tiernan, 22, went on a slip ‘n slide for the first time ever just last year. He said he really likes this annual event, as it allows him to participate in an activity he had always wanted to try. (Brittany Caffet/650 CKOM)