Parker: Excitement grows for new Renfrew Educational Services school

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Jim Peplinski retired from his career in hockey — always with the Calgary Flames — 35 years ago, but he is still a hugely energetic force, especially when it comes to acting on behalf of others. His businesses have been passed on to his children, giving him the time to concentrate on his newest challenge of helping to raise $30 million for a new Renfrew Educational Services school.

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Peplinski became involved with Renfrew — an educational organization that serves students with disabilities — many years ago through the Flames Alumni. It led to him dedicating his time to telling the school’s story and calling in favours to ensure the new school (which will extend Renfrew’s programs to junior and high school kids) gets built sooner rather than later.

Actually, he says, it’s not that big a hurdle as the organization already has $17 million in the bank towards the project, and the land is already paid for. Peplinski, however, has given himself a deadline of Oct. 31 to raise funds for the rest and he has been busy recruiting people such as son-in-law John Whittaker, chief of staff at Grayhawk Wealth, and Hannes Kovak, president and CEO OPUS Corporation, as key members of his fundraising team. Speaking of Kovacs, Peplinski says, “If you have a mountain to climb, give it to an Austrian.”

Legacy School will be built on 12.8 acres of land off the 1A Highway close to the Bearspaw School and Bearspaw Lifestyle Centre. The location is ideal in that it will be easily accessible off Crowchild Trail and via Stoney Trail from all directions. Kassian Architecture has completed the design of the school, taking inspiration from the natural landscape, that will be built by EllisDon.

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The 60,000-square-foot two-storey building has been designed from the inside out, with kids’ needs first. A safe and accessible environment, the layout includes a large circular library in the centre, designed to be inclusive to all cultures. The main floor also houses 16 classrooms, a communal gym with separate specialty fitness spaces, multi-sensory rooms and offices. An indoor greenhouse is where kids will enjoy growing plants, connecting to the outside courtyard to interact with nature and enjoy playing together on specially designed equipment. On the upper level are art, drama and life skills rooms where children can learn practical daily activities such as cooking and laundry. There’s even an inventor’s corner.

Ninety per cent of the students will arrive by bus, but 178 parking stalls will be available on-site.

Janice McTighe — executive director, leader and visionary of Renfrew — founded the organization 50 years ago, seeking to help children born with physical and mental challenges. Since then, more than 100,000 children have been allowed to grow to their full potential, while also providing hope to parents and family members. Today, Renfrew runs three schools that it has built and leases space at University of Calgary for pre-school and kindergarten children at the Child Development Centre.

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Despite Renfrew’s growth, McTighe says there is always a heartbreaking long waiting list of children that are missing out on Renfrew’s life-saving services.

The new school can’t come soon enough. Too many children are missing out on the benefits of help via Renfrew’s innovative and unique approaches, resulting from years of experience in providing special care in helping children by 400 certified teachers, psychologists, occupational therapists, speech language pathologists and many other professionals and support staff.

McTighe says she is confident the fundraising target will be met quickly, enabling her board to make the decision to soon get a shovel in the ground. Legacy School will require 16 teachers and therapy teams with triple the number of support staff.

Peplinski is working hard to help lift the burden and assist in what he refers to as Renfrew’s life-saving services. He shares that he has a granddaughter so severely challenged that she cannot qualify for attendance at a Renfrew school. However, he has a big heart for those that can be helped.

He adds there are many ways for all of us to help, by being a supporter, donating, giving time as a volunteer, or just being aware of people with disabilities who appear to be marginally invisible.

David Parker’s column appears regularly in the Herald. Read his columns online at calgaryherald.com/business. He can be reached at 403-830-4622.

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