Water stations installed in two local parks

Children and families in Timmins and the East End will be able to quench their thirst outdoors this summer thanks to the installation of two outdoor water bottle filling stations in city parks.

In a partnership between the Timmins-Misiway Healthy Kids Community Challenge and the City of Timmins, water bottle filling stations were installed at Gillies Lake Park in Timmins and at White Waterfront Park in South Porcupine, near the trailhead to the Bart Thomson Trail.

“The goal of this initiative is to increase access to free, clean drinking water for children and families in our community,” said Madison Mizzau, project manager for the Timmins-Misiway Healthy Kids Community Challenge. “We are hoping that with more access to water, kids will be more likely to choose water when they’re thirsty.”

Children need lots of water to stay hydrated and keep their bodies working properly. This is especially true when being physically active and when it’s hot outside. It is hoped that these outdoor water stations will make staying hydrated with water more convenient, as well as helping reduce plastic bottle waste. Residents are encouraged to fill up with reusable water bottles.

The initiative is part of the second theme of the Healthy Kids Community Challenge, Water Does Wonders! This theme encourages kids and families to drink water as a healthy alternative to sugar-sweetened beverages, such as pop, sports drinks, juice drinks, and sweetened iced teas. These beverages are the single largest source of sugar in kids’ diets.