A playground in north-central Edmonton was once again bustling with children one year after an intentionally lit fire destroyed it. Students at St. Pius X Catholic Elementary School in the Sherbrooke neighbourhood were left without a playground last year. “This was a very beloved playground prior to it being arsoned,” said principal Michele Wedemire. “It was devastating to the community that somebody would come and do what they did. “We are so grateful that, just over a year later, we’re reopening.” Luckily, insurance was able to cover most of the costs to replace the $600,000 playground that was built just the year before. “It was really horrible to see that all the hard work we put in just gone,” said Nancy Stepney, chair of the school’s parent association, adding that it took more than a decade to raise funds for the playground. “It’s been a rough road.” But Stepney wasted no time getting back to work after the fire. “Knowing right away that we had barely just finished, it was easy to pick back up and say ‘Well, we just keep going.’” At the playground’s reopening Tuesday afternoon, Stepney said she was happy to hear kids once again playing. “It makes me very happy to know that the kids have a place to play.” Rayden Bigstone, 21, faces one charge of arson in relation to the fire that was set the morning of July 12, 2025. He is to appear in court next week. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Connor Hogg
