In aid of fundraising efforts for a long awaited dog park in Wynyard, the Wynyard Kinettes Club, a small but energetic group, created an innovative and fun activity that had the community laughing and shelling out for the cause. It was Wynyard’s first ever edition of “Toilet Tag”. 

The idea was simple, says President Shaylyn Arngrimson. The Club gathered seven toilets, adorned them, and sent each one on an around town journey to see where they would land. Homeowners would find an ornate toilet parked on their lawn and then were given a variety of ways to deal with the situation.

“We started with the mayor and seven council members,” Arngrimson explains. “There were seven of them, so there were seven toilets. They could pay an insurance of $30 to make sure the toilet would never come back to them, $10 to remove it, and $20 to tag a friend.”

The payment structure kept the toilets circulating through town and the cash flowing in. In three days, the commode commotion netted $4000 to go toward the dog park.

Wynyard residents have been looking forward to having a safe place for their canine companions to gather. A dozen or so lots have been set aside for the project, and now it's a matter of completing the fundraising to pay for the fencing and other amenities.

“The location is right next to the community gardens,” says Arngrimson, “And it’s close to the outskirts of Wynyard so it’s not right in the town close to too many residents. It’s also not that close to the highway, so it’s safe for the dogs to be able to run.”

The fundraiser was welcomed by the town with some residents pulling out the proverbial stops to target their neighbours and buy the protection from retaliation. Some donated beyond the asking price, says Arngrimson, handing over a hundred dollars at a time. 

“The response was really good; everyone was happy and jolly. They were excited to actually see people and faces and talk to people. Lots of people were laughing, and they really did enjoy it.”

The nature of the fundraising fit in well with guidelines and regulations still in place in the waning weeks of the pandemic. Fundraising efforts by the group had been put on hold due to the pandemic, and there is a sense that people in the community are looking forward to emerging this summer with the prospect of those restrictions relaxing. 

The Kinettes organization in Wynyard consists of five active members, so Arngrimson and the organization welcomes any other community minded women to join, especially with plans evolving for the first ever summer festival coming up.

“This will be the first year for our summer festival in Wynyard. We’re going to be doing a car show with a smoke show. We’re going to have a dog agility course, a horse show, some food trucks, and free swimming. So we’re looking for new members to join.”

The summer festival is planned for June 25 and 26. To find out more about the event or to inquire about joining this busy and dynamic group, the Wynyard Kinettes, check out their Facebook page.