What a few pairs of old skis have become to Peachland residents

A bench made out of old skis was recently placed at a school bus stop in Peachland, and the community is raving about it.

Bernie Cundliffe, a Peachland resident, decided to make this bench out of old skis when he noticed kids were sitting on wet grass waiting for their bus in the morning and there was no sidewalk or bench available for them.

“I had some old skis around and you always kind of wonder what you’re going to do with them and I thought I could make a bench. Then I saw these kids that catch the bus every day would just wait around and always sit on the wet grass on the corner, so I thought I could put my bench there,” Cundliffe said of the bench now on the corner of Coldham Road and Desert Pines Avenue. “I didn’t do it for recognition, but for fun and something for the kids, and it’s nice to have them enjoy something in the neighbourhood.”

While talking with his ski friends about his project, Cundliffe was able to collect some more pairs, and with a total of eight, Bernie was able to make the bench.

He has noticed the bench becoming quite a community favourite in the neighbourhood.

“The kids started using it right away to wait for the bus. Then, after school, they sit on the bench putting their rollerblades on to go up and down the road and play hockey, it looks like it's become a community gathering point for the kids,” says Cundliffe. “I’ve had people stopping and taking pictures of it, people getting out of their cars and having their kids sit on it to take a picture, sometimes I even go out there and sit with my dog while he plays with other dogs and I chat with neighbours.”

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