Saskatoon's Glen Ogilvy uses tools like those to decorate cakes to build sandcastles. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

By Derek Cornet

coming together

Sandcastle competition sparks imagination, community spirit

Aug 29, 2024 | 3:15 PM

The downtown La Ronge beach was packed with families on Wednesday as they competed to see who could build the best sandcastles.

The event was organized by municipal staff and led by Saskatoon’s Glen Ogilvy. It was his idea to host such a competition to get kids involved and to teach them some of his skills.

“Sandcastles are a beautiful thing and certainly a lot of imagination goes with it,” he said.

“I am happy to see the town took the effort to put it on. I thought the timing with it only days away from school starting is a good message that summer is not over until school starts, so we have a few days to go yet.”

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Ogilvy, who has been building sandcastles since he was a child, brought with him a variety of tools that the public could use during the competition. He also acted as a mentor and guided participants through their creations.

Ahead of the event, Ogilvy assisted town staff on where to place the piles of sand, as well as examined the sand for moisture and clay content. He explained while it’s enjoyable to make sandcastles during sunny weather, the best time to build them is when it is drizzling and the temperature is on the cooler side.

Ogilvy has never built sandcastles professionally or ever entered in any contests. He likes to build sandcastles while he visits La Ronge, or he’s in destinations such as the Dominican Republic or Jamaica.

The downtown beach was full of children and adults participating in the competition. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

The La Ronge Regional Fire Department barbecued 400 burgers and hotdogs. (Derek Cornet/larongeNOW Staff)

“I don’t think it is something that needs to be competitive. It’s competitive personally more so,” Ogilvy said.

There were approximately 25 entries in the sandcastle competition and three overall winners. The winning sandcastles consisted of a pyramid complex, a castle adorned with white feathers, and another castle featuring a large turtle with decorations on it. Each of the three winning teams received a $100 gift card to a local business.

Community Programmer Avyn Koyl mentioned the purpose of the event was to create a program to engage the community, as well as to bring people together and enjoy the beach. She noted the La Ronge Regional Fire Department barbecued 400 burgers and hotdogs, and there was face painting and hula-hooping too.

Koyl said the sandcastle competition is an event they may hold again in 2025.

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derek.cornet@pattisonmedia.com