“Maybe together we can make a difference”: North Battleford’s new indoor skatepark

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Deb McNabb (second from right) and Chris (right) with their traded boards in Portland. (Image Credit: Deb McNabb/ submitted)

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“When Chris was 12, he lost his mom, didn’t struggle with addiction but does struggle with mental health and ended up living under a bridge. His skateboard became his pillow; his ride.”

Moved by his story, McNabb offered Chris a trade: she would buy him a new skateboard if he gave her his old one to bring back to Saskatchewan and share his story.

“A lot of people don’t own a lot of things, but his story is what he owns. And for him to share it with us is priceless,” she said.

After returning from her trip, McNabb felt inspired to learn more about the local skateboarding community in the Battlefords. She connected with Alanna Tucker, owner of Freedom Skate and Snow, a North Battleford skate shop.

Alanna Tucker and Deb McNabb. (Image Credit: Deb McNabb/ submitted)

“I thanked her for her decades of care for our kids and our community and I said to her, I’d love to partner with you; and maybe together we can make a difference,” McNabb said.

That conversation grew into Skate Church, a free indoor skatepark at Living Faith Chapel where people of all ages can learn to skateboard and develop their skills.

For McNabb, the space is about more than skateboarding. It is also about creating a welcoming environment where people can feel connected, regardless of their faith or whether they attend church.

“On our doors, you’ll see ‘welcome’ and we want everybody welcome in this place. Our goal is that people would know that they belong here at Living Faith Chapel, just as a community member, doesn’t matter whether you come on Sunday or not,” she said.

Getting to know the local skateboarding community has also given McNabb an opportunity to connect with young people and help create new opportunities for them.

“They are precious people. They’re an amazing family and they take care of each other. As I walk among them, I hope that they would see the heart of Jesus through me,” she said. “Through that, they would know that they’re worthy, that they’re loved, that they’re cared for, and that they deserve safety.”

(Image Credit: Alyssa Rudolph/ battlefordsNOW)

Skate Church will officially open Nov. 12 and will be open Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00 to 10:00 p.m. The space will include skateboards, helmets, boxes, rails and ramps for community members to use.

While McNabb may still be developing her skills on a skateboard, she has a clear idea of what she hopes to accomplish through the new space.

“My heart is not so much to be an expert at skateboarding. I want to be an expert at loving the young and making sure that they know that they matter.”

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Alyssa.rudolph@pattisonmedia.com