GPRH unveils updated clown car for resident Therapy Clown

“Just to give [the kids] a really neat experience and something exciting and fun in the middle of an experience where it’s really tough and difficult,” Edey says. “Such a unique gift for our community to give to the hospital and to the patients and families that are coming here. We’re just so thankful for the generosity to be able to have that back in action and to see the joy on people’s faces.

Trevor North of CIMA+ (plus) says he and several other volunteers spent two years repairing the car.

“We decided to offer our time as it were, and it was almost a two-year project,” North says. “A project like this needs a lot of specialty-type stuff. Between [myself, Jeff Kaior, and Bob Dudenhoeffer] and lots of other people that contributed as well, you need a lot of special skills.”

(Image Credit: Everything GP Staff/Nathaniel Leigh)

Butterfly says she was grateful to have her ride back as she provides entertainment to young patients and their friends and family while they visit the hospital.

“It is something that I am incredibly thankful for,” says Butterfly. “For all the people that have come together to actually make this possible. The car was a huge asset to the old hospital, and it has a brand-new facelift for the new hospital, and I’m very excited. I love that the kids are excited, and I think it’s something that is going to touch the hearts again of many people.”

Jeff Kaior of Ultimate Energy Controls says the vehicle’s mechanics were almost entirely replaced.

“Everything was stripped out of it, all of the electronics,” Kaior says. “We started fabricating the mounts and went from there. Hoped that everything fit in there with the batteries and stuff and everything fits beautifully. What was left? The tires and the frame.”

Dude Racing’s Bob Dudenhoeffer says adjustments to the vehicle include reducing the overall speed to make it safe for hospital staff and visitors.

“I designed basically a jack shaft with two sprocket gears,” says Dudenhoeffer. “To get the gear reduction down so it will be at the speed we need. I also fabricated some mounts for some electrical equipment and battery trays.”

Butterfly says the car has provided positive memories to children in need over her twenty years as a therapy clown.

(Image Credit: Everything GP Staff/Nathaniel Leigh)

“And the cool part is they remember the Clown Car ride, they remember the bravery beads, but they don’t always remember why they were there,’ she says. “I’ve had people come up and be like, ‘I was in the hospital when I was ten years old, and you took me for a clown car ride,’ and I’m like, ‘Oh, what were you in for?'” and they’re like, “I don’t even remember. ” They remember the positive that they had at the hospital.”

Butterfly has just recently been hired full-time to provide entertainment for youth visiting the hospital after working in the Grande Prairie area for 20 years.

(Image Credit: Everything GP Staff/Nathaniel Leigh)

by Nathaniel Leigh