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Volunteer Luncheon

T. White

The Abbotsford Curling Club runs on an army of volunteers. Every year as the season ends, the Board invites our volunteers to a Thank You Luncheon.

Here is a photo of our fearless leaders. Current club President David Primrose is flanked by his predecessors – Gord Wallington and Art Heppner. These gentlemen are the ones who guide our ship with dignity and humour.

Our sport is co-educational and multigenerational. These lovely ladies – Beth Loney and Carole Parisotto – add value to our club by teaching in our instructional program and operating our modest club kitchen. It really is utilitarian approach – from each according to her abilities and to each according to her needs. As Cindy Lauper sang, “Girls Just Want to Have Fun!”

Rick, Jack and Brian enjoyed the game before lunch. We were given some very sparse clues and challenged to write a short phrase that captured the essence of our club. The game was designed by Tina, but it lost something in translation when Paula tried to replicate it. Nevertheless, it did make for some interesting discussions.

Mike Desante found a couple of charming tablemates for lunch. Paula Lesage and Tracy Sherman joined Mike as they worked on the word game before lunch was served. This trio invests many hours in teaching in our instructional programs and participating in our leagues.

A big “thank you” to Board Member Terry Dickson for all of the work that she did in putting this exceptional season-ending activity together! It won’t be long before we are enjoying the warm sunshine and pleasurable outdoor activities. However, we will all be back in late August to welcome visiting curlers to our club as a part of the BC 55+ Games!

2023 Stick Bonspiel

T. White

24 teams, made up of men’s, women’s and mixed teams, participated in the annual ACC Stick Bonspiel
held on March 4 and 5th . They each played 5 – 6 end games over the day and half event, collecting $10
for each game they won. Numerous prizes including gift certificates were handed out during each day
with a significant 50/50 prize being awarded at the end of each day. By all accounts everyone had a
great time.

The winning team, Desante/ Davis from Abbotsford, defeated the Moe/Skinner team from Peace Arch,
in a close game in the final and collecting the $100 first prize. Prize money was awarded to teams
finishing in 2nd to 8th place. The Bonspiel also featured a “Draw to the White Spot” where all teams had
an opportunity to draw to the button for a chance to win a $100 White Spot Gift Certificate. A team
from Langley, Terry McCarthy and Bill Cole emerged victorious defeating a team from Abbotsford and a
team from Chilliwack in the finals.

The ACC executive who organized and sponsored the bonspiel had as their primary goal “lets make this a
fun event”. It can be said they more than met that goal. Many people including our 8 out of town
teams, indicated that they would be back next year. The lunch provided by the volunteers led by Allyson
was superb as usual. Archie did his usual bang-up job as Draw Master. The ice was great. In all this was
a most successful event.

Check out the photo gallery on the bonspiel page: 2023 Stick Spiel

City of Abbotsford Arena Strategy Survey

T. White

As you may already know, our curling facility is in partnership with the City of Abbotsford. We lease the land and building from the City and we are responsible for the maintenance of the building interior and ice plant. Last week, the City launched a community survey online through their website and are looking for feedback from our members and the residents of Abbotsford on their Draft Arena Strategy.

Basically, the City has taken an inventory of all arena facilities in Abbotsford and their age, capacity, and long-term demand for activities. The area population is approximately 160,000 and the City is predicting that it will increase to 200,000 over the next 20 years. Significant investment will be required over this period to meet an increased demand.

Our Curling Club has a vested interest in the City’s plans for the future. At this time our Board is requesting that you participate in the City’s survey. It is only 8 questions and should only take 5 – 10 minutes. We believe that it is important that we have as many participants as possible do the survey. 

Begin by going to the City website letstalkabbotsford.ca and click on Arena Strategy – Survey. There you will see the basic strategy stages and the 9 action plans. For more information I recommend that you click on “Draft Arena Strategy”. This is very interesting background reading with lots of photos. Pay particular attention to pages 19 – 21 as there you will see how immediate, medium-term and long-term strategies for future curling are addressed. Curling is certainly one of the major components of the strategy.

Next, go back to the Arena Strategy page and click on “Take Survey” at the bottom of the page. You then have to “Register” (or “Sign In” if already registered for Let’s Talk Abbotsford).

The deadline for submitting the survey is January 17, 2023. So please find a bit of time between all the Christmas and New Year festivities to provide your feedback to the City of Abbotsford.    

Wishing you a very Merry Christmas and Good Curling in the New Year!

David Primrose,

President

Teachers Pro-D Day Oct. 21 – Register Now!

T. White

CALLING ALL PRIMARY AND INTERMEDIATE TEACHERS!

“HURRY HARD” AND LEARN HOW TO INTRODUCE YOUR STUDENTS TO THE GREAT CANADIAN SPORT OF CURLING ON PRO-D DAY FRIDAY OCTOBER 21, 2022

You will learn how to implement a gym floor curling program for your classroom and your school, called Rocks and Rings. It is an easy to implement and very engaging program for your PE classes.

You will also have a chance to try curling on the ice for yourself. It will be a fun and engaging time and your students will love the program.

Registration

Click the links below to register for either the morning or afternoon session:

Dress warmly in layers, bring gloves, and clean running shoes.

Come prepared to laugh, learn and HURRY HARD!!!

Message from the President

Kent Bird

September 2022

Well, fellow curlers, summer was a long time coming and is now officially coming to an end September 22nd.

On behalf of the Board of Directors, I wish to welcome you back to the 2022-2023 curling season, one that plans to be a “return to normal – as much as possible.” COVID 19 is still hanging around, which seems to be part of the new normal. I suspect that a very large majority of our curlers have been fully vaccinated and boosted, and that an ongoing barrier to COVID and its variants will involve continued booster shots, perhaps annually with the flu shot.

The plans for this season are exciting! First of all, the board and league representatives have been contacting those that curled last year as well as curlers that chose not to curl over the last two or three years, inviting everyone to return this year. In addition to our regular leagues, we will have some new leagues: 2-person stick leagues on Tuesday and Wednesday afternoons (if there are enough registrants), an open fun league on Friday afternoon, and an open/family league on Sunday evening. There are Try Curling weekends planned as well as 5-week Learn to Curl sessions and novice/open leagues on Monday and Wednesday evenings. Our Membership Committee has already been contacting some local schools to organize a Rocks and Rings program. In addition they have contacted the Abbotsford Teachers Association to offer hosting a Pro-D event in October and, perhaps, again later in the year.

In addition to a return of all regular bonspiels, our club is hosting Academy of Curling Clinics and Banquet with instructors Russ Howard, Mary-Anne Arsenault and Grant Odishaw on September 16th to 18th. On October 14th to 16th, we are hosting the Abbotsford Curling Classic Cashspiel with teams registered including Korea, Japan, China and India. Curl BC Club Championships will be hosted by our club March 28th to April 2nd.

Online registration is now open for all leagues. Registration at the club, as well as practice ice, will take place during the week of September 19th to 23rd. League play begins September 26th. Invite friends, family, co-workers, etc. to participate. All ages and skill levels are welcome!

Looking forward to seeing you on the ice!

David Primrose,

President