Some area curling clubs are putting on special activities for Curling Day in Saskatchewan. (file photo/paNOW Staff)

By Michael Joel-Hansen

A day for rocks and ice

Local clubs ready for Curling Day in Saskatchwan

Jan 29, 2020 | 8:00 AM

Today is a day for Curling in Saskatchewan.

Local clubs along with CurlSask, the sport’s provincial body, are officially marking Curling Day in Saskatchewan.

Mat Ring, marketing and memberships coordinator for CurlSask, said today is the sixth anniversary of the new provincial recognition. He said for him and his team, it’s about introducing newcomers to the sport.

“Of course, it’s the official sport of Saskatchewan. Trying to create awareness and getting new bodies into the club is kind of the main initiative behind this,” he said.

The provincial body will mark the occasion in Melville where the SaskTel Tankard event is happening. Ring said they encourage local organizations to try and focus on promoting the game to a different age group each year.

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“It is a different strategy for ages in the sport,” he said.

In Prince Albert, the P.A. Curling Club is getting in on the action by hosting a free curling night. Curling is set to get underway at 7 p.m. Those interested in coming out are reminded to bring good clean shoes to curl in. The club will provide brooms and sliders.

Pat Bibby, a volunteer with the P.A. Curling Club, said they currently have a fairly diverse membership.

“We have gotten quite a few younger people into the six-pack leagues and the evening leagues and the learn to curl. I think it’s getting a little better than it was for a while,” she said.

Bibby said the day provides a good opportunity to get people involved to enjoy the game along with the fellowship. Members of the club in P.A. occasionally offer free curling and did a similar event last month.

The Spiritwood Curling Club is another area club getting in on the day. The club is shortlisted along with two others for a $2,500 prize from CurlSask after members submitted a video for a contest.

Brad Nemish, the Spiritwood club’s president, said the contest was brought to their attention last year. He said while they didn’t make the top three the first time around, it was a positive experience.

“We had a lot of good comments about the video,” he said.

This year’s Curling Day in Saskatchewan falls on the same day as the Spiritwood members’ bonspiel. Along with the competition they plan to host a range of other activities. Later in the evening there are plans to watch on Facebook live when CurlSask announces the winner of the video prize.

Nemish said having a vibrant curling club is important for a community like Spiritwood, which has a population of around 900 people. He added a strong volunteer base is important to keep the club running.]

“Curling, hockey, all those small-town things are important to keep the success of small-town Saskatchewan going,” he said.

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MichaelJoel.Hansen@jpbg.ca

On Twitter: @mjhskcdn