The Bentley Curling Club is looking forward to a busy, exciting, fun-packed year as they welcome many players and teams from Sylvan Lake. Sylvan has no curling rink this year so some curlers are choosing to curl in Bentley. They are a welcome boost to the general Bentley club membership and the morale of the club.
Almost 30 people attended the club's fall general meeting on October 8. Vice-president Krista Turner chaired the meeting in the absence of the club president Kyle Brink. Some of the executive were still busy with harvesting.
"Good ice is our priority this year," Turner said many times after welcoming everyone to the meeting and introducing the executive that were present: secretary Bonnie Muzylouski and directors Art Dykstra, Ralph Scarlett and Dawn Reid, as well as Bruce Millar who also couldn’t make the meeting.
Regular league curling is scheduled to start October 27. Bonspiel dates have been set; the first bonspiel being the Farmer's slated for November 24-29.
A new fee structure was put in place at the 2014 spring meeting. There is now a base fee of $130 for all members and an additional fee for each league played in. These fees do not pertain to junior curlers who are charged a flat $50 fee.
Lockers are available to rent for $20 each.
It was decided that with the increase in membership and teams a lounge attendant must be hired, and tenders are also out for a full time ice technician / lobby caretaker. A number of possibilities were mentioned.
There were two vacancies on the executive after the resignation of Gerald Peterson and Jenna French so nominations were called for. Bruce Cartwright, Sylvan Lake curling club vice-president, was added to the Bentley executive leaving one vacancy.
With plans to include a new five-sheet Sylvan Lake curling rink in the construction of a new leisure centre following the collapse of Sylvan Lake's old arena, it could be two or more years before curling is back in Sylvan indicated Cartwright.
Volunteers would be appreciated to help install the ice.
The arena concession has showed an interest in being open while curling is on if it is utilized enough.
During their 2015 town budget deliberations Bentley town council will consider a request from the curling club to replace the deteriorated wooden overhead door on the south side of the curling rink with an insulated steel door.
Roof repairs by the town were being done to the curling rink roof at the same time as the arena roof was being done and will hopefully stop any leaks.
For more information about the Bentley Curling Club call the club and leave a message at 403-748-4303 or contact one of the executive.