Cheers to seventy-five years for the Whitecourt Curling Club

By Serena Lapointe

What started as a small group of avid curlers, playing on two sheets of ice downtown, where the
provincial building now sits, has bloomed into an active club that has spanned generations of
community members. On November 8, the Whitecourt Curling Club celebrated its 75th
anniversary, bringing together past and present curlers to raise a glass and “cheers” a history
worth celebrating.
Cindy Brooks, event coordinator, grew up in the rink. “My grandparents, parents and my aunt
and uncle were all part of the club. My mom was a high school curler in the sixties. Our family
was always involved.” As she and the club members began pulling together the history to share
at the celebration event, Brooks noted how proud it made her to see the impact her family had
on the club and how active they were. Her mom was a very good record keeper, which was a
big help.
“We were downtown for the first 35 years, in the provincial building. It was originally a two-sheet
rink, and then we expanded it to three sheets. Then we outgrew that area, and we moved up the
hill. It’s been wonderful going through the information. I really appreciate the community and the
people who got us to this place in our club. There have been thousands of hours and hundreds
of volunteers. It’s about community, and that’s what is so great about curling,” said Brooks.
On display upstairs at the rink on that Saturday night were vintage brooms, dozens of pictures,
several photo albums, badges, hats, blankets and sweaters that past club members had used,
detailing the history of the club. The organizing committee also created memory boards, which
named members who had passed away as well as the past presidents. “It’s important to
recognize the folks who have made an impact in our club,” said Brooks.
Although her history with the club spans several generations, Brooks isn’t the only one who has
a history embedded in the club. “We have three people on our board who have been part of the
club for 25+ years. It drives me to share the history and share that this is a great organization
for our community. We need to keep it going,” she said.
At the dinner celebration, the organizing committee handed out seven recognition awards to
longstanding club members. “We are recognizing members of the board who have been with us

for a long time. It’s important to recognize those who contribute and are leaders in our sport.
They are always trying to bring new people in and are forward-thinking. When you have
members who have been with the club for 12 to 25 years, that tells you that we have a lot of
commitment and dedication in the club. That makes us really proud,” smiled Brooks.
Those celebrated included Elaine Gunderson, the longest-running active member of the club,
who joined in the 60s when she was in high school. She shared her love of the sport with the
youth as a significant part of the Junior Program through the 90s and 2000s and is the current
board secretary. Best of all, Gunderson is still kicking butt on the ice. Last year, she won the
Ladies League. Sandra Harris, the board’s treasurer, and her husband Jim, club president, have

both been involved since 2000 and were recognized for twenty-five years of dedication and
unwavering support.
Ken Astill was also recognized. He has volunteered with the club for over fifteen years as a
director and past secretary. His introduction read that he was “always willing to lend a helping
hand where needed.” Also recognized that evening was Al Munday, member since 2012 and
curler for over 40 years, Don Kallis, director since the 1990s and still active today, and Benny &
Gale Wilkinson (and their family), who have volunteered with the club since 1996.
“Without volunteers, these nonprofit organizations and sporting social groups don’t happen. So,
thank you to them, as well as the sponsors who have supported us. Without our community, this
club wouldn’t exist,” said Brooks.
One of the images on the wall in the history display was a nod to the evening’s event. In it, four
ladies stand, presumably before a crowd, with one chatting into the microphone. “In the picture,
lifetime membership awards are being awarded to Linda Pfaff, Ruby Zutz, Bert Hill and Evelyn
Gunderson. Those were the ladies who led our club. The one in the pink (second from right) is
my grandmother, and the one who is presenting (far left) is my mother,” smiled Brooks.
Recognizing longstanding contributions to the local curling community was important then and is
just as important now. With a sold-out crowd for dinner, busy sheets in the rink throughout the
weekend and lots of reminiscing amongst attendees, the 75th anniversary celebration proved
that curling in Whitecourt is not only alive and well but also deeply cherished.
“It’s a wonderful community to belong to. Everyone is supportive. We invite anyone interested in

curling to come out. We will have an introductory session in the fall and another in the new year.
There are always people trying to learn, and there are lots of folks here that will support them,”
said Brooks.
The best part is that families can enjoy it together. “You can be five years old and keep doing it
until you are in your eighties. It’s a sport you can do for your whole life. I’m going to stick it out
until at least my late sixties because I want to curl with my granddaughter and my grandson. I
curled with my mom, my grandfather, my aunt, my uncle, and I currently curl with my daughter.
It’s kind of in my blood,” chuckled Brooks.
Over the seventy-five years, Brooks said many have come and gone and that counting every
person who was part of the club would be almost impossible. “If I counted every single person
who was a member at one point, we would be in the thousands. Today, after a rough few years,
we are flourishing and doing very well.” Here’s to 75 more years!
TAGLINE:
A major milestone was celebrated last week as the Whitecourt Curling Club reached a big
birthday, 75 years! The celebration focused on its history and the figures who played a
significant role in the club’s success.