The number of rinks participating in the annual Sundre Oilmen’s bonspiel was down slightly this year, but the 30th annual event nevertheless turned out really well, said an organizer.
"Everything went great — everyone had fun,” said Lonny MacKenzie, who is also the organization’s treasurer.
A dozen teams came to play at the Sundre curling rink from Friday, March 2 to Sunday, March 4 with several prizes up for grabs, said MacKenzie.
He attributed the lower number of teams to the colder-than-usual March conditions as well as the fact the industry is getting busy at this time of the year.
"We’ll be back and stronger next year,” he told the Round Up last week during a phone interview.
The Sundre Oilmen’s, a non-profit society, also hosts an annual golf tournament during the summer, and proceeds from these events are donated back to local groups and organizations, he said.
Between the bonspiel and golf tournament, the society raises enough funds to kick back on average some $5,000 into the community every year. The Sundre Oilmen’s try to make some funds available to different groups, including Nutrition for Learning, the Sundre Aquatic Society, STARS, Sundre Junior Curling, as well as Sundre Scouts, he said.
"A lot of those groups get a donation every year.”
But the Oilmen’s also strive to accommodate other benevolent endeavours such as benefits for people enduring a hardship in life, he said.
"We will do one-off donations sometimes. We try to keep it as flexible as we can.”
The Sundre Oilmen’s have been around for more than 30 years, and the society’s two main annual fundraising tournaments are made possible courtesy of the community’s support as well as contributions from committed sponsors, he said.
"That’s what makes our events happen.”
