(L-R) 2023 Red Deer Oilmen's bonspiel winner from the IFR Wrokwear Team: Aaron Sluchinski (second person), Kerr Drummond, Dylan Webster, and Wayne Hanrahan. (Supplied)

By Alessia Proietti

Positive experience

Red Deer Oilmen’s Curling Bonspiel celebrates 39th anniversary

Jan 27, 2023 | 3:42 PM

After celebrating their 39^th anniversary, the Red Deer Oilmen’s Bonspiel board is hoping to get a large crowd for their big 4-0 next year.

“This year was probably one of the most positive experiences I’ve ever had. The players, the people who attended, everybody was so happy to be there and so positive about the effort we put in to try to make it work again,” said Blaine Ringham, board member for the bonspiel and Health and Safety Consultant. “I really think that there will be lots of people that help and promote and just encourage other people to come next year.”

From January 20-23, the Oilmen held their 2023 bonspiel at the Pidherney Centre (4725 43 St) curling club following a two year pause. There were twenty teams of four who participated with the IFR Workwear Team claiming the winning title. Participants come from all fields relating to, or working in close proximity with, the oil industry.

The final rankings include:

• 2nd Event: Downton’s Transport
• 3rd Event: Prepare First Emergency Management
• 4th Event: Colin Strem Team (Skips Name)
• 5th Event: CJ-CSM Inspections
  Second event winners: Downton’s Transport (Supplied)

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“The guys who won it this year are a very good team and they are competitive curlers in the Alberta super league,” he said. “There were several teams that could compete quite well at what you would say is nearly a professional level.”

Ringham said this year has seen a positive turnaround in the declining curling sport among the Oilmen. He says 10 years ago, they had 64 teams and a waiting list of people wanting to join.

“The industry used to let workers take a day off to go and do stuff like this for network-building and getting to know your clients and the clients getting to know the suppliers. But a lot of the oil companies don’t let them take days off anymore; they have to use vacation time,” he said, adding that he started to see the changes when the industry went more corporate in the province, with local offices moving to big cities like Calgary and Houston, Texas. He also said entertainment budgets are tighter now for people who participate in multiple activities.

Ringham said the event began by a group of roughly five workers in the oil industry to take place on the third Friday of each year. While he is reaching his 30^th bonspiel, he says there are three men who have been participating for almost all 40 years.

Third event winner: Prepare First Emergency Management (Supplied)

He says the bonspiel has greatly impacted the curling community, particularly through their support of the curling club facility.

“At one time, it [the bonspiel] would have been the biggest revenue event at the curling club,” he said. “We held the whole event at the curling club. The Friday night meet and greet and socializing, Saturday night we had a banquet with some prize giveaways and different speeches and everything was held at the curling rink including all the meals we bought.”

Fourth event winners: Colin Strem Team (Skips Name) (Supplied)

“The curling rink is struggling, some with COVID shutting them down and then not as many young curlers. To be honest with you, Red Deer probably has the best curling facility in Canada,” he said. “Professional curlers will tell you the Red Deer curling club has the best non-tour ice in Canada.”

While he says the sport has been prominent amongst older players as a source of socializing and benefit to mental health, he hopes to see its popularity rise among the younger generations as well.

For their 40^th anniversary, Ringham says the board is currently brainstorming special additions, such as potential prizes for early bird purchasers.

Fifth event winners: CJ-CSM Inspections (Supplied)