Fort Macleod Curling Club is finalizing plans for its two-day 125th anniversary celebration.
Displays on the history of the club, curling with top Alberta curlers and a dinner and dance are planned for Oct. 27-28.
The club is pulling out all the stops, and there is much to celebrate.
“We are rich in history,” curling club president Sherri Zoeteman said.
The anniversary celebration has been driven by the efforts of the 19 people on the organizing committee.
“They’re amazing,” Zoeteman said. “I can’t say enough about them.”
The event gets under way at 3 p.m. Friday, Oct. 27 with a corporate challenge that will see title sponsor Westco Construction taking on the Town of Fort Macleod in a match on an inflatable curling sheet.
Alberta Curling is bringing eight foot by two foot inflatable curling sheets that will be set up by the beer gardens in the curling club parking lot.
People will have their chance to play on the inflatable sheets throughout the weekend.
The Westco-Town match will lead into an open house in which there will be displays of 125 years of Fort Macleod curling history, compiled by Cathy Park and Judy Walde.
The displays will feature photos, articles, trophies and other memorabilia that will fill the curling club and the warm room above the hockey rink.
Because of their close association, Granum curling history will also be showcased.
There will also be videos running throughout the weekend filled with interviews of people associated with the Fort Macleod Curling Club in the 1960s, ’70s and ’80s.
The first day of the celebration will conclude with the auction of spots on two rinks skipped by top Alberta curlers.
The top three bidders for Shannon Kleibrink will curl on her team in a six-end game the afternoon of Saturday, Oct. 28.
Kleibrink has represented Alberta five times at the Scotties championship and won bronze at the Olympics.
People also get to bid for a chance to curl with Casey Scheidegger, who has curled at the Scotties three times and was the 2017 Canadian Open champion.
“We can’t ask for anything better than that,” Zoeteman said. “It’s just phenomenal that they are coming down.”
Proceeds from the auction will be donated to the Sandra Schmirler Foundation.
People also have a chance on Friday night to buy a ticket as a skip, third, second or lead for the chance to play on the teams that will oppose Kleibrink and Scheidigger.
“You can buy as many tickets as you want,” Zoeteman said. “It’s going to be fun.”
Jamie Bourassa, who was raised in Fort Macleod and became world-renowned as a curling ice technician will attend the anniversary celebration.
“This is where he learned his ice-making skills under the watchful eye of his dad Leo,” Zoeteman said.
Bourassa is donating some items that will be sold through silent auction, with proceeds going to the Fort Macleod junior program.
Bourassa is donating autographed jackets as well as pins he collected over the years at major curling events.
There will also be draws for numerous door prizes donated by the Fort Macleod community on Friday night.
“I can’t express enough how the community has come on board — the businesses and individuals,” Zoeteman said. “It’s just absolutely amazing.”
The curling club will have a history book that will be passed out during the weekend.
Action resumes at 3 p.m. Saturday, Oct. 28 with the Curl With Rock Stars event.
The anniversary celebration then concludes Saturday night with a dinner and dance at the Fort Macleod and District Community Hall.
Guest speaker is Alberta Curling Association president Jody Meli representing the Sandra Schmirler Foundation, and who co-chaired the 2012 Women’s Word Curling Championship.
MA Catering Co. is in charge of the supper, and Suite 33 will provide the music for the dance.
Tickets are available for the earlybird rate of $60 until Sept. 30, with the price then rising to $65.
Tickets are available through the Fort Macleod Chamber of Commerce Web site or by calling Lorelei at 403-795-1068.
The curling club will also run an on-line 50-50 draw through the Chamber Web site.
“It’s going to be a lot of fun,” Zoeteman said.
