LAC LA BICHE - For the past five years, the Lac La Biche and District Curling Club has been hosting monthly Friday Fun Nights to give people an opportunity to socialize while trying out and learning more about the winter sport.
While these events initially had a strong attendance, interest has waned over the past couple of years, says Brenda Robitaille, manager of the Lac La Biche and District Curling Club.
The Friday Fun Nights take place once a month throughout the curling season, which kicks off in late October and concludes at the end of March.
“Last year, you know, there might have been a couple of nights where we had a pretty good group, but it hasn’t been consistent,” she tells Lakeland This Week. “This year hasn’t been very good so far.”
Robitaille believes the low attendance is a combination of people who are busy with other commitments, but also unaware these events are happening.
During the Friday Fun Nights, people are provided with instruction about how to curl, including on-ice tutorials where they are taught techniques such as sliding and sweeping. Snacks and live musical entertainment are also on offer, which Robitaille says are a way of enticing more people to come out.
Outside of bonspiels and other competitions, there aren’t many opportunities learn how to curl or participate in the sport, and that is why the Friday Fun Nights are important.
Officials with the Lac La Biche and District Curling Club have been trying to promote the monthly functions and are optimistic that the upcoming evening of socialization and fun curling on Jan. 24 will attract people.
Having more people show up for the Friday Fun Nights will ensure the curling club will be able to continue hosting the events, says Robitaille.
The Lac La Biche and District Curling Club has been working to get more people out onto the ice, and according to Robitaille, one target group that officials have been focusing on are local children and youth.
In a bid to garner more interest from kids, the club offers free ice time to area schools who bring students to the rink to curl.
“If they’re not exposed when they’re young, it’s hard to catch them when they’re older, because they’re so busy already with all the other sports they’ve been introduced to.”
For more information about the Friday Fun Nights, contact Robitaille at (780) 689-8135 or [email protected]
