The Vermilion curling rink buzzed with excitement as elementary and secondary school students competed in the Jim Smith Memorial Junior Bonspiel on Friday, January 24, and Saturday, January 25. The annual event honors the late Jim Smith, a former schoolteacher in Vermilion and Marwayne, who passed away from lung cancer in 2003. Smith’s dedication to youth athletics, particularly curling, is celebrated each year through this event, previously known as the Kentucky Fried Chicken Junior Bonspiel.
This year’s bonspiel featured 20 youth teams from Vermilion, Viking, Wainwright, Lloydminster, Elk Point, Marwayne, and Mannville. The energy and camaraderie on the ice reflected the enduring appeal of curling among young athletes.
Thirteen-year-olds Adessa Teasdale and Alexis Foulds, members of the Vermilion Junior Curling Club, expressed their enthusiasm for the sport. On the second day of the competition, they shared, “We love curling because it’s fun to play with friends. It’s also a sport you can continue playing as you get older. This bonspiel is a fun-spirited competition. Winning isn’t everything; it’s all about having fun and learning.”
Grade 12 student Nick Woywitka, a junior curler for six years, echoed similar sentiments. “I like curling because it’s a sport anyone can play and enjoy. This is my last year as a junior curler, but I plan to continue curling with Lakeland Curling while in college,” he said.
Jenaya Swyripa, who began curling in grade 3, returned to the bonspiel as a volunteer and junior coach, having aged out of the competition five years ago. Reflecting on the event, she said, “Today I’m coaching because I can no longer compete. I participated from grade 4 to grade 12. This bonspiel is fantastic for growing the sport. It gets kids out on the ice, having fun, and learning the rules of the game. I’d like to acknowledge Doug and Joanne, who do an amazing job ensuring it’s a fair and fun experience for the junior curlers.”
The bonspiel concluded with a banquet and prize ceremony on Saturday evening. Organizer Doug McCrae highlighted the community’s vital role in supporting the event. “The Vermilion Rotary Club sponsors the ice time for the Jim Smith Memorial Junior Bonspiel. Vermilion Boston Pizza sponsors individual trophies for the first- and second-place winners in each age division, as well as the Jim Smith Memorial Trophy for the team with the highest points. The generous sponsorship of local businesses makes this bonspiel possible,” he said.
Jim Smith’s wife, Val, and daughter, Danielle, added a personal touch to the celebration by presenting the prizes to the winning teams. Feedback from the young curlers was overwhelmingly positive, reinforcing the event’s mission of promoting fun, learning, and a love for curling among youth.
The Jim Smith Memorial Junior Bonspiel continues to stand as a testament to Smith’s enduring legacy and passion for fostering youth involvement in sports.
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