'Overwhelmingly successful': Lampman curling club celebrates with centennial bonspiel

The Town of Lampman pulled out all the stops as it marked the centennial anniversary for its curling club.
The volunteer-operated Lampman Curling Club turned 100 years old in 2023.
As a celebration of the club’s milestone, a 64-rink bonspiel was held from March 29 to April 2, according to a release from the rural municipality of Browning.
“For a community our size it was a huge event and its just winding down this afternoon, but it's been overwhelmingly successful,” Chairperson for the R.M. of Browning, Blake Fornwald told CTV News on Sunday.
“So for Lampman, I'm going to say once in a lifetime event. It's not something we’d even attempt in the next few years as other communities would … So we've had support from all over, we've had people that treated it like a reunion. So they live in Alberta and they live somewhere and they flew in to join the team or just to come and watch so it's like a homecoming as well as the curling bonspiel.”
The bonspiel is also a celebration of a $770,000 rink upgrade the club recently received.
The upgrade, which started construction in the spring of 2022 included a compressor room for the ice plant which extended the lifespan of the rink.
The project was made possible with investment from both the federal and provincial governments.
“This project is not only about improving Lampman area infrastructure and recreational opportunities, it’s also about investing in even more great memories that will be created through the many curling bonspiels and hockey games yet to come at this wonderful community facility,” MLA for Cannington, Daryl Harrison said in the news release.
For Forwald, the success of the event hinged on the dedication from community groups and volunteers.
“The curling club deserves all of the credit for the planning, the organizing, and the getting the word out,” he explained. “They did a perfect job and once again, you come down to any small town community and it's all about volunteers and all the volunteers that helped open bars or just taking money for the registrations or working in the kitchen. They've all showed up for this and made it a success.”
The health and sustainability of any community is partially rooted in its recreational, Forwald explained. Making funding for the rink that much more important.
“Without the recreational facilities, your town loses that and then you have residents that maybe decide they're going to live somewhere else for whatever reason or they don't want to come to your community,” Forwald said.
“So, we need to support our recreational facilities, support our community and both the town and the RM deserve credit for doing that over the years.”
Lampman is located approximately 207 kilometres southeast of Regina.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING | Danielle Smith's UCP holds onto power in Alberta
Danielle Smith is still the premier of Alberta, surviving a vigorous campaign and a tight vote Monday against NDP challenger Rachel Notley.

Singh calls for foreign interference rapporteur Johnston to step aside
NDP Leader Jagmeet Singh is pushing for special rapporteur David Johnston to 'step aside' from his role examining the issue of foreign interference before he embarks on public hearings.
New Democrat MP says she is target of foreign interference by China
New Democrat MP Jenny Kwan said Monday that Canada's spy agency has confirmed her long-held belief she is being targeted by the Chinese government, as the prime minister granted the NDP's wish to allow more party members to review top-secret intelligence.
Golden Knights reach 2nd Stanley Cup Final after Game 6 win over Stars
William Karlsson, William Carrier and Jonathan Marchessault are finally getting another chance in the Stanley Cup Final, after the first one that came so quick for the Vegas Golden Knights.
Caleb Martin helps Heat to 103-84 Game 7 win over Celtics and spot in NBA Finals
Eastern Conference finals Most Valuable Player Jimmy Butler scored 28 points, and Caleb Martin had 26 points and 10 rebounds to help the eighth-seeded Miami Heat beat the Celtics 103-84 in Game 7 on Monday night and advance to the NBA Finals for the second time in four seasons.
Canadian parliamentarians condemn Uganda's recently passed anti-homosexuality law
Canadian political leaders and parliamentarians are denouncing a new law passed in Uganda that imposes harsh penalties, including the death penalty, for certain cases involving homosexuality.
Free prescription drugs could reduce overall health-care costs in Canada: study
Overall health-care costs could be reduced in Canada by providing free prescription drugs to patients, according to a new study.
Northern B.C., Alberta and all of Ontario under 'high' to 'extreme' wildfire risk: What to know
There's a heightened risk of wildfires across the country during what has been one of the earliest fire seasons on record. From British Columbia to Nova Scotia, here's where the risk is highest.
Strategic city planning can mitigate 'urban heat island' effect, make cities cooler in summer: study
New research from Penn State University found certain factors can contribute to reducing what’s known as the 'urban heat island' effect, and that climate knowledge can contribute to better city planning and design.