BY LESLEY HILL
Hockey is a huge part of life in the Town of Sylvan Lake for many families but there is more than just hockey happening in this town.
In 2007, a group of Sylvan Lake Curling Club members got together to see if there was a chance of bringing a major curling championship to town. The Medican Multiplex was in the final stages of construction and we knew that the provincial championships for men and for women would be held in an arena. Our little old curling rink could not hope to host any major event but with the new Multiplex, we now had a chance. The response from inside and outside the curling club membership was astounding and we proceeded with our application.
What happened over the next five years speaks to the volunteer spirit and community support of Sylvan Lake!
In those five years, this community of 13,000 has hosted two Alberta Scotties Tournament of Hearts competitions, the 2011 Investors Cup Provincial Mixed Curling Championship and the 2013 Optimists Provincial Juveniles Curling Championships. The town has provided support through use of the Multiplex for the Alberta Scotties as well as town staff to assist with organization of these events. The business community has stepped up every time we have asked for financial support to bring these events to town.
The importance of a multi-use recreational facility in Sylvan is evident in the activities hosted by our organizations and in the everyday lives of our families.