Elementary school children have returned to the curling rink after the long-standing tradition was paused for three years due to COVID-19.
Led by RCMP officer Darren Underhill and school administrator Teresa Robinson, a group of volunteers are organizing six lessons to teach children how to curl at 3:15 on Mondays.
The Barriere Curling Club provides the equipment and curling rink.
More than 20 children attended the first two lessons, which began on Jan. 9.
Audrey Rilcoe has been a member of the curling club for roughly four decades since the rink first opened. At the lessons, she alternates between teaching on the ice and preparing the post-lesson treats for the children.
Parents and organizers make hot chocolate and popcorn, which the children always look forward to because they come off the ice a little cold, Rilcoe said.
“It is a good bunch of kids, and it is a very good bunch of adult volunteers and parent volunteers,” she added.
Rilcoe worked in School District 73 for 15 years as a support worker for children with disabilities and has adult children of her own.
Sometimes the children get overzealous and think they can run on the ice, but Rilcoe said they are well-behaved after she explains the safety rules.
“I really like kids. It is just so nice to see the kids come and be so excited about learning how to curl,” she added. “We are hoping they will become adult curlers… We don’t have as many curlers as we used to have.
On Jan. 16, volunteer Wanda Nystoruk attended with Justice Nystoruk, who volunteered at the lesson while his younger brother, Declan, participated.
She said she is glad the curling lessons are back because it is a fun way for children to learn something new.
“The more you can get them involved in sports so they can give it a try when they are young, they can pick it up really quickly. And they just enjoy it to have something extracurricular.”