Friday, February 27th, 2015
Volume 78 • No. 41
the OBSERVER
FR
PM40011904
EE
facebook.com/carlyleobserver
Carlyle’s 10th Annual Open Oilmen’s Bonspiel ends with a touching tribute By Lynne Bell Carlyle’s 10th Annual Open Oilman’s Bonspiel ended fittingly, as the winners of the weekend event were ‘Bunzie’s Champions’, a team determined to pay tribute to their friend, co-worker, and fellow curler, Michael Bunz of Wawota, who died tragically on the job in an oilfield-related accident. The team, skip Kevin Wilson, third Doug Bourgon, second Garth Newell, and lead Colton Wilson, also wore Saskatchewan Roughrider jerseys in their friend’s memory in an effort to honour Michael Bunz’s passions and love of life. Skip Kevin Wilson, speaking on behalf of his team, said, “Michael was killed while working in the oilfield. He was an active curler in the Oilmen’s Bonspiel and we’ve either curled with him or gone up against him several times. He was a great friend, both on and off the ice, and a friendly foe on it.” “He was also a huge Roughriders fan, so we wore our jerseys in memory of him. We wanted to compete in the bonspiel honouring two of his passions, and of course, his passion for life.” “Dean Drew of NALCO Champion-which is the company Michael worked for- sponsored us. We all wanted to pay tribute to Michael, and of course, his family.” Throughout the tournament, a photo collage-made up mostly of pictures Michael Bunz and his family-hung in the Carlyle Curling Club, and his tribute team only removed it to pose with it when they won the tournament. “We want to reiterate how much a part of the Oilman’s Bonspiel Michael was,” says Wilson. “When he was around, there was always great competition and great cameraderie.” This year, the annual event hosted sixteen teams from Carlyle, Arcola, Carnduff, Estevan, Kisbey, Lampman, Oxbow and Wawota. The curling action took place at the Carlyle Curling Club, Feb. 19-22. The tournament format was a Creelman draw, which guaranteed each team four games throughout the tournament, as
!
www.carlyleobserver.com
INSIDE
Circus Day Camp – page 2
Bronze medal for Reddick & Team Canada – page 6
Staff photo by Lynne Bell th
Bunzie’s Champions not only captured the top spot at the 2015 10 Annual Open Oilmen’s Bonspiel; they captured hearts as well. (l-r) Second Garth Newell, third Doug Bourgon, skip Kevin Wilson, and lead Colton Wilson, along with team sponsor, Dean Drew (not pictured) of NALCO Champion made it their mission to pay tribute to the late Michael Bunz’s passion for curling in the Oilmen’s Bonspiel, cheering on the Riders, and most of all, his love for his family, friends, and colleagues. The team requested that they pose for their first-place team picture holding a photo collage made up mostly of pictures of Michael Bunz and his family. well as allowing every team a chance to make the playoffs. Teams are asked to have at least three curlers on each rink that are in oilfield or oilfieldrelated occuapations. This can include spouses of those working in the petroleum industry. Organizer Anita Delalleau says, “It’s a very social bonspiel. Not only does everyone enjoy the curling and the prizes, we also
CARLYLE • WAWOTA
do a lot of socializing. We had a dance on Friday night, and this year, Canadian Energy Services supplied pizza and wings for all of the curlers on Saturday night.” “Because it’s our 10th anniversary this year, Crescent Point Energy sponsored an entire prime rib dinner for our banquet, catered by Weirs of Manor. Carlyle Food World made us an anniversary cake that represented
a sheet of curling ice,” said Delalleau. “We couldn’t do any of this-and that includes our prizes-without our sponsors.” “I’d also like to acknowledge the Carlyle Curling Club’s assistance in organizing the bonspiel with me.”
Continued on page 2
RCMP report – page 12
Letters from Africa – page 17