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Vol. 7, No. 27November Tuesday, May 8, 2012 Vol. 7, No. 2, Tuesday, 8, 2011
Photo by Michelle Pinon
LA Dance Moves held its final recital on April 29th at the St. Michael Recreaction Centre. More than 30 dancers and over 150 members were on hand to perform and watch the spectacular year end concert. In the front are dance instructors Nathan Young and Melissa Lavery, followed by 32 members of the group.
Curling Club hoping to put Lamont on the map with largest ever Last Chance Bonspiel BY MICHELLE PINON Editor
Volunteers with the Lamont Curling Club (LCC) are looking to put the community on the map by hosting one of the biggest mixed bonspiels in northern Alberta next April. That is why representatives came before Lamont town council recently to ask for assistance and support for what organizers hope will be their biggest and most successful bonspiel ever. “The Lamont Curling Club will be hosting a 25th Anniversary Last Chance Bonspiel in April 2013. For those who are not familiar, it is a fun filled spiel that has been one of the most popular and successful in Northern Alberta over the last 25 years. It brings in a mix of our young people who have gone through the LCC Junior Program and other teams from many rural and Edmonton rinks,” stated members of the anniversary committee in a letter dated April 16th. The letter went onto state: “The event is one of the LCC’s major fundraisers which enables us to sustain our monthly expenditures. Our goal for 2013 will be to canvass the curling communities and host a possible 80 team event, with an anniversary supper and dance in the hall.”
In order to expand the number of teams for the milestone event, organizers would require additional ice at the arena, and requested that from council. “For the LCC to host an event of this magnitude, in a short period of time, we are seeking the town’s assistance by allowing us to make additional curling sheets of ice in the arena. We would need the ice for the weekend, with all ice preparation being done by curling volunteers, thus no cost to the town for recreation employees.” Dale Anger, one of an eight member delegation, told council they would need about three days to make the ice for the event. The club would be contributing $1,200 towards the cost of the ice, and asked if the town would pay for the hall rental for the banquet and dance. “This will be a one time event only, and the LCC is seeking the town’s assistance by being a major sponsor of this super spiel. A bonspiel of this magnitude, with 80 teams has never been organized in rural Alberta, or performed on any arena surface, Lamont will be the first. We are asking for your support to get behind us, showing small town spirit and community pride to bring this event to reality.” Coun. Gail Hrehorets told Anger rather than waive the fees for hall rental, council may consider making a donation to the curling club, similar to
when council made a $1,000 donation to the health centre that will be hosting a celebration in the hall in the coming months. “That way we can honestly say we are being fair and equitable,” added Hrehorets. “I think your approach is very acceptable to our committee, and we understand where you are coming from,” replied Anger. He estimates that the three day event will bring between 320 and 350 curlers to town. Coun. Derek Strong recommended strong media coverage to send and carry the message. Anger said they were planning on that as well as a formal ceremony to mark the special occasion. “We are planning the opening ceremonies Friday evening with bagpipes, local and government dignitaries, radio personality Jackie Rae Greening, World and Olympic curler Kevin Martin, and former Alberta Premier Ed Stelmach.” Both coun. Strong and coun. Wayne Field both felt the event would be a wonderful way to promote Lamont, and pointed out that you can’t buy that type of advertising. Hrehorets then made the motion,”That the Town of Lamont become a major sponsor and donate $5,000 towards the 25th Anniversary Bonspiel in April 2013, and this amount be incorporated into the 2013 budget.” The motion passed unanimously.