The 2018 Provincial Masters Curling Championships were held in Stettler Feb. 20 – 25 with eight mens teams and seven women teams participating. Pictured here is Skip Gary Greening of Team Greening during the finals on Feb. 25. They took silver, losing to Team Pendergast 5 – 2. ECA Review/L. Joy
Stettler was showcased while hosting the 2018 Provincial Masters Curling Championships Feb. 20-25.
Eight men’s teams and seven women’s teams from across Alberta converged on Stettler for the week-long provincials with up to 200 people per day participating.
“Everyone left with a sweet taste of Stettler in their mouth,” said Town of Stettler Councillor Malcom Fischer who was the ceremonies chairman and MC of the event.
“I know there were people here that never visited Stettler before and they intend to come back. It gets the town’s name out.”
Fischer said he talked to all of the curlers and everyone had positive comments about everything from the town and stores to the accommodation.
“I have never run into so many kudos. The rink looked good. The hall looked good and the ceremony went well. It was a great public relations exercise.”
When Team Armstrong (Red Deer) competed, with skip Fred Armstrong, there were more local residents watching the games, said Fischer. Armstrong is from Erskine.
Successfully pulling off the event quiets any naysayers.
“Despite the fact that some people think Stettler is too small, once again the people of Stettler showed we can do almost anything.”
Pulling off the Provincial Masters took 65 volunteers and months of planning.
“When you do it well then it looks like it took no effort at all,” said Fischer. “It went really smooth. Everybody did a good job. There were a lot of people working hard to make everything work well.”
Fischer praised the work of Stettler Curling Club President Steve Gerlitz calling him the head driver for bringing the provincial championship to Stettler and the Scotties in 2019.
During the opening ceremonies Gerlitz was presented with a plague from the Alberta Curling Federation.
“He ran everything smoothly. His leadership was instrumental.”
For the women’s division, Team Foster (Inglewood) defeated Team Aslyn 8 – 0 to take gold.
In the men’s, Team Pendergast (Red Deer) defeated Team Greening 5 – 2. The winners will represent Alberta in the Nationals in Surrey and White Rock, B.C. from April 1 – 8.
Stettler will also host the Alberta Scottie’s Tournament of Hearts from Jan. 23 to Jan. 27, 2019.
Lisa Joy
ECA Review
Bagpipers Michael and Marion McLetchie, along with Stettler RCMP Cst. Andrew Roy, lead the procession for the closing ceremonies of the 2018 Provincial Masters Curling Championships Feb. 25 in Stettler. ECA Review/L.Joy
