Colonel Aaron Spott, Wing Commander 17 Wing, was all smiles as he sat at a table in the viewing room overlooking the curlers on the ice at the Deer Lodge Curling Club.
Col Spott and his four-person team had just finished their own time on the ice participating in the 2022 Wing Commander’s Curling Funspiel.
It was a roaring success, with 36 teams participating in the day long event. Because there was such a large number of teams participating, 18 games were played in the morning and 18 in the afternoon, Dawn Redahl, Sports Coordinator, noted.
Delicious smokies, provided by Will Gault, owner of Willy Dog, and soft drinks or coffee/tea were available at lunch time.
Immediately prior to the activities getting underway, a cheque presentation for $123,000 was made to the Wing Fund by representatives from the CANEX and SISIP Financial. The money will go to support the activities of the men and women of 17 Wing, Col Spott observed.
“It was an exceptional event,” he said. “It was lots of fun and great food.” He also offered “a big thank you” to the PSP and Ms. Redahl for putting on the day’s activities. “It was an amazing turnout,” Col Spott added. “It’s a good indication of how high morale is on the Wing. Everyone is out here having fun and excited to be here.”
Captain Ismaili, an aerospace engineer at 402 Squadron, called the funspiel an awesome activity. “You get to experience what curling is,” she said. “For me, this is one of the first times I’ve done curling. I’m learning so much and having so much fun. It’s not so much about competition.”
Denise Benson, the administrative assistant to the CO at 435 Transport and Rescue Squadron, praised Ms. Redahl for organizing the funspiel. “This is awesome,” she said. “We won all three games. It’s a wonderful time to get out and meet people.”
Warrant Brent Mason, who works at 1 Canadian Air Division, said the event was a good opportunity to get away from the desk and meet people you don’t usually see.
His teammate, Captain Martin Martel, who’s also at 1 CAD, voiced similar sentiments. “It’s fun to get everybody together. It’s good for everybody. You get to meet people we don’t see regularly.”
Warrant Officer Vincent Squires, who works at the Transition Centre, commented, that it was great to get out of the office and have some fun. “And, the hotdogs were delicious,” he said. “I curl maybe once a year. It’s always fun. My teammates were great. No one fell on the ice.” WO Squires also noted that he placed third in his division at an arm wrestling tournament, Quest for the Sword, on Saturday, November 19 at the CanadInns Hotel Polo Park. (For anyone following his sport, as highlighted in a recent article of The Voxair.)