Westlock County has agreed to donate $6,000 to the 2017 Alberta Men’s Curling Championship, about half of the $11,000 requested by the Westlock Curling Club.
At the Oct. 11 council meeting, Coun. Ray Marquette said he supported the donation, but not the entire amount. His motion to donate $6,000 passed with only Coun. Mel Kroetsch opposed.
“I don’t think it would be proper,” he said.
The club had set out various levels of sponsorship for the Feb. 8-12 championship at the Rotary Spirit Centre. Donations of $4,000 earn a platinum distinction, which is the highest level.
Marquette noted that donating that amount would come with perks the county should avoid accepting.
“Maybe we should go a little more than platinum,” he suggested. “That program goes with tickets that wouldn’t be used. If you sponsor platinum or gold, there’s supper tickets and curling tickets. If we donate above, it’s not part of that.”
Although the event will be held in town, Marquette has been in favour of donating to the championship because county residents are involved and the whole region will benefit from the nationally-televised event.
“Curling does run hot through the veins of people my age,” reeve Don Savage said. “We should support (it). If it’s half way, it’s half way.”
The request was discussed by council twice before; the club initially requested $11,000 to cover half the ice-rental cost at the Sept. 13 meeting. It was brought back for further discussion Sept. 27 and again on Oct. 11.
Coun. Ron Zadunayski noted that the county had to be careful where it was spending dollars.
“We’re under tight fiscal restraint,” he said. “We need to watch what we’re going with our money. People are asking and things aren’t getting done because we don’t have the money.”
The donation is good news for Westlock Curling Club president Paula Clark.
“I’m just happy they decided it was important enough to support us and we’re appreciative of what they did give us. It’s over half of what we asked, so it’s good.”
The Westlock Rotary Club made up the difference and donated the other $5,000 Oct. 13.
Clark added that she was happy the county saw the benefit to everyone, not just the town.
“Lots of county residents are putting time and effort into it,” she said. “There’s lots of people driving through the county to get to Westlock for this event. It’s going to be national across Canada. You never know who is going to see it. They’re going to have little blurbs about the town and county, so it’s a win-win for everybody.”
The whole event will cost over $120,000 to put on, but Clark said sponsorships are rolling in and the club is waiting on a government grant and casino. As well, a second volunteer drive is happening at the curling rink on Oct. 23 for those who missed the first round.
