WESTLOCK - The 2020 Boston Pizza Cup never would have happened without devoted organizers and volunteers, but the staff of the Rotary Spirit Centre also deserve applause for their work and that’s exactly what they got at town council’s last meeting.
Community services director Mike Butler accepted those applause on behalf of the RSC employees following his monthly report during council’s Feb. 10 meeting.
“I offer a real hardy congratulations, on behalf of council, to your staff for the event last weekend,” mayor Ralph Leriger told Butler after his monthly report to council. “I heard nothing but positive comments from the organizers, volunteers and the curlers themselves … It was a long week for everybody, with lots of extra hours, but by gosh it went really, really well, so congratulations. Good job.”
Coun. Curtis Snell echoed that sentiment sharing that he had been speaking with committee members who expressed their gratitude to the town for its support and to facility staff.
Coun. John Shoemaker was also sure to point out that some of the town’s administrative staff also deserved kudos for their work in helping out at the event.
Some, like municipal clerk Annette Boissonault, used vacation days to lend their support as volunteers.
“It’s not just recreation staff. A large community event puts an extra strain on every department – on the finance department, on public works, on everybody. We have a very small team,” said Leriger.
“A very good team,” added Shoemaker.
Leriger went on to say he had heard from officials from Curling Alberta, who were impressed in the feat pulled off by Westlock, for a second time, having hosted the 2017 BP Cup as well.
“Usually I’m pretty good at determining folks that are blowing smoke, and it was not that. It was a very sincere congratulations on the job Westlock did,” said Leriger, adding the facility looked great on TV all dressed up.
He was also happy to see the town logo under the ice during every shot that came near the rings.
It was a windfall, not only for the Westlock Curling Club, but for business in general.
Between the five-day provincial men’s curling championship and two high school basketball tournaments, also held at the Spirit Centre over the weekend, the town benefitted greatly from hosting such large events, as the hotels were packed and local restaurants did far better than they usually do in the middle of winter.
Westlock Inn general manager Mary Price said her 61 rooms were all booked.
“It was about the same as the last time they had it. For this time of year it was definitely more than a typical weekend. Our weekends right now are slow. Normally on weekends we’re only about half full at this time of year,” she said.
“It’s nice to see events like this happening in Westlock. It really is.”
David Truckey is a town councillor, and also the proprietor of two restaurants — Apollo Pizza and the newly christened Dairy Queen. He noticed a definite uptick in customers.
“It was great,” he said, calling it more than an average sporting event. “Our industry, hotels, restaurants, gas stations, benefit immensely from it and I think the more economic dollars you put into the local economy, the better it is overall and that filters out.
“It was noticeably busier, and I think even more importantly, at the time of the year when restaurants are typically quiet, in the winter when people are staying home because of the weather, it was fantastic.”
