A Williams Lake seniors’ floor curling team is gearing up for another trip to the B.C. Seniors Games — this time to North Vancouver. Ellen Wiege, skip, Lil Langstrom, lead, Greta Bowser, second, and Madge Struthers, third, have been playing as a team for eight years, although they’ve all played and competed at the Games for many years.
Set to take place Aug. 25 to 29 in North Vancouver this year, the mission of the games is to improve the health, lifestyle and image of the province’s 55-plus population.
Seniors can compete in everything from bocce, cycling and pickleball to table tennis, archery, bridge, crib and five pin bowling.
Ellen Wiege said she’s been competing for 22 years, stating that along with bowling, golfing, square dancing and carpet bowling, curling keeps her active.
“Floor curling is fun because it takes strategy and co-ordination, and you don’t have a sweep — it’s all up to you,” she explained.
“I enjoy playing at the Games: I love the competition and the excitement knowing it can go either way.”
She said it’s great for seniors to stay active.
“In this town there’s no excuse for seniors to say there’s nothing to do,” she added.
“All they have to do is check out the Seniors Activity Centre. I don’t want to sit around looking at the four walls: that doesn’t make sense to me. I’d rather stay active.”
Over the years the Williams Lake curling team has brought home bronze, gold and silver medals, but most of all, she said, they have a great time.
“If we win, we win, and that’s nice,” she noted, “but we always have fun.”
Greta Bowser, who’s been curling for 15 years, said that the Games are a great way to make new friends and meet up with old ones.
“It’s fun to meet a lot of different people and travel to different places throughout the province like Surrey, Prince George, Chilliwack, Abbotsford, Langley and Penticton,” she explained. “It’s very social.”
A curler for 20 years, Lil Langstrom said that she’s never missed a Seniors Games, but that this will be her final one. “I’ve competed in curling, carpet bowling and power walking over the years,” she said. “It’s been a lot of fun.”
Madge Struthers agrees. “Ellen talked me into this, and it’s a blast,” she stated. “We have a great time and that’s why we do it.”
Wiege also reminds local area seniors to consider competing or volunteering for the B.C. Seniors Games. Volunteers are needed to help with local fundraising efforts and organizing local events.
For more information about the Games, including how to get involved locally, phone Ellen Wiege at 250-392-3537 and for more information about the Seniors Activity Centre in Williams Lake, phone 250-392-7152.
