Team Oliver, winners of this year's Oliver Osoyoos Challenge.

The Oliver Osoyoos Challenge was held at the Oliver Curling Club on December 4 2025. There were eight participating teams, four from each community.

After the first draw, both Oliver and Osoyoos had 20 points each. The second draw saw Oliver pull ahead: Oliver earned 24 points compared to 16 for Osoyoos. The final tally was Oliver 44 points and Osoyoos 36, giving Oliver the win. Osoyoos has won the challenge the last two years.

The winning team from Oliver was the Giffen team: Ken Giffen, Marc Carriere, Shane Melnuk and Norma Burden.

The winning team from Osoyoos was the Draper team: Chester Draper, John Genovese, Brock Paton and Diane Genovese.

In addition, there were two random draws of $25 each and the winners were the Murray Soder team and the John Surovy team.

The challenge raised $515, which was donated to the Oliver Curling Club Expenditure Fund.

Thanks to everyone for the great support!

WIN WIN for everyone:
Tax break in form of a receipt for you and support the local club at the same time.

The BC Amateur Sports Fund portal that was created to support the Club's Expansion Project will remain available until the debts from the project are fully paid. Donations made through the portal are eligible for a tax receipt, and this is the ideal time of the year to take advantage of that benefit. 

Our Vice President, Brad Dufour, has issued a challenge in support of this effort. He will match all donations up to a total of $10,000. His contribution will be made in remembrance of his aunt, Barbara Casement, who was a generous supporter of the Club throughout her years of involvement. 

Donations can be made at our BCASF portal by clicking on this link.

On Saturday November 29 the Oliver Curling Club Stick League, led by John Surovy, hosted the Third Annual Stick Spiel. The entire day ran smoothly, thanks to all the time and effort put in by volunteers from the league. The morning started early for Ron Brooks and Bob Douglas who were responsible for checking in the sixteen teams. There were teams not only from Oliver, but from Penticton and Osoyoos as well. While the players were getting registered and seeing when they played, Kathy Janzen, Cathy Gushulak and Sharon Rodgers were busy setting out coffee and the muffins that they, and Sharon Surovy, had made. 

There were three draws in the morning, with lots of action both on the ice and from the spectators upstairs. Our ice maker Ed Waugh, and his helpers Ernie Casorso and Bill Nokes kept the ice in top condition for the draws. Ron Brooks kept track of the scoring downstairs, and Pat Batchelor and Art Futa ran the upstairs events.

After three draws, everyone took a break and enjoyed the various kinds of chili supplied by Marietta Fulcher, Arnie Janzen, Jerry Johnson, Sandy Lederer and Faye Willick as well as tasty desserts baked by Stan Bates, Donna Cooke, Simone Douglas and Bunny Willoughby. The food was organized and served up by Sandy Lederer, Sharon Surovy and Bunny Willoughby. Lunch dishes were handled by Ken Weisner and Jim Willoughby (who are still waiting for their tips) and Bob and JJoanne Germyn made sure everything was cleaned up at the end of the afternoon.

There were three more draws in the afternoon with continued enthusiastic participation on the ice and in the gallery. When all the points were tallied, there was a three way tie for second:

Jerry Johnson & Bob Germyn	Gail Ostaliciuk & Bob Elliot	Pat Batchelor (not present) & Bill Ford

2025 Stick Spiel Winners		The presentation to the winners was not the end of the prizes! Again,the members of this league and local businesses generously donated more prizes to the event. Donations came from: Joe/Paula Martins, Machail Orchards, Okanagan Hardware, Keg and Cask, A & W, Donna Cooke, Sharon Surovy, Ron Brooks, Bill Nokes and Ernie Casorso. There was also a silent auction with Golf Passes donated by Nk'Mip Canyon Golf Course and a Meat and Cheese Basket donated by Donna Cooke. Bob Elliot was the highest bidder for the golf passes and Sandy Lederer took home the basket. This event earned over $1000 for the Club. John would like to thank everyone who participated and contributed to make this event an immense success. He also wants you to keep Saturday November 28 2026 open for the Fourth Annual Stick Spiel!!
Jan Carlson and Chris Neiskins

 Photographs courtesy of Linda Schroter

Photo Collage courtesy of Linda Schroter

Oliver Curling kicked off the Bonspiel season with the 2025 Mixed Bonspiel held on Sunday November 16. A total of twelve teams participated, playing two games each in one of two pools. The action started at 9:00 and finished in time for the Grey Cup Watching party. Lunch, provided by Big Al's and member contributions, was held between morning and afternoon games.

This was a true funspiel, with many laughs and enthusiastic participation from both the players and the spectators up stairs. When all the points were counted, the results were as follows:

Overall winner:
Skip Marc Carriere, 3rd Diane Tetreault, 2nd Bob Hale, Lead Pat Batchelor
Two Game Winners
Skip Donna Cooke, 3rd Rick Warren, 2nd Jean Lederer, Lead Barry Berto
Skip Murray Soder, 3rd Wendy Warawa, 2nd Bill Evans, Lead Julie Shaw
Friendliest Team
Skip Norma Burden, 3rd Shane Melnuk, 2nd Wanda Casorso, Lead Dave Casorso
Double Takeout Winners
Sharon Snelling and Lloyd Lindsay
Leads Only Winner
Linda Schroter
Hog Rock Winner
Julie Shaw

Thanks to all the volunteers who helped make this event a success, especially Spiel Organizer Gail Barriskill! The event earned over $1000 for the OCC!!

A huge thank you to the Kiwanis Club of Oliver

On Friday November 21, 2025, the Kiwanis Club of Oliver demonstrated their continuing support of the Oliver Curling Club Society with the presentation of a cheque for $4000. The cheque was presented by the Kiwanis President, Ken Weisner, along with other Kiwanis volunteers. Diane Tetreault, Bob Hale and Pat Batchelor were present on behalf of the OCC members. Bill Ford was also present to photograph the event.

The Kiwanis Club of Oliver has long been a generous supporter of the OCC and its programs. We would like to thank the Kiwanis Club of Oliver for the generous support of our Junior Program ($1,000) and the assistance with our roof repair ($3,000).

Events and Activities

Thank You!

A standing ovation to our all-star club volunteers and the amazing crowd that rolled in for our two epic fundraisers this past weekend!
You made it a weekend to remember—and made a big difference for our club!
 
Show Me the Money!
Here’s the scoop: Saturday Night Lites hit all the right notes with singer Mick James, raising a snazzy approximate $470! Not to be outdone, the Elks Meat Draw brought home the bacon (literally and figuratively) at $822.40! Your generosity is the perfect sweep that keeps our club running smoother than a well-thrown stone.
 
Reminder:
Have you hogged your rock lately? Don’t forget our Hog Jar—the rink’s most mysterious (and lucrative) piggy bank! Drop your name in, and you might just be the lucky “hogger” walking away with a prize at the Christmas Party. May the best hogger win!
 
What’s New?
Ice Maker Helpers. We’re on the hunt for 3–5 brave souls to join Team Icemaker! Learn the ancient art of ice maintenance from our legendary Ed. If you’re keen to help and enjoy cold environments, contact Bill Michael. (Bonus: bragging rights and endless gratitude!)
Club Name Tags. A sign has been posted in the club for curlers wanting a name tag. $10 each.
 
Club Notices:
CurlBC. Do you need more curling in your life? Slide on over to the CurlBC Website for all the curling news and events you could ever want. https://curlbc.ca/
Thank You to Our Sponsors. We give a huge shoutout to our local business supporters, you’re the real MVPs making sure our club keeps on curling!
Return-It T-2 Market Express Account. Support the club, save the planet, and lord over your friends in our in-house recycling challenge! Contact Sherry Stackhouse to learn more.
 
Stay Connected

Website: www.olivercurlingclub.org

Facebook: Eastlink Curling Centre 
 

ICE TECHNICIAN - Ed Waugh

Ed Waugh, with the the help of Mike Kelly, Andrew Barnes, and Norm Card have completed putting in the ice at the Oliver Curling Centre! The ice, at the moment, is great! A bit slower than usual with a wild swing to it! It is consistent through all sheets! Talking to the Iceman, he hopes to get the ice faster with about 3 feet of curl! New ice and outside temperatures have contributed to these conditions, but having said that it is the same for everyone and consistent! That's the important factor! Great job Ed and crew!

Again, anyone wishing to Support the Oliver Curling Club financially, please follow the following link! Donate via the BC Amateur Sports fund to receive a tax deductible receipt
using this link: http://support.bcamateursportfund.org/P0500

Helen Foreman Special Presentation

Helen Foreman and her husband John were active members and curlers of the Oliver Curling Club in years past.  In 2017 Helen created this lovely quilted wall hanging to commemorate Canada's 150th birthday.  Helen generously donated it to the curling club and it has found a home in our main entrance.  A few years ago they moved to Kelowna.  On their recent visit to Oliver, Diane Tetreault, Club President, and Linda Schroter, Club Photographer, were able to meet with them at the club to formally thank Helen for gifting this lovely piece of art to the Curling Club.

Dedicated Service Award - President Diane Tetreault, Murray Soder, John Surovy

 Murray Soder

1949 – Started curling at the University of Manitoba

1960 – 63 – Little League Softball Coach

1966 – 86 – came to Oliver as District Agriculturist for the Ministry of Agriculture and retired in 1986

1966 – Elected chairman of the committee to investigate feasibility of building a hockey arena in Oliver

1967/68 –constructed a hockey arena with the cooperation of the Town of Oliver and Regional District. This template opened the door for a wave of building arenas and curling clubs in BC

1968 – Joined the Kinsmen Club of Oliver, a community service group involved in building a Community Playground for the children of Oliver and surrounding area. The Club was also responsible for Sunday Morning Breakfasts for the Oliver and District Horseshoe and later Fathers’ Day breakfasts

1979 – Chaired a committee to do major lounge renovations at the curling club

1981 – Chaired a committee to insulate ice shed ceiling

1984 -1989 Zone 3 Rep for the BC Interior Curling Association

1986 – His wife Leonie was on the team that won the BC Senior Women’s Provincial Championships

1988 – Chaired the BC Mixed Curling Championships in Oliver

1989/90 – VP BC Interior Curling Association

1990 – 1992 President BCICA

1992 – 1994 First President of Curl BC

1993 – Installed as Life Member of the BCICA

1994 instigated the installation of the Geothermal for Heating and Cooling. Installed concrete floor in the ice surface to Olympic standard. Installed Handicap Washrooms lower mezzanine

1999 - Installed as Honorary Life Member of the Oliver Curling Club

2014 – Co chair for the installation of a Wheel Chair Accessibility Lift at the Oliver Curling Centre

Reflections;

Murray felt that there was a need for Recreation Facilities in Oliver! Took it upon himself to organize the community and get things done! Tireless worker! Volunteering, he has seen many committees go onto build facilities such as a new outdoor Swimming Pool, Community Centre, Ball fields, Skate Park, renovate the Train Station, move it , and turn it into a Info Centre as well as a Mini Golf facility that has now stopped operating and many other such facilities. Murray is still an active curler at 93 years old curling twice a week – using a delivery stick. He also golfs 3 times a week!

2025 Provincial Mixed Championships

 More Photos can be downloaded here: photos.app.goo.gl/RDXnwt2FGSUAC81W9