The organizing committee for the annual Bob Picken Open Masters Bonspiel has
announced the recipients of this year’s SIX Junior Development Grants – the Bob Picken
Junior Legacy Grants presented by Access Credit Union.
This year’s new sponsorship of the Bob Picken Open Masters Bonspiel by Access Credit
Union allowed the bonspiel committee to expand the junior legacy grant program which has
been the primary designation for the proceeds of the annual bonspiel. That sponsorship
resulted in a doubling of the number of grants from three to six for 2024.
The grant recipients for 2024 are the junior programs at Altona, East St. Paul, Ste. Anne, St.
Vital and Teulon. The sixth successful application was coordinated by the Swan River
Curling Club on behalf of the Sliding Stars North junior program which will benefit young
curlers in the region of Swan River, The Pas, Dauphin, Roblin, Russell, and Ethelbert. Each
successful applicant will receive a $500 grant to be used toward the acquisition of specific
equipment, training aids or coaching programs as outlined in their applications.
“There were a total of 17 applications, the most we have ever had,” says committee
member Bob Minaker. “While it created a real challenge to select the recipients – it was a
welcome challenge. It is an indication that there are great things happening in junior curling
thanks to many dedicated volunteers across the province.”
Minaker expressed appreciation to CurlManitoba and to Access Credit Union for their
support of the Bob Picken Junior Legacy grants programs.
The $3,000 in grants this year brings the total support to $9,000 provided to junior curling
over the past six years by the volunteers, curlers and sponsors of the Bob Picken Open
Masters bonspiel.
Plans are underway to stage the bonspiel again in 2025.
