***Original published in South Mountain Press, January 11, 2019***
Building Community Spirit One Breakfast at a Time
This past Sunday morning, the Clanwilliam-Erickson Council members were taking their turn at serving up hearty meals at the weekly Erickson Curling and Skating Rink Breakfast fundraiser.
Scott Gray, a main organizer of the community breakfast, was happy to see so many familiar faces back supporting the event after the holidays. When you get a full plate of food and bottomless coffee for $7.50, it is easy to see why there is a loyal group of regulars making the breakfast part of their Sunday morning routine.
Over the years the two rinks, which had been built back in the 70’s, were occasionally short of operating funds and volunteers to keep them running. Scott explained that 10 years ago, the town’s Skating and Curling Rink Committees came up with the idea of serving the Sunday morning breakfast as a fundraiser. Thousands of breakfasts and countless pots of coffee later, the fundraiser has generated $27,000 that has gone to help cover the two facility’s operating expenses.
The current funding being raised for the Curling Rink is earmarked for renovations to the kitchen area.
In Scott’s opinion, the rinks represent part of the heart and soul of the Erickson community. He feels that the Sunday breakfasts not only raise a bit of money for the rinks but they also act as a focal point to bring members of the community together.
The long standing event would not have lasted for a decade without many helping hands. As such, numerous Erickson community organizations have stepped up to volunteer their time to run the fundraiser which runs from November to March.
In addition to the local RM Council, the following organizations volunteer their time: the Erickson Curling Rink Committee, the Erickson Skating Rink Committee, the Erickson & District Lions Club, the Erickson & District Wildlife Association, the Erickson Heritage Co-op, the Erickson Men’s Hockey team, the Erickson Kiddie Kollege, and the South Mountain Archery Shooters & Hunters (SMASH).
The Sunday morning breakfasts will continue to be served 9 to noon at the Erickson Curling Rink until the big Mixed Bonspiel held on the first weekend of March.
Blair is a personification of a ‘Jack of All Trades and Master of None’. He has held several careers and has all the T-shirts. Time to add the title Blogger to the list.