BC Curlers Celebrated at Governor General’s Curling Club Annual Dinner
British Columbia was well represented at this year’s Governor General’s Curling Club annual induction dinner, held in Victoria earlier this month.
The event marked three significant moments for BC curling: four British Columbians were inducted into the Governor General’s Curling Club, Warren Hansen became the first BC member to serve as President, and Victoria hosted the club’s AGM and Golf Safari for the first time on the West Coast since 2008.
Approximately 75 members and guests attended the event, including 25 representatives from British Columbia.
Four BC Curlers Inducted
The Governor General’s Curling Club welcomed four new BC members this year: Keith Dagg, Paul Addison, Terri Palynchuk and Jock Tyre.
Hansen said all four were highly deserving of the honour.
Paul Addison has been a longtime contributor to the successful operation of the Victoria Curling Club. Keith Dagg played a key role in major events including the 2005 World Men’s Curling Championship in Victoria, the 2009 Scotties Tournament of Hearts and the return of the World Men’s Championship to Victoria in 2013.
Terri Palynchuk is a longtime Nanaimo-based volunteer and currently serves as Chair of Curling Canada, while Jock Tyre has been a longtime general manager and contributor to the Kelowna Curling Club.
With the four new inductees, there are now 20 members from British Columbia in the Governor General’s Curling Club.
First BC President
The event also marked a milestone for Hansen, who began his one-year term as President of the Governor General’s Curling Club in September.
“It is an extreme honour to be elected as President, by the membership of the Governor General’s Curling Club,” said Hansen. “I’m the first member from BC to become President of the Club.”
Hansen was inducted into the club in 2001, when there were only three members from BC.
Victoria Hosts Historic West Coast Gathering
This year’s event was the first time the Governor General’s Curling Club AGM and Golf Safari had been held on the West Coast since 2008, when Vancouver hosted the gathering.
“This year’s event in Victoria was very successful,” said Hansen. “Roughly 75 people attended, which included members and guests.”
Founded in 1874, the Governor General’s Curling Club traces its history to Rideau Hall, where Lord Dufferin established a curling facility. The club is an honorary curling organization that recognizes individuals who have made significant contributions to curling at the local, provincial, national or international level — as curlers, builders and administrators of the sport.
For the BC curling community, the Victoria gathering provided an opportunity to celebrate four new inductees, welcome the organization’s first BC President and showcase the province as host to members and guests from across Canada.
