The Estevan Curling Club paid a donation forward last week to the organizers of the 2019 Rafferty Rumble.
The 2016 Saskatchewan Summer Games committee donated $10,000 to the Estevan Curling Club before the SaskTel Tankard in January before that event to help with that event.
“We were given that with the Saskatchewan Summer Games, to pay it forward,” said Helen Fornwald, a member of the club and organizing committee for the SaskTel Tankard. “So the idea behind that is that after our Tankard event was over, we would pay it forward to another organization.”
Fornwald said they looked at the Rafferty Rumble committee and the event and said it was the best agency they could give it to.”
Paying it forward to the Rafferty Rumble provided a hope that when they have a successful event, they’ll be able to do the same down the road.
“This was an event that was years ago, and it was quite successful,” said Fornwald. “It’s just not one facility, it’s not one program, it’s multiple. We felt they could spread that out over the facilities and they’re going to need to bring the upgrades up to run this event.”
The rumble is set for July 26-28, 2019, in the Estevan area and is going to have a lot going on in a lot of different areas.
“I’ve always heard about this fund and knew that it was in the works in this community, but never did I expect the Rafferty Rumble to get it, so we are extremely grateful for the donation,” said Rumble organizer Josh LeBlanc. “I’ve worked with the Summer Games in the past and I’ve seen how important start-up funds are to these types of events. It’s pretty overwhelming to receive this and it’s going to allow us to have an even bigger and better show in July for everyone.”
The committee has been meeting monthly and a lot of the bands are booked already for the street dance and the downtown stage, LeBlanc said. Sports groups like football, soccer and slo-pitch have been meeting with the group. They’re working hard to get a car show going as well.
“We’re still waiting on some final plans for a ball hockey tournament, as well as a fishing tournament and maybe a golf tournament as well,” LeBlanc said. “We’re in talks with a lot of people right now about that kind of stuff. It’s been a lot of talk about logistics planning, stage, security, maneuvering SLGA (Saskatchewan Liquor and Gaming Authority) as well. You may not have heard a tonne about it early on, but basically about February is when we’re expecting to ramp everything up and start going big.”
While the event is going on the whole weekend, July 27 will be the big day downtown, LeBlanc said. Three blocks downtown will be blocked off for the market and, potentially, the car show.
