Dave Leaderhouse
Herald Staff
Surprises often come in the form of wonderful news and for Pat Bibby her surprise phone call earlier this week certainly falls into that category.
Bibby was notified on Wednesday that she is to receive the Canadian Curling Association’s Award of Achievement when the Saskatchewan Curling Association convenes for its annual general meeting in Saskatoon next month.
“When you work with good people and do something you love to do, it’s an honour,” says Bibby.
Being selected for the prestigious award really shouldn’t come as too much of a surprise as Bibby has been involved in the sport of curling in Prince Albert for a long time.
As a competitor, Bibby has curled in the women’s and mixed regional and northern events, intermediate, senior and master provincials and the teacher’s northerns and provincials.
Bibby is a Level II official and has worked at every major event held at the Prince Albert Golf and Curling Club since 1984, but her biggest contribution to the sport, however, is as an instructor.
For 30 years Bibby has been giving lessons to beginner and intermediate curlers along with providing adult learn-to-curl sessions. She has also been one of the lead instructors at the SCA’s Prairieland Curling Summer Camp since 1995.
Bibby, who is a certified Level III coach, is a provincial facilitator for coaching and travels around the province conducting clinics at various locations and also coaches women’s teams at the northern playdowns.
If that isn’t enough, Bibby has served several terms on the curling club’s board of directors along with having held every position on the Business Girl’s Curling Club executive.
A former Prince Albert Sportswoman of the Year and a member of the Prince Albert Sports Hall of Fame, Bibby continues to compete in the Conexus Rural Curling League in addition to providing instruction to members of the High Noon Optimist Junior Curling League.
Although the award is for everything she has achieved, Bibby has no intention of leaving the sport anytime soon. Curlers at all levels are thankful for that.
